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Product details
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Track Listings
| 1. Little Favours |
| 2. If Only |
| 3. White Bird |
| 4. Funnyman |
| 5. Hold On |
| 6. Hopeless |
| 7. I Don't Want You Now |
| 8. Saving My Face |
| 9. Beauty Of Uncertainty |
| 10. Someday Soon |
| 11. Paper Aeroplane |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
As the sleeve of Drastic Fantastic, a shot of a wildly posing Kate Tunstall, suggests, the Scot never expected to find herself following up a multi-million selling debut. But her second official album, again produced by Steve Osborne, is an impressive piece of work, edgy enough to please those who delighted in her gleeful live shows yet suitably smooth for fans recruited via radio play. Unsurprisingly some of the songs on Drastic Fantastic is can be read as musings on fame, notably the catchy first single "Hold On" and the cleverly constructed Sixties-style pop of "Hopeless". Elsewhere "White Bird" is haunting and downbeat, while the propulsive "folk-punk" (her phrase) of "I Don’t Want You Now" is apparently intended as a musical tribute to Tunstall’s obvious precursor, the late Kirsty MacColl. The excellent ‘Saving My Face’ welds a moody stadium rocker to a chord progression familiar from the chorus of Slade’s timeless "Cum on Feel the Noize", a neat trick which pretty much encapsulates Tunstall’s ability to combine the fragile and hearty in equal measures. By the time the understated, quietly epic "Beauty of Uncertainty" and the accordion-led "Paper Aeroplane", a quirky folk song not miles from her erstwhile comrades in Scotland’s amorphous Fence Collective, bring proceedings to a close, the listener’s relief is palpable. Making an intelligent, radio-friendly pop album with a real heart is difficult enough once, but managing the trick again proves her talent is genuine. --Steve Jelbert
Review
There's something immensely likeable about KT Tunstall. Where most contemporary female singer-songwriters are bland, boring or both (Dido, anyone?), Tunstall is acid-tongued, smart and on the right side of feisty to avoid being annoying.
Drastic Fantastic, her sophomore album, may be inappropriately named, however. If anything it's a less drastic record than its million-selling predecessor Eye To The Telescope, opting instead to follow a more conventional pop-rock template. In this sense it's as far away from KT's roots in Fife's alt-folk Fence Collective as Land's End is from John O'Groats.
That said there's much to enjoy about Drastic Fantastic. Unlike her debut it feels like an album made to play live, with 'Little Favours' and 'If Only' showing off her excellent backing band, including Tunstall's drumming beau, 'lucky' Luke Bullen. Elsewhere Willy Mason lends his vocals to the jaunty 'Hopeless' - returning KT's appearance on his last single - whilst the bluesy stomp of single 'Hold On' is infectious.
But sometimes Tunstall works best solo, and it's the introspective 'Somewhere Soon' which provides the album's highlight. With a fragile guitar riff and tender vocal evoking kd lang, it shows the likes of Amy Macdonald and Jem up for the pretenders they are.
With Drastic Fantastic Tunstall seems to be staking her claim as the young Chrissie Hynde. That she does this with considerable aplomb is testament to her skills as a writer and performer. If it's classy mainstream pop with a bite you're after, you won't get much better than this. --Rowan Collinson
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
K T Tunstall came to my attention when she first appeared on Later with Jools Holland in 2004 which prompted me and many others to go out and buy her debut album Eye To The Telescope.
This album (that difficult 2nd album) follows on well and the styles of songs vary from Bonnie Raitt to Edie Brickell. But that's ok, I like Bonnie Ratt and Edie Brickell.
Little Favours
Here's the Bonnie Raitt number, uninhibited fun and I reckon this should have been the first single.
If Only
Musically complex and beginning the transition toward Edie this tells of what the French call "l'esprit d'escalier" - the spirit of the stairs. We all know what we should have said in restrospect!
White Bird
A deceptively simple song with multi-tracked voice and a layered sound that is easy on the ears.
Funnyman
As the intro plays to this I hear Viv Stanshall saying "and now... Distorted Guitar". Upbeat and pleasing to the ear. Superb stuff.
