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Amy McDonald
In the wake of ‘American Idol’ neo-talents and Radio Disney wanna-bes, I get the heebie-jeebies whenever I see some new female artist vying for my attention. My instincts warn me to take flight while my conscious brain tells me I’m bound to be disappointed by whatever two-dimensional presentation the new face has to offer.
Amy McDononald’s new disk offers me a panacea for my paranoia. First of all – and this is very important in this age of emotionless warblers – she writes her own material. Secondly, she knows how to write memorable melodies, and best of all, her words are genuinely meaningful. “This Is the Life” overflows with catchy riffs that support personal tales of difficult relationships, but she speaks from (and for) a perspective that includes both sexes. The opening track spells it out instantly. “Mr. Rock and Roll” brilliantly conveys pigeon-holed individuals willing to overcome their narrow-minded perspectives in order to find happiness together, while “Poison Prince” tells the tale of an aloof “poetic genius” who can’t see beyond his own bad habits (Are you listening, Pete Doherty?).
This return to topicality and personal expression is heady stuff when compared to the new breed of pop star, and it is most welcome. As you listen to “This Is the Life,” you are left with the distinct impression that McDonald has lived with, and inside of, these songs for quite some time. Her appeal ought to cross age barriers as well. “Youth of Today" chastises baby boomers who apply judgmental aspersions toward their kids without acknowledging their talents, and parents would be wise to heed her perspective. In a marketplace where intelligence and melody are being abandoned, and record labels drop singer/songwriters like hot potatoes, it’s wonderful to hear someone unwilling to compromise her expressive talents for lowest-common-denominator pop. To my mind, “This Is the Life” is extraordinarily commercial, and extraordinarily good. I hope that Amy McDonald finds an audience that agrees with me, because she deserves it.
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