Drastic Fantastic (Audio CD)

From strength to strength KT Tunstall is a wonderful talent. She has been compared to Katie Melua and others, but these comparisons aren't really fair. She has a style very much her own and it is showcased beautifully on this album. She has a wonderful voice which makes her material instantly recognisable. This third album features even more classy songwriting. I have listened to this album from start to finish more times than I can rememeber and I still can't get bored of it. The production is beautiful and really makes the songs feel full of energy and life. "White Bird" is a glorious acoustic number, with delicate vocals. Opener "Little Favours" is a great way to start any record, while "Hopeless" is wonderful little self-deprecating track with nice lyrics and a melody that will stick in your head for days afterwards. If you get a chance, see her in concert as well. She is an incredible performer and her material really comes to life in a live setting.

Difficult third album? No difficulty here. You could be mistaken for believing Ms Tunstall sees herself as a fully-fledged diva upon seeing the cover of this, her third album. But while the songs have an unmistakable swagger about them this owes more to a talented songstress at the height of her game and loving every minute than to some over-hyped prima donna. I've always been a bit ambivalent towards KT Tunstall. Eye To The Telescope left me fairly cold and I've not yet got round to sampling her 'Acoustic Extravaganza'. What has always charmed me is her palpable enthusiasm and general joie de vivre that has come across in interviews. Her being a talented Scot, from the east of the country, also has particular resonance. I bought this as something to listen to on the way to work. Something I thought would be pleasant and fill the time nicely. What I got was an album that is all I have listened to for the past week. From the solid opening Little Favours there is simply not a weak moment to be found. It strikes a good balance between dreamy acoustic numbers which never descend into the tweedom of Katie Melua, and fiesty, spiky rollicking anthems. Particularly worthy of mention is White Bird, a beautiful and infectious acoustic number that'll get under your skin; the twangy, lively Hold On; I Don't Want You Now, a wonderful and worthy tribute to the singing style of the late Kirsty MacColl; and the mesmerising Saving My Face. For an album to inspire such love in someone previously 'ambivalent' to Ms Tunstall you know this has to be good!

What's all the fuss about? Can someone please explain it to me?? The music is passable, her voice is OK but I really can't hear anything outstanding here . . . maybe I need to hear some of her stuff live in order to appreciate it fully?? Until then this album is perfectly passable background fodder.

Not a patch on 'Eye To The Telescope' This is a very forgettable album. I've been listening to it a lot for two weeks now and I still can't recall the tunes from any of the songs. It's a real disappointment after KT Tunstall's first album. The problem is that she's drowned her own voice in layers of music, rendering any meaningful lyrics meaningless. Whereas before on her old album, you could listen to and enjoy songs such as 'Silent Sea' and 'Other Side Of The World', it's very hard to catch the words at all and the whole thing becomes a mundane mash of sound. Those who have not yet listened to KT Tunstall but are interested would be better off buying the first album but not the second, and waiting for a third one that will hopefully repeat the magic of 'Eye To The Telescope'.

Groovy Good honest nononsense upbeat singalong feelgood music. A superb follow on from the first album. Goonyersel KT.