Under Stars

Macdonald began writing songs for the album in early 2014, two years after the release of Life in a Beautiful Light. In May 2014, she performed four new songs live.{{cite web|title=The 4th Album|url=https://amymacdonalddaily.wordpress.com/2016/06/15/the-4th-album/|website=Amy Macdonald Daily|date=15 June 2016 |access-date=17 February 2017}} She also sang "Leap of Faith" during the Scottish independence referendum in September 2014.{{cite web|title=Scottish independence: Musicians back independence|url=http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/culture/music/scottish-independence-musicians-back-independence-1-3541771|website=The Scotsman|publisher=Catriona Webster|access-date=18 February 2017}} In March 2015, Macdonald announced via Twitter she was finishing the songwriting of the album, but had not yet started recording.{{cite web|title=Amy Macdonald on Twitter: "@alan_ferg pretty much finished the writing. Just need to record and plan now but no idea how long that will take"|url=https://twitter.com/Amy__Macdonald/status/581907561189867520|website=Twitter|publisher=Amy Macdonald|access-date=17 February 2017}} On 28 October 2015, she announced via Twitter she started the recording sessions for the album.{{cite web|title=Amy Macdonald on Twitter: "Album 4 recording session. Day 1!"|url=https://twitter.com/Amy__Macdonald/status/659296584253968384|website=Twitter|publisher=Amy Macdonald|access-date=18 February 2017}} Later, she stated on 9 December 2015 via her Instagram account that she had finished the songwriting for the album and that she hoped the album would be finished sometime in 2016.{{cite web|title=Amy Macdonald on Instagram: "Final writing session in the bunker. The album should be finished early next year. Exciting times..."|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/_FSc1unPsM/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/amy__macdonald/1136395627653823244 |archive-date=25 December 2021 |url-access=registration|website=Instagram|publisher=Amy Macdonald|access-date=18 February 2017}}{{cbignore}} On 9 August 2016, Macdonald announced via Instagram her fourth album was finished and would be released early 2017.{{cite web|title=Amy Madonald on Instagram: "FINALLY!!! After many months of hard work yesterday my new album was officially finished. I'm so proud of it..."|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BI5fmXDArSn/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/amy__macdonald/1313219741883741351 |archive-date=25 December 2021 |url-access=registration|website=Instagram|publisher=Amy Macdonald|access-date=18 February 2017}}{{cbignore}}

Macdonald said although it was two and a half years in the making, which is the longest she has ever taken with an album, she was glad to have taken the time and she feels the album has "the TLC that it deserves".

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|title=Under Stars - Amy Macdonald|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/under-stars-mw0003005380|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=1 March 2017}}

| rev2 = Daily Express

| rev2score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Townsend|first=Martin|url=http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/music/766530/Album-reviews-Ryan-Adams-Nick-Cave|title=Album reviews: Ryan Adams, Nick Cave and more|work=Daily Express|date=12 February 2017 |access-date=12 February 2017}}

| rev3 = London Evening Standard

| rev3score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web|last=Smyth|first=David|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/stayingin/music/amy-macdonald-under-stars-review-a-tuneful-collection-a3469151.html|title=Amy Macdonald - Under Stars review: 'a tuneful connection'|work=London Evening Standard|date=17 February 2017 |access-date=21 February 2017}}

| rev4 = Pop Magazine

| rev4score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web |last=Rae |first=Katherine |url=http://pop-mag.com/2017-02-23/review-amy-macdonald-under-stars/ |title=Review: Amy Macdonald - Under Stars |website=Pop Magazine |date=23 February 2017 |access-date=29 December 2018}}

| rev5 = Renowned for Sound

| rev5score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Scarsbrook|first=Rachael|url=http://renownedforsound.com/index.php/album-review-amy-macdonald-under-stars/|title=Album reviews: Amy Macdonald|work=Renowned for Sound|access-date=15 February 2017}}

| rev6 = The Scotsman

| rev6score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web|last=Hodgkinson|first=Will|url=http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/culture/music/album-reviews-amy-macdonald-chuck-prophet-the-damned-1-4372892|title=Album reviews: Amy Macdonald|work=The Scotsman|access-date=21 February 2017}}

}}

The album up to now has gathered mixed to positive reviews, receiving a score of 3 out of 5 stars at the London Evening Standard, describing the album as "a tuneful collection that doesn't mess with the formula".

