Customer Reviews

Eye to the Telescope

5 star:		(184)
4 star:		(46)
3 star:		(20)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I am neither young nor hip. The music that today's kids listen to is grating on my ears. I have eclectic musical tastes, and listen to everything from classical, to jazz, to folk, to rock; but I can't stand hip hop, dance music, or Top-40 pop. Give me Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Stevie Ray Vaughn, or Pink Floyd. I have no use for Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, or Diddy. In other words, I want more from my music than a beat you can dance to and some sexy choreography. In order to get my attention, music must have some depth to it. I want substance; not just superficial flash.

KT Tunstall is the real deal. Unlike most young singers today, she's got actual musical talent. Her songs are lyrical and catchy. They have a way of getting under your skin. And she performs them perfectly. No dancing; no flashy costumes; nothing to distract you from the music -- KT Tunstall doesn't need any of that. She can sing. She can play. She can write songs. This isn't kiddie music (though she does seem to appeal to younger listeners as well as to those of us who are a bit more mature). It's good to know that someone as genuinely talented as KT Tunstall is getting recognition and commercial success in the world of popular music. Maybe we're finally starting to emerge out of the era of lame kiddie pop, hip hop, and dance music that began in the mid-1990s, and are entering a new era of quality music. (Probably not; but a guy can dream.) At the very least, I hope to hear more from KT Tunstall in the coming years.

Next to my wife, in my 48 years of life, music has been my passion. In recent times, its been very hard for me to find anything I like. The American music "powers to be" want to do nothing but shove hip hop, fluff & shallow "Pop Tarts" (Britney, Jessica Simpson, Paris Hilton & on & on & on.........) down our throats. FINALLY, after about 20 years, a breath of fresh air !!! I stumbled upon K T Tunstall channel surfing & came accross the tail end of her Soundstage concert televised on PBS about a month ago. I didn't know who she was at the time but was greatly impressed with the couple of songs I heard. I purchased the cd last week & by coincidence, heard she was coming to Buffalo last Friday (9-29-06). I listened to the CD & I couldn't believe my ears. This is the most talented artist to come along in ages. I can't get enough of this cd. The opening tune, "Other side of the world", is as beautiful of a song as your ever going to hear. The chord progressions & KT's sweet vocals send chills down my spine. The next tune, " Another place to fall", has a bit of an edge & shows another side of this multi talented artist. I'm not going to analyze each track, but they compliment each other well. The 2 more "up tempo" songs, "Black horse & the cherry tree" & "Suddenly I see", are excellent. Before I bought the cd, I read various reviews. I heard KT compared to Bonnie Raitt, Carole King, Melissa Etheridge among others. I was a little skeptical. I said to myself, no one can be THAT GOOD !!?? Well guess what, SHE IS. She's a genuine artist who pours everything she has into her music. A great writer, musician & most of all, singer. Oh, & I almost forgot, performer. My wife & I caught her show in Buffalo last week & it has to rank in the top 5 I've seen in my lifetime. Not alot of dancing around, no elaborate stage set up although she has a great band with her, no lasers or fancy lightshow, just her musical talent & thats enough to take you away. I HAVE FAITH IN MUSIC AGAIN !!!!!!! YES !!!!!!

I was spending a long time recently browsing through my local music store and found myself continually being drawn to the young lady singing on the sound system. Finally, I did something I seldom do: I went to the clerk and asked "Who IS this playing?" I thought it was either Fiona Apple or something new from former Sixpence None the Richer singer Leigh Nash.

I confess, I hadn't heard of KT Tunstall before, but I was very struck by her music. She's a little bit jazzy, a little folky, smooth and fiesty, acoustic-but-rocking ... I don't know what to call her music except great.

"Other Side of the World" is a funky, kicky leadoff track, and things don't slack off after that. "Another Place to Fall" rocks a bit in a crunchy granola kind of way. The plucky "Suddenly I See" is pretty much irresistable pop. The CD alternately soars and sighs, but never sinks or falters. It's really an amazingly mature and accomplished work from such a new, young artist.

Take Norah Jones, Nelly Furtado, Dido, Carol King, the aforementioned Nash and Apple, Sarah MacLaughlin, Bonnie Raitt, and, just for the heck of it, The Corrs, and put them all in a blender...or maybe a cappucino machine...shake and warm, and you might have something like KT Tunstall. And that's a good thing.

KT Tunstall (Is that pronounced "Katy"? If so, how cute!) recently performed in San Francisco, where I live. Unfortunately the show was sold-out and I couldn't get tickets. Although the venue wasn't large, any new or relatively unknown artist that sells out a performance in a city like San Francisco deserves notice. So I decided to check out her CD "Eye To The Telescope." (So named because her father was a physicist who took her to the observatory at St Andrew's University in Scotland.)

Her first effort is admirable. She has a taste of Bonnie Raitt, a little bit of Judy Collins and a whole lot of originality in her music. The CD is a pleasure to listen to. Each tune is different from the others on the CD, yet each manages to have a catchy phrase that sticks in the mind. It's the kind of music you can still hear long over the CD is over.

This is a good CD and an excellent first start for this talented artist.

I have to admit, I don't listen to the hottest radio stations. That's why I didn't hear Black Horse and a Cherry Tree until a year after it was a hit. The first time I heard it, I was hooked, which doesn't happen often now that I'm 50-something.
KT's renditions reminded me a lot of Melissa Etheridge's early songs like Brave and Crazy and Chrome Plated Heart. There's a bit of a Bonnie Raitt sound there, too.
My other immediate favorites on the "Eye" album were Miniature Disasters and Suddenly I See. But after listening to the album (yea, I still use album-speak) I've come to appreciate Another Place to Fall and Silent Sea, too.
The lyrics in Miniature Disasters will resonate with anyone who has ever tried to keep their eye on the prize while listening to their heart and trying to find their place in the world.
If you're going to get songs stuck in your head, it might as well be ones that make you smile and supplicate your inner acoustic rocker.

