One of 2005's most promising new talents is KT Tunstall, the fresh Scottish songstress who has made a big impression upon Radio 1 and Radio 2 listeners. Her brand of pop and rock music, with traces of folk, is something interesting amidst an ocean of bland R'n'B radio filler. Her debut album "Eye To The Telescope" is an impressive piece of work, but Miss Tunstall still needs to fully impress the public over here in Britain. She's been on a promotional blitz for this album, and it hasn't exactly sold amazingly well yet, but I think this album will be a slow burner throughout 2005 and will see KT achieve big success by the end of the year.

The album opens with the second single, the gorgeous "Other Side Of The World." This song has received a great reception and I hope it does really well on the charts. This is probably one of the strongest songs of the year so far, sounding a little bit like Dido - musically - and Fiona Apple - vocally. So as you can see, it's a melting pot of musical styles! "Another Place To Fall" shows that KT can rock with the best of them on a uptempo pop rock piece with a fiery chorus and punchy verses. The guitar is an ever-present force in this album, and this song showcases that. "Under The Weather" is the first ballad of the album, and it's almost lullaby in style. KT's vocals here are soft and lucious working wonderfully with the guitars and gentle humming in the background. A great song, very visual with images of water and submersion created in your mind. The song picks up pace towards the end. "Black Horse And The Cherry Tree" is the most well-known song from this album and was the first single KT ever released. This song really caught my attention because it's unlike anything else out there! There's elements of pop, rock, folk and perhaps even country. KT works that echo pedal like a pro here, and the catchiness of the verses is incredible. This song only made the Top 30 in the UK but should have done so much better.

"Miniature Disasters" is an off-kilter, murky little number which may take a while to grow on you. I didn't really like it to begin with, but after a while it will win you over. "Silent Sea" is one of the best songs on the album and probably the most relaxing. Here, KT sounds like a mix of Norah Jones and Fiona Apple! Her voice is brilliant as it gently purrs over the gently flowing bass, representative of this silent sea. The chorus is beautiful and uplifting - a great piece of work. "Universe & U" is another album highlight because it features slight uses of electronics in this song's background. The verses are particularly strong, and a perfect set up for the choruses where KT really belts them out, making the most of her powerful vocals. The best part of the song is about 2:20 into the song where things just come together and KT's vocals have never sounded as amazing in the last minute. "False Alarm" is another song which may take a while to grow on you, but it is a great piece that sparkles. It has a clunky beat that plods along, but isn't really a memorable song when you consider some of the other better songs on offer.

"Suddenly I See" is a great, uptempo piece that has a heavy bass and a catchy melody. It's quite a peppy piece with quite corny verses, but great choruses. It tells the story of a girl who everyone is in awe of because of the qualities she projects, and suddenly, KT sees that's the kind of person she wants to be! Corny, yes, but too sweet to dismiss. "Stoppin' The Love" is a clunky song with a clap-beat but doesn't really make much of an impression on me. "Heal Over" is a rather mid-tempo song that serves as more of a showcase of KT's vocals than anything else. Her voice does indeed purr all over the guitar and the addition of backing vocals is a fine touch. The album closes with "Through The Dark," which is different to the other songs because it features a piano. This works well with the bass and the drums, and KT's vocals control them all perfectly. This is quite a good song, but I don't find it very memorable.

OVERALL GRADE: 8/10

I was very impressed with this album, even though it does have high points and low points. The best material is contained within the first half of the album in my opinion, but there's some fine moments towards the end as well. KT is popular because of her voice first and foremost, and this will be the tool that carries her through her career. It has the jazzy tone of Norah Jones, but with a raw rock edge that will appeal to fans of Dido, Natalie Imbruglia and Texas. This isn't a perfect debut album and I've heard better this year, but it's still a promising start to what could be - and rightfully should be - a very long career.

This Scottish-raised singer/songwriter of Chinese ancestry debuts with a delightful album as mixed as her background. One of the most popular tracks is the fun-country live rendition of the foot-stompin' "Black Horse & the Cherry Tree", but my personal favorite is the first single "Other Side of the World". These two songs alone make the album worth buying, the only problem being that it's too darn short.

