**Introduction**
The Then 20 year old Amy Macdonald became a suprise hit around this time last year when her debut album This is Life was one of the biggest sellers. The Scottish born Macdonald has had some people thinking she was Irish for due to her singing voice having a distinct Irish ... Read review
who, despite her tender 19 years, writes songs with the grace, wisdom and proficiency of one with a score more on the clock. As influenced by The Libertines as a...
who, despite her tender 19 years, writes songs with the grace, wisdom and proficiency of one with a score more on the clock. As influenced by The Libertines as a...
who, despite her tender 19 years, writes songs with the grace, wisdom and proficiency of one with a score more on the clock. As influenced by The Libertines as a...
who, despite her tender 19 years, writes songs with the grace, wisdom and proficiency of one with a score more on the clock. As influenced by The Libertines as a...
who, despite her tender 19 years, writes songs with the grace, wisdom and proficiency of one with a score more on the clock. As influenced by The Libertines as a...
who, despite her tender 19 years, writes songs with the grace, wisdom and proficiency of one with a score more on the clock. As influenced by The Libertines as a...
A review by jcneil on This Is The Life - Amy MacDonald December 12th, 2008
Author's product rating:
Originality
Average
Lyrics
Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks
Mixed
How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Not applicable
Value for Money
Good
Advantages:
Good voice
Disadvantages:
Too much Irish Folk
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
**Introduction**
The Then 20 year old Amy Macdonald became a suprise hit around this time last year when her debut album This is Life was one of the biggest sellers. The Scottish born Macdonald has had some people thinking she was Irish for due to her singing voice having a distinct Irish tone. Here is a little bit about her rise to stardom. She started writing and performing songs at the age of 15 around Glasgow and sent a demo cd away after an NME advert. She was then signed to the production company 'Melodramatic'. She is now with Mercury Records.
**This is the life**
Released on 30 July 2007 This is the Life is one of those rare albums that took nearly six months to rise to the top of the album charts. The single that caused the huge rise in album sales was undoubtedly This is the life which was the single when the album finally went to number one. It has now sold over 1,600,000 copies worldwide
1.) Mr Rock & Roll
This opens with some gentle guitar and then the drums kick in, This is a very irish sounding track which is lead by the Irish style vocal from Amy. This flowing ditty is a very pleasant track which starts the album well.
2.) This is the life
Another catchy intro to this track and her voice has an Irish tinge again. This is a great track with a superb flow and it's easy to see why this single was such a catalyst to the success of the album over last christmas as the single was released on 10th December.
3.) Poison Prince
This track is her tribute to the troubled life of Libertines Pete Doherty. This has a very catchy flow and is one of the quickest songs on the album, I am certainly not a fan of Pete Doherty but this track is a decent track all the same.
4.) Youth of Today
This opens with a gentle acoustic guitar piece and then her vocals come in, She shows a really emotive vocal delivery on this track and it is one of the best on the album, This track hints at the kind of career she could have.
5.) Run
Another gentle acoustic guitar intro is joined by soft piano and a catchy drum beat. This track is another laid back track which shows her best side. She sounds best when she doesnt have any accent in her voice. This song progresses into a mid tempo indie/folk track.
6.) Let's start A Band
This has a very Irish feel to it which is a shame as the Irish Folk side of this track makes it less listenable. To me this kind of direction takes away from the actual emotion of the song. A shame as this one could be very good.
7.) Barrowland Ballroom
This has a very interesting a unexpected drum sequence which is the main part throught the track. The guitars and vocals are another good touch but this pace is a little too quick for the real emotion of the song to come through.
8.) L.A
This is a slightly bluesy folk track which has a nice bass hook and a very musical flow. Her vocals are up there with the best on the album here. This is a very nice flowing track which has got to be one of the best on the album.
9.) A Wish For Something More
This is a catchy indie folk track which sounds like something KT Tunstall would do now she is actually doing the right music. I like the electric guitar tone which sounds throught this track. A very decent track which again has a nice flow.
10.) Footballer's Wife
This track is a real triumph, The orchestra at the start adds a dramatic touch and then the gentle piano, guitar and strings keep the intimacy. This is about her relationship with Steve Lovell who plays for Falkirk. They became engaged but are not yet married.
11.) The Road To Home
This is a nice gentle bonus track which has the same intimacy of the album's best tracks. A very stripped down ballad which is what she should do more of on her second album.
**Overall**
I bought this album for my mother last christmas and even though there are some very good songs on here I just don't like it enough to buy my own copy so I recorded my mum's copy to my computer. Amy Macdonald is a talented singer/songwriter but If she dropped the Irish folk voice that she goes into too much then she could have a chance at making a long career for herself. Her second album which tell us whether she really has it or not.
Advantages: brilliant guitar player, secret song at the end Disadvantages: she needs to bring another album out!
I love this album!
I got this album bought for me as a birthday present and ungratefully discarded it at the bottom of a drawer for some strange reason. I then heard one of her songs "this is the life" play on radio one and immedietely loved it! i played the whole album 4 times that night because it was so good!
among the content are "mr rock and roll" which, with the title of the album, is the most recognisable. My favourite however has to be ... ...written adressing subjects she feels strongly about such as "youth of today" or subjects she enjoys to write about, like the song written on Jake Gyllenhaal called "LA".
