This Is the Life (Amy Macdonald album)
This Is the Life is the debut album by Scottish singer-songwriter Amy Macdonald. It was released in the UK on 30 July 2007 and has sold to date more than 2.4 million times.
- 6.1 album
- 6.2 Singles
- 7.1 Awards for music sales
Formation
The album was from the summer of 2006 in London's Soho Recordings Studios with producer Pete Wilkinson of Melodramatic Records. Mixed it became mostly by sound engineer Bob Clearmountain in Los Angeles. The music and lyrics were all written by Amy Macdonald, except for the song LA by Wilkinson and Macdonald. The album was released by the label Melodramatic Records in collaboration with Mercury Records.
In addition to voice and acoustic guitar by Amy Macdonald many additional instruments such as bass, cello, drums and other percussion intruments, electric guitar, piano, keyboard, saxophone, flugelhorn, trumpet, viola and violin were used in the recording.
Reception
- The music has been described by Mike Pattenden, a reviewer of the Times, as " jangly indie folk with a powerful voice ," which recall the Cranberries.
- Elle J. Small wrote on the BBC, Macdonald wearing an "old voice on her young shoulders," and you need a mature ear, to find access to her based on a folk narrative, their adult voice and influenced by the country music guitar. The first song Mr Rock & Roll is a radio- friendly sing- piece, full of Celtic campfire romance. But one could doubt the authenticity of their work. Words and music sounded somewhat forced and would fit more to a wise 39 -year-olds, as a naive 19 -year-olds.
- The German online magazine laut.de described the album as " Countryfolkpop, who is still looking for the right balance ." It made just as the British reviewers on Amy Macdonald a mature voice, but complained that they often abgleite at higher altitudes in shrill tones. Too often, the texts would stand in the foreground. Also, sometimes bored acoustic guitar, strings would produce an exaggerated theatricality. Contrast highlights are Mr Rock & Roll as well as the song This Is the Life. Although it is not yet fully developed, but seem at various places but potential through and it would be shown approaches for your own style.
- Sharon Mawer wrote in their review on Allmusic, the album -inspiring nostalgia and remember to Kirsty MacColl.
Cover design
On the cover of London-based photographer Valerie Philips are on a color photograph to see the head and shoulders Amy Macdonald. Underneath is written in large white capital letters the name of the artist and below in smaller type the title of the album. The edges have been processed so that they look like belonging to an old, crushed record. The design according to Allmusic remember the albums of the seventies.
Title list
Standard Edition
Song information
Footballer 's Wife reflects the obsession of British tabloids, while Poison Prince focuses on the drug addiction of Pete Doherty. The text of LA is about their enthusiasm for Jake Gyllenhaal. it was supported by Pete Wilkinson. Their song Barrowland Ballroom refers to the same venue in Glasgow.
Charts
The album was in Europe mainly in German-speaking countries a major radio and sales success. In the UK it was the first Sunday after publication in second place in the British singles charts and 13 January 2008 reaching number one on 14 March 2008, it reached double platinum status with 600,000 copies sold.
In the Swiss charts the album rose 24 February 2008 at number 58 in the charts. It worked his way to number one and stayed long for five weeks. More than 100 weeks Charts are reflected in quadruple platinum and more than 150,000 CDs in Switzerland. In Germany, it came in third place and reached in June 2009 quadruple -platinum status, and in February 2011, with 900,000 copies sold ninefold gold. The album finally cracked the million mark in 2012, so it is one of the best-selling albums in Germany since 1975. In Austria, the peak was also third place.
In addition to the first place in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Denmark and the Netherlands, the album reached in Belgium in second place, in Norway and Sweden in fifth place in France in sixth place in Ireland ranked 16th and in the U.S. Billboard Charts place 92.
Album
Singles
Awards
- Swiss Music Award 2009: In the category " Best Album Pop / Rock International "