Disco de Amy Macdonald: “This Is the Life [Vertigo Bonus CD]”

A friend of mine from England recently sent me this CD and I'm finding myself listening to it daily. There's a spate of talented female singer/songwriters deservedly coming to the fore in the UK right now, names such as Duffy, Adele, Kate Nash and Amy Macdonald.

Amy is a 20 year old Glaswegian who released this, her first album, in July 2007. It entered the UK album charts at No. 2 and stayed in the Top 10 for a while before gradually slipping down the charts. Then, for some reason, it came back around Christmas time (probably when everyone was buying it as a present for friends and relatives) and in early January 2008 it went to No. 1 for one week. Amy wrote all the songs on the album herself and plays acoustic guitar on every track. Her voice somehow sounds much older than that of a 20 year old. She also seems to have an "old head on young shoulders" as her subject matter is very mature.

There's one song called "Footballer's Wife" where she asks where all the real stars have gone, like James Dean and Fred Astaire, when today reality TV contestants and footballer's wives all think they're stars of the same calibre, which is partly the fault of the public who are prepared to settle for making overnight stars of them.

Macdonald recently supported Paul Weller (formerly of The Jam and now a renowned solo artist) on tour and he has named the track "Run" from this album his favorite song. In fact, Weller would stand in the wings every night and watch Macdonald perform the song.

"Poison Prince" is a song about Pete Docherty of the band Baby Shambles (and drug-addicted boyfriend of supermodel Kate Moss). Macdonald met Docherty on one occasion and found him to be very charming, intelligent and poetic but hated the fact that all of these qualities are obscured from the public's eyes because of Docherty's notorious drug addiction and frequent wild behaviour.

This is an excellent CD overall and one of the best I've heard in a while. Be sure to get this version and not the international release as this version contains the brilliant extra track, "The Road To Home" and the wonderful hidden track, "Caladonia".

This album was a big surprise to me. I'd never heard of Amy Macdonald before I received this promo Album to review. I receive quite a lot of CDs to review, but this one definitely set itself apart.

Amy has this amazing distinctive Scottish voice... although I have to say that she sounds a bit Irish to me too. The music is a catchy complex layered mix of elements from country, folk, rock, and some modern elements thrown in. It's raw, acoustic, warm, subtle, deep and edgy at the same time. But the most important element it has is heart. Everything about it is amazingly polished... surprising when you take into account her young age. Do not make the mistake of judging her by that...she sings with a maturity way beyond her years. I can't say enough good things about this album. It really is a superb album with each song worth listening to. I hope she gets the attention and radio play she deserves. If I had to describe it in 3 words... it's Catchy, Acoustic, and Amazing!

My musical tastes range all over the place -- from breakcore to southern gothic. And I'm a sucker for a good, clean pop album, and "This Is the Life" sure feels like that.

Amy Macdonald, a 20-year-old Scottish import, is certainly a soulful songwriter for someone so young. And yet she never fully loses the guilelessness of youth (witness the unaffected naivete of "Let's Start A Band"). She even takes a sharp shot at phony, fifteen-minutes-of-fame celebs with "Footballer's Wife." Her ideas thankfully never come with a fake Lavigne-like anger.

I think she has a little Jack White and P.J. Harvey in her. No matter the subject, her songs (which are never overproduced) have a velocity and impel you along.

There's not a single beat song on the CD, but "Barrowland Ballroom" is a brilliant standout. If this song doesn't inspire you to move, dance, something, then check yourself for a pulse.

"This is the Life" is a terrifically fun and entertaining debut.

Upon first receiving this CD, I popped it in the computer and played it on my

while I cranked out a bunch of emails, using the CD essentially as background music, but I kept finding myself getting distracted by the CD and losing my focus on my writing. This is a really catchy CD, extremely upbeat, and fun to listen to.

I ran through it 4 times before finishing my writing, and I realized that this CD really deserved a closer examination. Admittedly, this is not one of my genres that I can claim to be an expert on (classical music, opera, and rock are my strong suits), but I found in Amy Macdonald's video on this site the best explanation of how to characterize this music (I highly recommend watching that video).

I was also struck by this young woman's voice. It's got a punch and resonance that is truly surprising, though it still has a warmth that draws you in. I think her voice will take her far. Also, her ability to vary her musical styles at will gives this album GREAT variety.

My disappointment is pretty much in the same area as others' -- the lyrics. She clearly needs to grow in this area (some a bit trite, and where one would expect new verses, there is much repetition), and, given the fact that she's only 21, I'm sure she will.

If she'd team up with another singer/songwriter with a bit more lyrical skill, they'd make an incredible folk/pop/whatever singing duo, as most of her songs have voice-over harmonies, so why not have two different voices singing the different lines?

All in all, I'm thrilled to have received this CD. It's not one I really want to lie back and scrutinize and listen to the words and chord progressions carefully, because therein I am underwhelmed. But as a CD to put in a mix in a carousel (or mp3 player if you're into that -- I'm too old school) for a social gathering, it will please most everyone with the upbeat styles and variations of those styles. Very pleasing if not put under a musical and lyrical microscope.

This CD was at times alternatingly lilting and ethereal, folksy, and yet something I could easily see being played in the top 40's list on most modern rock stations.

It's polished, it's great music, and a few of the riffs and melodies immediately remind me of one of my favorite bands, Steeleye Span. From track 1, I was pretty well hooked into this CD. My portable DVD ran out of juice a 3rd of the way through it, so I rushed it back to my room to plug it back in, as I found myself WANTING to hear the rest of it. Not just so I could review it, but to finish experiencing it.

I'm glad to have heard this CD. If you like folksy, modern pop, you'll probably like this CD quite a bit. Maybe it's just me. I think it's generic enough that anyone (older or younger) could probably find something to like on it. It's just all-around good music!

People should probably start requesting this CD be played on their local radio stations. I think it's worthwhile and could easily make top 40 with a few of he songs.

Give it a listen and a few tracks to win you over. You'll see what I mean. I think you'll enjoy it! I'd rate it a definite "Buy!"

Addendum 8-25-08: I was in Borders on the morning of my birthday looking up some books on martial arts, and I heard a great folksy song come on, then I realized it was Amy MacDonald's "This is the Life." Before I completely recognized it my ears had already perked up, and I was humming along. I really do like the songs on this album. They're catchy! Glad to hear some of the album getting air time already!