This album is well worth a listen and i would recommend it to all ages and all types of music lovers. ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Feel good factor Disadvantages: not much to pick at
I bought this album on the strength of one song - the title track "this is the life", before this song flooded the airwaves of BBC Radio 2 i had never heard of Amy Macdonald, i am now happy that i have. This album is jam packed with celtic folk/pop and a refreshing feel good factor, despite some of the more serious lyrical content. Amy is a 19 year old with a lot to say her songs comment on social trends and the media influence. "Footballers Wife" ... ...be a mouthful). All this combined and you cant help nodding your head in time.
Later in the album we come accross "Barrowland Ballroom" which sounds like Amy's desire to "make it" in the music world, you can imagine her standing in the ballrooms watching band after band aspiring to be on that stage.
This wouldnt be a usual choice for me i just couldnt get "this is the life" out of my head. Im sure she would appeal to fans of KT Tunstall and Katie ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
...song writing. This is her first album and includes the songs Mr rock and roll and This is the life which are the two most recognisable songs on the album but also includes the titles Poison prince, Youth of today, Run, Lets start a band, Barrowland ballroom, L.A, A wish for something more, footballers wife and The road to home. Her lyrics are very meaningful, each with a clear message that make you think. The youth of today is a song that I think ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: Always on repeat Disadvantages: Always on repeat!
...say after 2 months with this album it fails to lose its appeal for me. It's folky, uptempo, and Let's Start A Band always gets the whole household singing. I have a particular affinity with Footballers Wives as the bunch of wasters and celebrity seekers that they are(oops! a little bit too political?) How this talent not even got a mention at the Brits is beyond me when Kate Nash (who I don't mind by the way) and the rest of the Brit School mob take ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: Excellent all rounder Disadvantages: None
...Andrew put this album onto my Ipod a few months ago and I haven't stopped listening to it since.
Amy has such a rich tone to her voice that when she is singing I don't feel like she is intruding my personal space. She is great to have on in the background when we have guests around because her voice is easy to listen to but also has the depth and power to be able to stand out and be talked about.
This album is diverse when it comes to the amount of instruments that has been used to make it. There's everything from subtle finger picking on the guitar to the strong blow of bagpipes. There is definitely something for everyone.
What strikes me most about this album is the maturity of Amy's writing. There is such a depth to her lyrics and it surprised me to learn that she was only 19 years old. The songs explore issues that I have...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Good tracks, chart toppers Disadvantages: Bit too old, charts have changed
...For Tonight - One Night Only
11.Ready For The Floor - Hot Chip
12.Flux - Bloc Party
13.Something Good '08 - Utah Saints
14.The Journey Continues - Mark Brown feat. Sarah Cracknell
15.ThisIs The Life - AmyMacDonald
16.Pumpkin Soup - Kate Nash
17.Change - Sugababes
18.A&E - Goldfrapp
19.Love Is A Losing Game - Amy Winehouse
20.What A Wonderful World - Eva Cassidy & Katie Melua...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: As its a cd you can skip tracks, 42 tracks!! Disadvantages: Can get BORING very quickly!!
...Cracknell
15. ThisIs The Life - AmyMacDonald
16. Pumpkin Soup - Kate Nash
17. Change - Sugababes
18. A&E - Goldfrapp
19. Love Is A Losing Game - Amy Winehouse
20. What A Wonderful World - Eva Cassidy & Katie Melua
I brought it from tescos for about £12, Im not sure whether i would recommend this cd as it bores me now!! I would recommend for the following...Duffy with mercy, One republic (both tracks), Kate Nash, I think it all depends on what sort of music your into, normally i can listen to a new cd for a long time, having it in my car and in home etc...but this one has just been put on the rack with the other old cds....
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Now That's What I Call Music Vol.69 - Various Artists
Product details
Title: This Is The Life
Performer: Amy MacDonald
Genre: Rock & Pop
Release Date: 30/07/2007
Original Release Year: 2007
Label / Distributor: Vertigo / Universal Music
Pieces in Set: 1
Studio / Live: Studio
Stereo: Stereo
Format: Performer
EAN: 602517321243
Catalogue Number: 1732124
Additional notes
Album Notes: Scottish troubadour Amy MacDonald was a mere 20 years old when her debut, THIS IS THE LIFE, was released in 2008. Her youth shows in the feisty spirit and headstrong ambition of the songs (on "Let's Start a Band" she sings "Rolling Stone, here I come"), but the confidence of the songwriting is that of a seasoned musician. MacDonald's sound is rooted in folk (she plays acoustic guitar throughout), but there's a toughness here that indicates she was reared on rock & roll, and the combination is a winning one. THIS IS THE LIFE is intimate, catchy, reflective, and rousing all at once.
Album Reviews: Blender (Magazine) (p.82) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "If her message echoes the mid-'60s battle cries of Bob Dylan and the Who, her tunes, which exclude no one, are almost as light and catchy as ABBA's greatest hits."
Titles on disc 1
1.: Mr Rock 'n' Roll
2.: This Is The Life
3.: Poison Prince
4.: Youth Of Today
5.: Run
6.: Let's Start A Band
7.: Barrowland Ballroom
8.: LA
9.: Wish For Something More
10.: Footballer's Wife
11.: Road To Home
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Listed on Ciao since : 01/06/2007
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