Great music, disappointing presentation

For music, not much has actually be said - I have the preview and promo videos consulted and ordered the same. Now, the CD has just arrived, and I know now that I'm going to play this CD in the near future a lot. The new songs are as catchy as the known, with perhaps a touch more individuality of each song, and the already announced much rockier sound. But there remain the MacDonald-typical catchy melodies and the folk-rock character, and also ballads in the vein of "Footballer's Wife" can be found. In particular, the very contemplative song "My Only One" is striking here. Even the beautiful Closer "What Happiness Means To Me" invites you to indulge; the hidden track, "Dancing In The Dark", a magnificent live recorded, acoustically put forward folk ballad, which lives only on Amy's vocals with understated guitar accompaniment, is probably the secret jewel of the CD.

The other end of the scale is "Give It All Up", which comes very trendy; still a very catchy song, but it does not have the usual depth, at least at first hearing. Amy's vocals as always beyond reproach, but the accompaniment "droning" a little. Probably the weakest song on the album, though no song to press next.

Similar afloat, but with melancholic undertones come "This Pretty Face" Therefore, a song about the futility of beautiful appearance, the very folky sounds again and by a wide range of instruments such as the typical folky played piano and plucked strings instrument (mandolin?) and strings, electric and (of course) an acoustic guitar, which, like the complex pattern of a Persian carpet woven at the same time playful with each other, at no time is boring.

The opening track, "Do not Tell Me That It's Over" is likely to be well known. The very rocking song with a skilful interplay of driving rhythms and ethereal guitar sounds, always in perfect harmony with the singing, is convincing from the first moment. Just rock it comes in "Spark" further to the point that on the outstanding album is hardly noticeable, despite the enormous potential catchy. "No Roots" begins, like "Let's Start A Band" rather quiet and develops over the first third of a rocking song about looking for the "meaning of life". He has in my opinion not quite the caliber of musical counterparts from the previous album, which is, however, also my favorite song of the debut work.

The new CD is so definitely a worth buying; But what about the Live CD that is the main addition of this Deluxe Edition? The old songs are so Amy MacDonald fan well known to anyone, nor die-hard fans should at least know some of the tracks. So worth the purchase of the live version? To cut the matter: yes. The live performance bubble over with energy, and the somewhat rockier interpretation of well-known songs with tears more than the known album versions; the covers of The Killers' "Mr. Brightside", Oasis' "Rock'n'Roll Star", The Pogues' "Fairytale of New York" and Dougie MacLean's "Caledonia" are definitely the few extra euros value, even if the male lead in "Fairytale of New York" (bassist Jamie Sefton?) by far can not keep up with Amy. The bonus disc concludes with a particularly virtuosic and furious presented rendition of "Barrowland Ballroom", that is named after the place of the concert. Tip.

And so with the great album remains a small drawback: the presentation is not simply the CD worthy. In a cheap slipcase delivered, with a bit carelessly designtem booklet that contains lyrics and credits, and a very unloving back cover, the packaging looks like a mockery of the customer. Not only that the cardboard packaging looks cheap compared to a high-quality jewel case, it is also quickly over and then not replace adequate for breaking a jewel case, you can buy just a new and transmits the cover; rips a slipcase, that's it. And thanks to the fiddly CD extraction that happens unfortunately very quickly. Since you can still buy the CDs, is so honest, not even save the few euros for Tonqualitativ poorer download version, on the contrary, even puts even more money for the "Limited Deluxe Edition" on the table, and then something like that. As yet to be surprised that CD sales are decreasing, even if the people who still buy CDs because of the nice adjuncts, are bitterly disappointed. For my part, I'm going in the moment when there is an online distribution in CD-quality (eg in FLAC format), leave this sad spectacle behind me.

Nevertheless, there are five stars for the album, because I do not want to devalue the great album for this sleazy packaging.