This is KT's debut LP, and there isn't a single bad song on this album. That means, boy does she have high hopes pinned on her next album! Standout tracks are the radio single "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" - this edition of the album has the rockin' studio version - "Another Place to Fall," and "Suddenly I See." The album, when listened sequentially, feels like going through a journey. She's petite and billed as a singer-songwriter, but make no mistake, she can really rock.

I had the privilege of seeing her at a live concert in Boston, where she was the headliner. She and her band are great live, and her live performances are CD-quality with some interesting add-ons to some of her songs. Her band really goes all-out during the chorus of "Suddenly I See," and what a great bass riff during the chorus of "Another Place to Fall." She plays a great extended version of "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" live, and I hear you can download an extended version of that song online. Sorry, this album has the original just-barely 3-minute version of that song that ends too soon, making you longing for more.

The album's lyrics are interesting and intelligent. I can't say I've paid too close attention to the lyrics, except for "Black Horse," whose whimsical lyrics describe a fork-in-the-road moment in life similar to the one described in that Robert Frost poem. Listening casually and reading through the liner notes though, the lyrics are definitely interesting if you take the time to listen to them.

KT already has a few new songs up her sleeve for the next album and will begin recording in a few months as of this writing. So expect a new album by Christmastime 2006? I don't know. A few remarks about searching for this artist in Amazon though: Most of her albums seem to be under the entry "K.T. Tunstall", although this album is under "KT Tunstall," which makes searching for different albums of hers and different versions somewhat difficult in Amazon. This version of her album is the one to get though, at least in the U.S., for it is the cheapest, has all the tracks, and the studio version of "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree."

For a 50 something like me to just flip for a new comer singer.. it takes alot.. I am a vocalist myself and.. well very hard to impress.. I find most young artists all sounding the same..
However, KT is all the great folk/rock/blues/country singers you know rolled into one.. Her voice has passion, depth, and great emotionality... The music is natural, and from the heart combining Rikki Lee Jones/ Maria Muldaur/Carole King/Wynonna and a host of others into one fantastic style.
I bought the album for Black Horse and the Cherry Tree but fell in love with the rest of it.. I especially like vocals on "Heal Over"
I expect much more from this bright young artist.. and hail her as the savior of modern music. Finally, someone who is not the same old "Brittney, Gwen, Christina" Pop star with the same old sound... Brava!!!!! Run don't want to get this album.. she is amazing!!

I've grown to love this album. At first, I only liked a few songs, but as I listened, I grew to love so many of them. They're very expressive and at times reached chilling notes that I still can't get out of my head.

1. "Other Side of the World" - 10/10
The first time I heard this song, I couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of the lyrics. The chorus gives me a chill.
2. "Another Place to Fall" - 10/10
This one is great. Its a radio friendly song with a great chorus.
3. "Under the Weather" - 9/10
This one is a subjective song that takes you on a mental journey.
4. "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" - 10/10
KT's signature. It couldn't have been done better.
5. "Miniature Disasters" - 8/10
Starting out acoustically like most of Tunstall's songs, it proves a hit mix later on.
6. "Silent Sea" - 9/10
This song is a pure vocal. It really brings out the beauty in KT's voice.
7. "Universe & U" - 8/10
An interesting song. It's very catchy.
8. "False Alarm" - 9/10
A song that makes you think after a listen. It has a gorgeous opening, and follows through with a beautiful ending.
9. "Suddenly I See" - 10/10
This has to be one of the most memorable songs on the album. It has a great beat to it and is a great listen!
10. "Stoppin' the Love" - 7/10
One of the weaker songs on the album. Reminds me of some of Joss Stone's stuff. It's pretty unique though.
11. "Heal Over" - 9/10
A pretty, slow song.
12. "Through the Dark" - 10/10
A very slow song, but an expressive beauty.

I like KT Tunstall don't get me wrong. But the producer of this
CD did her a great injustice. I first heard KT on NPR in a radio interview. Her voice was raw and filled with energy- quite unique. If you have a chance to see her in concert and you appreciate singers whose voices can stand alone you will truly enjoy her. It is unfortunate for her that whoever produced this CD did not think her voice could stand on its own. Clearly, over synthesized music sells better in these modern times. To have a musician that does not need their voice manipulated and smoothed over is rare- and that is KT. But this CD is in one word...Overdone- and perfect for the background of commercials and your favorite Desperate Housewives episodes...Save the money you would spend on this CD and see her in concert....KT if you read this - get someone who is not afraid of your talent to produce your next album.

I would never have bought this album except I got an Ipod and I-Tunes card for Christmas and looked for music to import. I trolled some radio stations (I usually listen to NPR and Talk Radio) and the song, Suddenly I See, caught my interest. Her voice is very interesting and the song has an exhuberant quality I wanted to hear again. Upon buying the album (and down-loading it to my Ipod), I discovered that Suddenly I See also has a lot of irony and sarcasm while remaining a catchy tune and fun tune. Minature Disasters is another song on the CD that I especially like. Actually everthing on the CD is rich in texture and worth listening to many times. Being an old guy, I have largely fallen out of touch with comtemporary music. However, K.T. Tunstall, to me, seems like a cross between Sheryl Crowe and Norah Jones with a pinch of Allison Morisette thrown in. In other words, in her music I hear sweetness with a worldly and ragged edge.