The album begins on a high note with the aforementioned "Other Side of the World", an excellent, thoroughly enjoyable, first rate song with great lyrics:

"The fire fades away
Most of every day
Is full of tired excuses
But it's too hard to say
I wish it were simple
But we give up easily
You're close enough to see that
You're the other side of the world"

Most of the other songs come close to the brilliance of the two I've already mentioned, and every song is worth listening to, with traces of Sheryl Crow and Dido popping up from time to time. Other good tracks are "Another Place to Fall" with its Coldplay type musical hooks and swelling chorus; the folksy "Under the Weather"; the Simon & Garfunkel-like guitar strumming "Suddenly I See"; the retro `80s rock ballad "False Alarm"; and the heart pounding "Stoppin' the Love".

One of the best new artists on the scene

Amanda Richards, March 15, 2006

This Scottish-raised singer/songwriter of Chinese ancestry debuts with a delightful album as mixed as her background. One of the most popular tracks is the fun-country live rendition of the foot-stompin' "Black Horse & the Cherry Tree", but my personal favorite is the first single "Other Side of the World". These two songs alone make the album worth buying, the only problem being that it's too darn short.

The album begins on a high note with the aforementioned "Other Side of the World", an excellent, thoroughly enjoyable, first rate song with great lyrics:

"The fire fades away
Most of every day
Is full of tired excuses
But it's too hard to say
I wish it were simple
But we give up easily
You're close enough to see that
You're the other side of the world"

Most of the other songs come close to the brilliance of the two I've already mentioned, and every song is worth listening to, with traces of Sheryl Crow and Dido popping up from time to time. Other good tracks are "Another Place to Fall" with its Coldplay type musical hooks and swelling chorus; the folksy "Under the Weather"; the Simon & Garfunkel-like guitar strumming "Suddenly I See"; the retro `80s rock ballad "False Alarm"; and the heart pounding "Stoppin' the Love".

Definitely a contender for best new artist of 2005.


Amanda Richards, September 2, 2005

Eye to the Telescope. (Relentless Records UK Reissue)

I first heard KT on the NBC Today Show. She performed "Black Horse & a Cherry Tree" live. It was a breathtaking performance full of soul, passion and urgentcy. It was just her and the music. No backing band, no clutter. Just her. It was fabulous. I've not seen something that rockin' in along time.

I rushed to a computer and ordered from amazon.co.uk to get the british version of this CD. The US issue isn't going to be able for another week and half. I just recieved the disc today and have tracked through it a couple times. Here's my verdict:

I think KT is so much stronger live. On this release she's often in a band setting with some technopop flavors. I think that waters down the material. KT is best live and raw. I also agree with a previous reviewer that her record company watered her down. You don't get any of the power and the soul I've seen live.

Now, its not bad material. I think live the material would pop more. Eye to the Telescope is very much a traditional pop record in many ways - that makes this record just ok.

I hope KT continues the direction of the appearence I've seen of her. Just her and her guitar. No band, no fluff. Very intimate and powerful where she's perfect.

This sadly doesn't capture her at her best.

K.T TUNSTALL IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST NEW ACTS OF 2005 IN THE U.K AND IRELAND.AN EXCELLENT SINGER/SONGWRITER FROM SCOTLAND,WHO BROKE INTO THE MUSIC SCENE WITH THE INFECTIOUS FUNKY "BLACK HORSE AND A CHERRY TREE"THE ALBUM INCLUDES MANY FINE MASTERPIECES SUCH AS THE FOLK SOUNDING "UNDER THE WEATHER"AND THE ROCKY,JAZZY "SUDENLY I SEE"THE BEAUTIFUL SOFT ROCK"OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD"OTHER HIGHLITS INCLUDE"THE MELODIC SOFT "FALSE ALARM AND HEAL OVER".VERY VERSITILE ALBUM WITH A FUSION OF SOFT ROCK,FOLK AND JAZZ.A DEFINATE MUST HAVE.ONE OF THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2005.ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE IT....AMAZING.REVIEWD BY G AGE 22