"Dream On" was released as the lead single from the album on 6 January 2017. The song has peaked to number 37 on the Scottish Singles Chart. The song also charted in Belgium.

"Automatic" was released as the second single off the album on 24 March 2017. The accompanying music video was released on her Vevo channel on 17 March 2017.

"Down by the Water" was released as the third single from the album on 11 July 2017, on the same day as the accompanying music video. An acoustic version of the song was previously released in late 2016 as a promotional single from the album before its release.

{{Track listing

| headline = Under Stars track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s){{cite web|title=Under Stars - Amy Macdonald|url=http://www.qobuz.com/ch-fr/album/under-stars-amy-macdonald/0060255730030|website=Qobuz - Musique illimitée et Téléchargements Hi-Res 24-Bit|access-date=18 February 2017}}

| title1 = Dream On

| writer1 = {{hlist|Amy Macdonald|Ben Parker|James Sims}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|Andrew Britton|Mikey Rowe|Ash Howes}}

| length1 = 3:19

| title2 = Under Stars

| writer2 = {{hlist|Macdonald|Parker|Sims}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|Cameron Blackwood|Tim Bran|Roy Kerr}}

| length2 = 3:41

| title3 = Automatic

| writer3 = {{hlist|Macdonald|Parker|Sims}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|Blackwood|Bran|Kerr}}

| length3 = 3:16

| title4 = Down by the Water

| writer4 = {{hlist|Macdonald|Parker|Sims}}

| extra4 = {{hlist|Bran|Kerr|Parker|Sims}}

| length4 = 3:27

| title5 = Leap of Faith

| writer5 = {{hlist|Macdonald}}

| extra5 = {{hlist|Blackwood|Bran|Kerr}}

| length5 = 3:03

| title6 = Never Too Late

| writer6 = {{hlist|Macdonald|Adam Falkner|Shannon Harris}}

| extra6 = {{hlist|Blackwood|Bran|Kerr}}

| length6 = 4:06

| title7 = The Rise & Fall

| writer7 = {{hlist|Macdonald|Parker|Sims}}

| extra7 = {{hlist|Britton|Rowe}}

| length7 = 3:13

| title8 = Feed My Fire

| writer8 = {{hlist|Macdonald|Parker|Sims}}

| extra8 = {{hlist|Blackwood|Bran|Kerr}}

| length8 = 3:15

| title9 = The Contender

| writer9 = {{hlist|Macdonald|Parker|Sims}}

| extra9 = {{hlist|Blackwood}}

| length9 = 3:36

| title10 = Prepare to Fall

| writer10 = {{hlist|Macdonald}}

| extra10 = {{hlist|Blackwood}}

| length10 = 4:30

| title11 = From the Ashes

| writer11 = {{hlist|Macdonald|Parker|Sims}}

| extra11 = {{hlist|Bran|Kerr}}

| length11 = 3:36

}}

{{Track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s){{cite web|title=Under Stars (Deluxe) - Amy Macdonald|url=http://www.qobuz.com/ch-fr/album/under-stars-amy-macdonald/0060255730030|website=Qobuz - Musique illimitée et Téléchargements Hi-Res 24-Bit|access-date=18 February 2017}}

| title1 = Dream On

| writer1 = {{hlist|Amy Macdonald|Ben Parker|James Sims}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|Andrew Britton|Ash Howes|Mikey Rowe}}

| length1 = 3:19

| title2 = Under Stars

| writer2 = {{hlist|Macdonald|Parker|Sims}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|Cameron Blackwood|Tim Bran|Roy Kerr}}

| length2 = 3:41

| title3 = Automatic

| writer3 = {{hlist|Macdonald|Parker|Sims}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|Blackwood|Bran|Kerr}}

