Amy Macdonald – Is This What You’ve Been Waiting For?

Just like Robbie Williams, Amy Macdonald has limited, niche popularity in the USA compared to her massive success in Europe and the UK. While her debut album This Is the Life (2007) achieved some recognition and peaked at #92 on the Billboard 200, none of her subsequent albums have charted there. She is primarily known for her 2008 hit ‘This Is The Life’.

A strong vocal showing from Amy Macdonald, though it’s ultimately tied to dated and overly conventional pop-rock songs. The album’s generally upbeat, optimistic, and brisk feel does make the listen more pleasant and easier to move through, but it can’t fully offset how predictable much of the material sounds.

For most listeners, the success of this record will hinge on the singing and lyrics, since the overall soundscape is fairly generic. What’s missing is a real sense of invention or boldness — some genuine creative risks that could have elevated the songs. Unfortunately, that spark is largely absent, resulting in an album that never exceeds mild enjoyment. It’s especially disappointing because Macdonald’s voice, paired with more adventurous production, could have yielded far more compelling results. It’s surprising, too, considering that one of the producers previously worked on 21 by Adele, a record that achieved major critical acclaim. This release doesn’t come close to that level.