KT Tunstall Albums (4)
'Drastic Fantastic'
Release Date 9/10/2007
Tracks 12
Label Toshiba EMI
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
After the surprise international success of her 2005 debut, Eye to the Telescope, there were two ways that KT Tunstall could have gone: she could have succumbed to its sleepy, serious undercurrents, bringing herself closer to Dido, or she could have pursued the brighter, poppier inclinations of its singles "Black Horse & the Cherry Tree" and "Suddenly I See." A quick glance at the cover of her 2007 follow-up, Drastic Fantastic, leaves little doubt of which path she chose. The singer/songwriter, who was pictured in a pensive pose on the U.K. cover of her debut and in a stark black-and-white photo on the U.S. release, is decked out in a white dress and high-heeled boots, sporting a giant silver-spangled electric guitar, on the cover of Drastic Fantastic. She clearly has gone pop, but she's done so without sacrificing her subtle skills as a writer, for as splashy as the sound of this album is, it isn't just about sound: it's built on songs that are alternately grabbing and insinuating, songs that are as memorable as the sweetly polished production, and more lasting as well. Drastic Fantastic may be as candied as any good adult pop record should be, but it doesn't stay in one place; it bounces between sparkly, insistent pop, sweet and gentle slow tunes, songs that rework the "Black Horse" rhythm, and tunes that are stripped down to her and a guitar. In a time where singer/songwriters are long on bloodletting emotion but short on musicality, this variety is a relief, as is Tunstall's unabashed embrace of being a mainstream troubadour -- and it's not a sell-out, either, because the songs are strong and beneath that glossy veneer, there is genuine emotion here. These are the elements that make Drastic Fantastic a rare beast: a pop album with a songwriter's heart, and one that works on both levels. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
'KT Tunstall's Acoustic Extravaganza'
Release Date 9/25/2006
Tracks 13
Label EMI
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
The very worst that can be said about Acoustic Extravaganza is that it is a stopgap between Eye to the Telescope, which was actually released in the U.K. in late 2005, and whatever comes next. Recorded after a relentless touring schedule, the tracks here were done in a small, remote Scottish studio with KT Tunstall's band. The set includes acoustic versions of "Universe & U" and "Miniature Disasters" from the album, and a few cuts, such as "Girl & the Ghost," "Throw Me a Rope," and "One Day," which were employed as B-sides for singles. There's also a fine -- no, nearly stunning -- cover of Beck's "Golden Age," which could have been recorded for a Ronnie Lane solo album. The rest, such as the countrified "Ashes" with its bold lyrics, the bluesy ballad "Boo Hoo," the pastoral folk-country of "Gone to the Dogs," and the minor key shimmering snapshot "Change" are all first-rate. The relaxed feel of the album is, in its way, a different side of the coin from Eye to the Telescope. Without all the production and gloss, Tunstall is still smooth, and tough at the same time. The DVD that comes along with this set contains a documentary on the making of the album -- this one -- videos for "Gone to the Dogs," "Throw Me a Rope," and a little ditty called the "Wee Bastard Pedal." There are also a slew of photos and outtakes. In other words, this is not a simple capitalistic attempt to part you from your hard-earned cash, but more the artist reaching out to fans she didn't even know she had a year ago, and offering something intimate, gentle, fun, and worthy to make the wait easier. Remember: she's as eager to keep you as you are restless for the next installment. If anything, this little "in process" package reveals the fact that -- in the over-saturated American pop culture market -- Eye to the Telescope was no fluke. Tunstall's the real artifact. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Perhaps it's inevitable that K.T. Tunstall's Eye to the Telescope will draw initial comparisons to Dido, since they're both female adult alternative singer/songwriters who bear a certain similarity in their vocal timbres. But as Tunstall's debut starts to unfold, those superficial connections fall away, as she reveals herself to be a soulful vocalist, a restless musician, and a serious songwriter. At times, she may be on the verge of being a little too serious, as her songs are tightly wound and earnest, two qualities that can seem slightly stuffy when her production has a glossy veneer, as it does on opening songs of the album. These cuts, while accomplished and enjoyable, paint Tunstall as a good but ordinary songwriter, halfway between Dido's elegantly sleepy soundscapes and Sheryl Crow's tuneful craft, which is an inaccurate impression, as the album quickly proves. About a third of the way in, the album kicks into gear and Tunstall is revealed as a kindred spirit of such eccentric contemporaries as Fiona Apple and Nelly Furtado. She's more straightforward than either Apple or Furtado, partially due to the album's overly slick production, but also in her sober, uncluttered songwriting, yet her musical instincts, along with her impassioned vocals, edge her out of the mainstream. Slower songs like "False Alarm" aren't sleepy; they have the lazy, jazzy undercurrents of Jeff Buckley and Radiohead, while faster cuts like the single "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" or "Suddenly I See" have an urgency that makes them compelling, despite the shiny production. But that production is the only drawback on Eye to the Telescope -- it certainly sounds good, it certainly sounds professional, but it may keep some listeners at a distance, since it requires that they look hard to find the unique songwriter beneath the glistening surface. And if they spend the time to really hear what's going on in Eye to the Telescope, they'll find a promising, satisfying debut. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