Hold On
The actual first single, probably because it's the most like her breakthrough single, "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree". In fact it's almost a clone. Still enjoyable though.
Hopeless
You can see the video for this, as she saunters down a lonely road, perhaps near a cliffs edge. This is almost Richard Thompson in quality. A pleasure.
I Don't Want You Now
And now, Paul Weller! Well, I don't know if he's on the track, but he should be. A Jam track with a female vocalist? Works for me.
Saving My Face
Carole King would have been proud of this song. Another facet of KT, a nice little ditty. Not memorable ... yet.
Beauty of Uncertainty
Here comes Edie. Pleasant but less than memorable
Someday Soon
Much more Edie. Pleasant but less than memorable
Paper Aeroplane
Full-on Edie mode, complete with harmonium. Lush and gorgeous.
Kate "KT" Tunstall (born June 23, 1975) is a Scottish singer and songwriter, educated partly in Connecticut, which explains her mid-atlantic accent. Perhaps. Although her voice is not Scottish in any of these songs, which I consider a shame in some ways, this album will only build on her previous success.
Recommendation - buy this album!
This album (that difficult 2nd album) follows on well and the styles of songs vary from Bonnie Raitt to Edie Brickell. But that's ok, I like Bonnie Ratt and Edie Brickell.
Little Favours
Here's the Bonnie Raitt number, uninhibited fun and I reckon this should have been the first single.
If Only
Musically complex and beginning the transition toward Edie this tells of what the French call "l'esprit d'escalier" - the spirit of the stairs. We all know what we should have said in restrospect!
White Bird
A deceptively simple song with multi-tracked voice and a layered sound that is easy on the ears.
Funnyman
As the intro plays to this I hear Viv Stanshall saying "and now... Distorted Guitar". Upbeat and pleasing to the ear. Superb stuff.
Hold On
The actual first single, probably because it's the most like her breakthrough single, "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree". In fact it's almost a clone. Still enjoyable though.
Hopeless
You can see the video for this, as she saunters down a lonely road, perhaps near a cliffs edge. This is almost Richard Thompson in quality. A pleasure.
I Don't Want You Now
And now, Paul Weller! Well, I don't know if he's on the track, but he should be. A Jam track with a female vocalist? Works for me.
Saving My Face
Carole King would have been proud of this song. Another facet of KT, a nice little ditty. Not memorable ... yet.
Beauty of Uncertainty
Here comes Edie. Pleasant but less than memorable
Someday Soon
Much more Edie. Pleasant but less than memorable
Paper Aeroplane
Full-on Edie mode, complete with harmonium. Lush and gorgeous.
Kate "KT" Tunstall (born June 23, 1975) is a Scottish singer and songwriter, educated partly in Connecticut, which explains her mid-atlantic accent. Perhaps. Although her voice is not Scottish in any of these songs, which I consider a shame in some ways, this album will only build on her previous success.
Recommendation - buy this album!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is a very good album. Okay, it's not quite up to the standards of Eye to the Telescope, but at least she's trying to evolve with her sound a little.
There are fewer of the acoustic, introspective tracks of her debut, and a more upbeat, electric sound. Having said that, there are still acoustic numbers here. My personal favourites are the upbeat 'Hopeless', the single, and 'Saving My Face'.
If you enjoyed her debut album, or even the Acoustic Extravanganza, then you'll probably like this one too. KT's songwriting is still strong, and rather than resting on her laurels she is trying something different (admittedly, not too different), which is commendable. I'd give it 3.5 stars.
There are fewer of the acoustic, introspective tracks of her debut, and a more upbeat, electric sound. Having said that, there are still acoustic numbers here. My personal favourites are the upbeat 'Hopeless', the single, and 'Saving My Face'.
If you enjoyed her debut album, or even the Acoustic Extravanganza, then you'll probably like this one too. KT's songwriting is still strong, and rather than resting on her laurels she is trying something different (admittedly, not too different), which is commendable. I'd give it 3.5 stars.
