**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.

Also posted on dooyoo as lakerfanster.