| length3 = 3:16

| title4 = Down by the Water

| writer4 = {{hlist|Macdonald|Parker|Sims}}

| extra4 = {{hlist|Bran|Kerr|Parker|Sims}}

| length4 = 3:27

| title5 = Leap of Faith

| writer5 = {{hlist|Macdonald}}

| extra5 = {{hlist|Blackwood|Bran|Kerr}}

| length5 = 3:03

| title6 = Never Too Late

| writer6 = {{hlist|Macdonald|Adam Falkner|Shannon Harris}}

| extra6 = {{hlist|Blackwood|Bran|Kerr}}

| length6 = 4:06

| title7 = The Rise & Fall

| writer7 = {{hlist|Macdonald|Parker|Sims}}

| extra7 = {{hlist|Britton|Rowe}}

| length7 = 3:13

| title8 = Feed My Fire

| writer8 = {{hlist|Macdonald|Parker|Sims}}

| extra8 = {{hlist|Blackwood|Bran|Kerr}}

| length8 = 3:15

| title9 = The Contender

| writer9 = {{hlist|Macdonald|Parker|Sims}}

| extra9 = {{hlist|Blackwood}}

| length9 = 3:36

| title10 = Prepare to Fall

| writer10 = {{hlist|Macdonald}}

| extra10 = {{hlist|Blackwood}}

| length10 = 4:30

| title11 = From the Ashes

| writer11 = {{hlist|Macdonald|Parker|Sims}}

| extra11 = {{hlist|Bran|Kerr}}

| length11 = 3:36

| title12 = Under Stars

| writer12 = {{hlist|Macdonald|Parker|Sims}}

| extra12 = {{hlist|Parker}}

| note12 = acoustic

| length12 = 3:40

| title13 = Dream On

| writer13 = {{hlist|Macdonald|Parker|Sims}}

| extra13 = {{hlist|Parker}}

| note13 = acoustic

| length13 = 3:16

| title14 = Prepare to Fall

| writer14 = {{hlist|Macdonald}}

| extra14 = {{hlist|Parker}}

| note14 = acoustic

| length14 = 4:03

| title15 = Leap of Faith

| writer15 = {{hlist|Macdonald}}

| extra15 = {{hlist|Parker}}

| note15 = acoustic

| length15 = 3:10

| title16 = Automatic

| writer16 = {{hlist|Macdonald|Parker|Sims}}

| extra16 = {{hlist|Parker}}

| note16 = acoustic

| length16 = 3:05

| title17 = Down by the Water

| writer17 = {{hlist|Macdonald|Parker|Sims}}

| extra17 = {{hlist|Parker}}

| note17 = acoustic

| length17 = 3:28

| title18 = The Rise & Fall

| writer18 = {{hlist|Macdonald|Parker|Sims}}

| extra18 = {{hlist|Parker}}

| note18 = acoustic

| length18 = 3:34

| title19 = I'm on Fire

| note19 = acoustic

| writer19 = {{hlist|Bruce Springsteen}}

| extra19 = {{hlist|Parker}}

| length19 = 2:20

}}

A super deluxe box set was also released that contains:{{cite web|title=Limited Edition Deluxe CD Box Set (Signed)|url=http://store.amymacdonald.co.uk/*/*/Limited-Edition-Deluxe-CD-Box-Set-Signed/5DLX0000000|website=Amy MacDonald|access-date=18 February 2017|language=en}}

• Deluxe edition of the album
• DVD of 8 live acoustic versions
• 4 art images (one signed by Macdonald)
• Handwritten printed lyric sheets
• Embossed black envelope

{{col-start}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Sales certifications for Under Stars}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|relyear=2017|region=Germany|award=Gold|certyear=2017|artist=Amy Macdonald|title=Under Stars|access-date=9 February 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|relyear=2017|region=Switzerland|award=Gold|certyear=2017|certref={{cite web|first=Frank|last=Medwedeff|url=https://beta.musikwoche.de/details/421524|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209174951/https://beta.musikwoche.de/details/421524|archive-date=9 February 2021|url-status=live|title=Amy Macdonald erntet Schweizer Gold|publisher=musikwoche.de|date=25 August 2017|language=de|access-date=9 February 2021}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|relyear=2017|region=United Kingdom|award=Silver|certyear=2023|artist=Amy Macdonald|title=Under Stars|id=19533-708-2|access-date=15 December 2023}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=yes|streaming=yes}}

{{Reflist|40em}}

• [http://www.amymacdonald.co.uk/ Amy Macdonald] Official site
• [https://www.youtube.com/user/amymacdonaldofficial Amy Macdonald on YouTube]

{{Amy Macdonald}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Amy Macdonald albums

Category:Mercury Records albums