33 of 36 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Before i review this album id like to put across my point on previews that people constantly feel the need to give on here. Now last time i looked amazon offered you the option to 'Review' not preview. Please try and refrain from previewing until you've heard/watched/played your purchase!!!
I doubt this will happen though, maybe amazon can disable the option to 'review' until after the release of a product to crack down on this annoyance???
anyways unlike the people below me (when they 'previewed' at least), i own a copy of this album and have listened to it in full. novel eh?
anyways, i like this album, i ordered it purely on the basis of her first album and her new single 'hold on'.
its always a risk of course but i can honestly say im not disappointed.
I like the reworking of 'little favours' which was a b-side on a single from her first album, i forget which. here its laden with electric guitar and vocal overlays.
'white bird' the promoted song on amazon is possibly my favourite track, one of the more laid back songs on the album, which in the most part is very energetic.
The new single 'hold on' is, as expected, the most catchy song on the album and a good first single.
In review there isnt a bad track on this album and if you loved her first album i think you'll honestly like this one aswell, its a fun listen, with plenty of energy, and has a quicker pace than ETTT, but it winds down nicely with a few slower numbers. It shows good progression from KT, but its still classic Tunstall. Is it better than ETTT??? Id say potentially. One things for sure, its worth purchasing.
I doubt this will happen though, maybe amazon can disable the option to 'review' until after the release of a product to crack down on this annoyance???
anyways unlike the people below me (when they 'previewed' at least), i own a copy of this album and have listened to it in full. novel eh?
anyways, i like this album, i ordered it purely on the basis of her first album and her new single 'hold on'.
its always a risk of course but i can honestly say im not disappointed.
I like the reworking of 'little favours' which was a b-side on a single from her first album, i forget which. here its laden with electric guitar and vocal overlays.
'white bird' the promoted song on amazon is possibly my favourite track, one of the more laid back songs on the album, which in the most part is very energetic.
The new single 'hold on' is, as expected, the most catchy song on the album and a good first single.
In review there isnt a bad track on this album and if you loved her first album i think you'll honestly like this one aswell, its a fun listen, with plenty of energy, and has a quicker pace than ETTT, but it winds down nicely with a few slower numbers. It shows good progression from KT, but its still classic Tunstall. Is it better than ETTT??? Id say potentially. One things for sure, its worth purchasing.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Fantastic
I had bought 'Eye to the Telescope' in the past and then had the opportunity to see KT live at the Grand Opera House in York. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Belinda
Second album is excellent!
If you thought KT Tunstall was superb on her debut album, "Eye To The Telescope", then you'll be pleased to know that her 2nd album "Drastic Fantastic" is an excellent follow-up... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mr. I. English
Truly fantastic
KT Tunstall never disappoints. I just love everything about her: her talent for songwriting, her amazing voice, her down-to-earth personality. I'd love to hang around with her. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Janos Csupor
Just a really good album
It surprising how things can suddenly trigger you to like someone or something. I was watching "Buzzcocks" one evening when KT Tunstall was one of the contestants and was struck... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Lucioperca
Drastic KT Tunstall
KT seem's to be moving away from her original style of presentation, with a full size band she is now in danger of becoming just one of crowd. Read more
Published 19 months ago by R. Drinkall
KT is one of those artists where every album is a winner !
Only the greats can produce quality albums one after the other. Coldplay, Doves, Jamiroquai to name a few. Read more
Published 22 months ago by nat dig
A very good album KT Tunstall voice is beautiful.
I would give this cd five stars but I did'nt as it's not as good as Eye To The Telescope, but nearly is and still worth having. This is more rocky then her other first two albums. Read more
Published on 28 May 2009 by Dragonlord
brilliantly fantastic
a perfect album, each track is as good as the last...keep up the good work kt
Published on 27 Sep 2008 by kt fan
Great Pop
The first thing I noticed about this album was how much poppier it was than her debut, but that's not a bad thing. Read more
Published on 6 May 2008 by Shorty11857
Subtle and deep
When I first heard Eye of the Telescope half the tracks immediately appealed to me but after playing it a few times I found, if anything I liked the sublteties and depth of the... Read more
Published on 25 April 2008 by C. Walford
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