Track Listing

1. Northern soul
2. London comes alive
3. Rodeo boy
4. Angel and Mercedes
5. I sing about you
6. Nothing cures that
7. This is the life
8. Threatening rain
9. Starring love
10. Hippy girl
11. My girl going to town
12. Looking for my own Lone Ranger
13. Way to work

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #95353 in Music
• Released on: 2002-04-08
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
This Is The Life the third solo album from the front man of late 80s/early 90s hit makers Deacon Blue, is proof that you can't teach an old dog new tricks. The opener "Northern Soul" is a somewhat strange choice, its lighter-holding sway along melody fails to get you in the mood for a poptastic rollercoaster ride, but a good song nonetheless. The following couple of tracks are pleasant enough, but there's nothing here to write home about, on "Rodeo Boy" Ross tries to out Beatlesque Oasis and just ends up sounding like Oasis. Things pick up with "Nothing Cures That" as its brass section really brightens up the chorus. "Starring Love" is a rocky little number with a toe-tapping sing-a-long chorus alongside a good old fashioned guitar lead break and "Hippy Girl" could have been penned by Stephen Duffy, it has enough twangy guitars, a catchy chorus and a Hammond organ! If you're a die-hard Deacon Blue/Ricky Ross fan, this album is probably going to be on your CD player constantly for the next three months. For the rest of us, it's a collection of melancholic ditties from a very gifted songwriter to his loyal followers; nice but nothing special. --Jamie Clark

From the Label
This is the life is Ricky's third solo album and by far his finest. Six years in the writing, this 13 track album show's Ricky's songwriting in an entirely new light. Taking its lead from his 2 previous solo albums (What You Are and New Recording) This is The Life proves that Ricky's music is as relevant now as it has ever been, perhaps even more so. Deacon Blue were always a highly charged act with huge anthemic songs, but Ricky's solo material is markedly more personal and introspective; perfectly crafted contemporary material that easily rivals that of acclaimed artists such as Rufus Wainwright and Ryan Adams, and is just as essential in any music collection.

Customer Reviews

The definitive Ricky Ross solo album
The danger with solo albums from artists better known for their work elsewhere is that the record never seems to match your expectations. This is the life is a beautifully crafted solo album with songwriting that underlines Ricky's huge songwriting ability. Always one with an ear for melody Ricky does not disappoint on this his third solo outing. Key tracks include the infectious Starring Love, London Comes Alive and the masterful The Way To Work.

This is the life is a must for anyone who admires beautiful melodies, thoughtful lyrics and an artist who 15 years on from the classic Raintown consistently delivers the goods...

This is the Life is the definitive Ricky Ross solo album and matches the majesty of any Deacon Blue long playing offering....

This Is Definitely The Life
I only listened to the album once thru and realised I'd have to listen to it again, Soon!
There are some stand out tracks after 1st listening and some definite singles(I hope) with I Sing About You, Nothing Cures That and Starring Love.
Then there are the obvious Deacon Blue'isms that any die hard fan will love, London Comes Alive, Hippy Girl and My Girl Going To Town, but be sure this is a Ricky Ross album and new fans are welcome. I heard it had been cut down from 20 tracks to just 13, knowing this I'd like to have heard the other 7 cause the ones on show leave you waiting for the next one(maybe they'll be the other tracks on the singles released?) without this even being released yet. 5 stars all the way, This Is The Life!!
I've reviewed it track by track just in case you're still wandering what you're missing so read on if you want an idea of how it sounds
Nothern Soul is reminscient of Radioheads OK Computer song No Surprises with that glokenspiel, but takes you somewhere else with the chiming guitars, it's a good intro to Rickys 3rd album
London Comes Alive is where we see the first glimpses of his Deacon Blue'isms coming back which gives a comfort to his older fans, those choruses draw you in and you'll be humming it for ages
Rodeo Boy gives a mix of Lennon'esque vocals but brought completely up to date with the Oasis style band playing around him, sits nicely
Angel & Mercedes is the nice up tempo number which moves the album along, a good album track with thoughtful songwriting
I Sing About You there's something about this that would make it a good single, it's one of those songs that naturally draws you in. amazing
Nothing Cures That we now reach my 2nd favourite track with that infectious piano and brass livening it up and giving it a Van Morrison feel which lets you run with the vocal line '...Nothing Cures That'
This Is The Life the title track takes us past the half way stage of the album and he starts to parade his songwriting skills, it's a really well written song
Threatening Rain it seems too short, this piano based song is actually my favourite track on the album, songwriting at its best
Starring Love sure fire hit that hints at the New Radicals 1st song, it should be one of the singles released
Hippy Girl I like this one cause of its summer feel, its up tempo Deacon Blue'ish, sit in your car singalonger that makes you smile
My Girl Going To Town starts you off slowly before building into Deacon Blue of old, should raise a few smiles with fans
Looking For My Own Lone Ranger Its a slow song that holds its pace taking us thru a wonderfully written song, the kind of song that makes you want to write songs if you don't already
The Way To Work we reach the final track without even looking up and find that this ends the experience perfectly, and with 6 years in writing This Is The Life is the way to work, keep up the good work Ricky best wishes Rob D

Good easy listening
I bought this after really enjoying his latest CD, namely Pale Rider. Not very well publicised as a solo artist but then again nor are Deacon Blue these days. However, this is a very good album and if you like Deacon Blue you shouldn't go too far wrong. Not quite 5 stars as there are one or two iffy songs and trying to give a genuine rating. If you buy do keep listening as its the sort of stuff that keeps growing on you after further listens.