Drastic Fantastic

iTunes Review

2007’s Drastic Fantastic, the follow-up to Scottish-born singer-songwriter KT Tunstall’s 2006 debut, Eye to the Telescope, begins with a ‘70s power-pop/New Wave flair that puts her within shooting distance of hard rock. For this pop-influenced folkie, it’s an unexpected but welcomed foray into new territory. “Little Favours” kickstarts things with impressively punchy guitars that are later called upon to support the irresistible snarl of “I Don’t Want You Now.” Tunstall turns to rainy day Parisian pop for “If Only” and “Hopeless,” sounding seductively dour as the indoor vibe of the intimate backing group takes over. But Tunstall isn’t all glam and mirrors, though her big choruses and heavily-processed guitars add up to an impressive modern rock approach. She can also deliver from the back porch, as the acoustic timbre of the countrified fingerpicking of “Someday Soon,” the wistful campfire folk of “Paper Aeroplane” and the nightclub smoke of “Beauty of Uncertainty” surely attest. Her ability to deliver in so many different situations make her a versatile, satisfying artist.