KT Tunstall - Drastic Fantastic - Music & Performance - CD

With her debut album, 2006's Eye To The Telescope, Scotland's KT Tunstall took America by storm. Just one year later, she's back with Drastic Fantastic, an aptly named disc considering that it marks a drastic change from Eye -- and also is a fantastic showcase of her artistic range.

Less aggressive but equally as impressive as her debut, Drastic Fantastic starts out as an extension of her first disc. "Little Favours" is a rollicking song that embraces the rootsy electrified vibe of her debut. Reminiscent of Belly and other similar '90s-era female-driven acts, this opening track has enough of a vintage feel to make it seem comfortably familiar while at the same time sounding fresh.

That's much of the magic of this disc. Tunstall has captured her influences without mimicking them, creating a CD that seems like it could just as easily have been made a decade earlier. That's not to say it sounds dated; it simply manages to break away from what's expected on today's playlist.

Just as with Eye, Tunstall never stays stuck in one sound -- or on one tempo -- for long. There are slower ballads, such as the wistful "If Only" and "White Bird," both of which come off as thoughtful nuggets of reflection and introspection. On "Funny Man," she covers some of the same musical territory that she explored on her Grammy-nominated hit single "Black Horse And The Cherry Tree." The song is different, but definitely has many of the same unique components -- including the often puzzling mystical-sounding lyrics. The poetry of her vocal puzzles is beautiful whether one can decipher them or not; this is one that has you singing along by the second chorus.

"Hold On," the first single, has a great hand-clapping rhythm and a lively guitar to drive the song along. It has many of the same elements that made hits out of songs like "Black Horse" and "Suddenly I See," and seems to provide a touchstone for fans who might be expecting this disc to sound like Telescope Part 2. With this track, Tunstall shows that she hasn't abandoned the sound that made her debut so successful, but she has matured and broadened her horizons.

The energetic "I Don't Want You Now" is a rocking little track that will fit in on a playlist alongside Lily Allen's "Smile" and Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats." It's another terrific kiss-off number that puts the power in her hands and has an impossibly catchy tune to back it up.

Tunstall shows just how far she can expand her original sound without shunning her musical past. She covers a gamut of sounds on Drastic Fantastic, and there are many unexpected surprises to be discovered and rediscovered. "Saving My Face" is a mellow tune that is not unlike a good wine -- it's complex and layered, with nuances that are best enjoyed by revisiting it time and again.

She even shows some jazz chops on "Someday Soon," a track that has a bit of a Norah Jones vibe and lends a different flavor to the overall feel of the disc.

Those who discovered Tunstall on her debut will be thrilled to know that there's even more range to her music than her first disc dared hint at -- and who knows what is still waiting in the wings.

By Paula Felps