A Curious Thing [Import]

Amy Macdonald | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 23, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Universal Int'l
• ASIN: B0035KGWR2
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,751 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Don't Tell Me That It's Over

2. Spark

3. I Got No Roots

4. Love Love

5. An Ordinary Life

6. Give It All Up

7. My Only One

8. This Pretty Face

9. Troubled Soul

10. Next Big Thing

11. Your Time Will Come

12. What Happiness Means To Me

Editorial Reviews

Highly anticipated 2010 sophomore album from the British singer/songwriter. Amy Macdonald's debut album, This Is The Life, made her one of the world's most successful British female artists, The album went to #1 in five countries, including the UK, and has achieved platinum or multi-platinum status in 12 countries and has sold three million copies globally. Curious Thing was recorded at Paul Weller's Black Barn Studios, in Ripley, Surrey, and the man himself features on the album. Universal.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Curious Thing Shows A Lot Of Maturation, May 11, 2010

By 

Philip R. Heath "Gadgets, Music, & Books" (DFW) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Curious Thing (Audio CD)

When I learned that Amy MacDonald was releasing her sophomore CD A Curious Thing this year, I was very eager to hear what she would have to offer. I thoroughly enjoyed her debut This Is The Life, and I wondered what direction her music would take. Listeners hoping for This Is The Life II will probably be disappointed as her sound has changed. This is apparent from the opener "Don't Tell Me That It's Over" as it is produced slickly compared to the more sparse style on This Is The Life. It is electric with energy from the first notes as it carries through the first chorus and yields to a brief stringed accompaniment. There is also the heavily Coldplay influenced piano theme that repeats at different parts of the song. All combined it creates a broad, sweeping sound that was nowhere to be found on This Is The Life. While it is quite different, it is also really cool. The opener sets the tone for the CD as a more mature sound - even on songs that on the surface are similar to This Is The Life lack the degree of feisty attitude. Take "This Pretty Face" for example. It has the same saloon sounding piano that "Barrowland Ballroom" had from her debut, and the theme seems to be more of regret than bravado. Listeners will also find more musical complexity on songs such as "I Got No Roots". It starts out sounding like a ballad lament for the first minute but then it builds over the next 40 seconds into a bouncy pop rocker. This song also contains the line that gives the CD its title "And this life I lead/it's a curious thing". The song that would sound the most at home on This Is The Life is the peppy "Love Love". It is the song that also seems to suffer the most of the repetitive lyrics so common on This Is The Life. A whopping nine lines in the song contain the title phase.

I've hinted at this some already, but I think that the more significant change on A Curious Thing is the perspective that MacDonald seems to have gained. I would expect that the experience of success and touring has matured her in ways beyond the roughly two and half years between recordings. On "Ordinary Life" I can't help but think of other artists (such as Nirvana's Kurt Cobain and Counting Crows Adam Duritz) who have found fame to be more than they bargained for - "I don't care about the spotlights/I don't care about the nights/All I wanted was an ordinary life." Other songs show a depth in both lyrics and instrumentation. I can't help but get a strong sense of loss listening to "My Only One". The string arrangements that serve as the primary backdrop create a bittersweet sadness that really supports the lyrics. Similarly "Troubled Soul" seems to be an earnest message to someone she knows who is hurting.

The one low spot on the CD for me is the ill-advised inclusion of the hidden track - a live recording of Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing In The Dark". Covering The Boss is risky business, and for MacDonald it doesn't pay off.

Overall, though, A Curious Thing is a very strong effort from Amy MacDonald. I was quite pleased with both the maturation of instrumentation and lyrical content. Some may find the changes too much, and I would encourage anyone in doubt to take advantage of online options for listening to full songs before buying. However, if you are open to change, I think you will be pleased with A Curious Thing.

Download this: Don't Tell Me That It's Over

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars An Incongruous Thing, April 20, 2010

By 

Bruce (Rochester, MN USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Curious Thing (Audio CD)

After her fresh and exciting folk-rock debut album portending a bright muscial future to come, this is a real disappointment. It feels like Jim Steinman (of Meatloaf fame) meets Joan Baez -- the album is far over-produced and the vocals are lost in a wall of sound. There are one or two memorable songs here, and the lyrics overall are simplistic; that would be OK if the songs were presented in a straightforward fashion, but the bombastic and overpowering music (with really annoying echo-effects throughout) underscores how trite many of the lyrics really are.

So, I suppose they'll make a lot of money, sell out a lot of stadiums, and maybe Amy 3 will be a little better.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Takes many listens to shine!, August 21, 2011

By 

C.Farr "Tek Geek" (Las Vegas, Nevada USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Curious Thing (Audio CD)

After slowly then fully falling in love with the first album I was indeed slightly disappointed by their second endeavor. But as with the first after listening to many times Amys vocals become clearer and more defined and the music becomes less muddled and more sophisticated. I am again truly amazed by Amy and her band. Although I am 55 years old I cannot believe this group has not become even more popular than they are, especially in the USA. I truly believe that their talent can easily take them into the realms of the best of the best of Rock and Roll! I haven't loved any group as much since the days of the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Yes, Stones and on and on and on..