KT Tunstall – Drastic Fantastic

KT Tunstall is an artist that I kind of wish never hit the mainstream because I wanted to keep her for myself and potentially use a song in a movie that would have people asking, “Who’s singing this song? It’s perfect”. Well, I found her debut album Eye to the Telescope before it was released stateside, and could immediately tell she was going to be successful. At her core she is a singer-songwriter with pop aspirations. Her mellow acoustic songs allow her to delve deeper into thought provoking songwriting, while her up-tempo pop-rock is catchy and sells records. Little did I think she would reach quite the fame she has until I saw the opening sequence of The Devil Wears Prada (who needs to take acting classes more than Adrian Grenier?) which further catapulted her into the limelight after an ‘American Idol’ nod by Katherine McPhee (and stole my idea for movie music in the process). Now, the 32-year old Scotswoman is back with her sophomore effort Drastic Fantastic, drawing inspiration from two new “very sexy” guitars cranked to 11. The first half of the album is definitely a pop-rock showcase for these new axes, while the second half is mellow and contemplative in the quintessential singer-songwriter vein. Drastic Fantastic demonstrates what made me like Ms. Tunstall in the first place; she has a wonderful voice capable of many timbres and emotions, as well as catchy melodies that make you want to sing right along with her. It’s infectious to hear a musician able to sound both bluesy and exuberant, sometimes in the same song. The first single “Hold On” should be familiar territory for any fan of her single “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” because it is almost the same song. They sound quite similar with the stop-time, shuffle clap rhythm and sassy vocal styling. The other two tracks progressively give a glimpse into the singer-songwriter side of Ms. Tunstall. All in all, the album is enjoyable and will most likely be accepted as a suitable follow-up for an artist that has found a her niche.

KT Tunstall – Drastic Fantastic

KT Tunstall is an artist that I kind of wish never hit the mainstream because I wanted to keep her for myself and potentially use a song in a movie that would have people asking, “Who’s singing this song? It’s perfect”. Well, I found her debut album Eye to the Telescope before it was released stateside, and could immediately tell she was going to be successful. At her core she is a singer-songwriter with pop aspirations. Her mellow acoustic songs allow her to delve deeper into thought provoking songwriting, while her up-tempo pop-rock is catchy and sells records. Little did I think she would reach quite the fame she has until I saw the opening sequence of The Devil Wears Prada (who needs to take acting classes more than Adrian Grenier?) which further catapulted her into the limelight after an ‘American Idol’ nod by Katherine McPhee (and stole my idea for movie music in the process). Now, the 32-year old Scotswoman is back with her sophomore effort Drastic Fantastic, drawing inspiration from two new “very sexy” guitars cranked to 11. The first half of the album is definitely a pop-rock showcase for these new axes, while the second half is mellow and contemplative in the quintessential singer-songwriter vein. Drastic Fantastic demonstrates what made me like Ms. Tunstall in the first place; she has a wonderful voice capable of many timbres and emotions, as well as catchy melodies that make you want to sing right along with her. It’s infectious to hear a musician able to sound both bluesy and exuberant, sometimes in the same song. The first single “Hold On” should be familiar territory for any fan of her single “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” because it is almost the same song. They sound quite similar with the stop-time, shuffle clap rhythm and sassy vocal styling. The other two tracks progressively give a glimpse into the singer-songwriter side of Ms. Tunstall. All in all, the album is enjoyable and will most likely be accepted as a suitable follow-up for an artist that has found a her niche.

R.I.P. Luciano Pavarotti

The classical music world has lost one of its most beloved figures. Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti has died at the age of 71 from pancreatic cancer at his home in Modena, Italy. With a voice like no other, his sincerity, urgency, and transcendent beauty is truly a great loss. Please enjoy 3.5 minutes of goosebumps while watching a performance of “Nessun Dorma”

R.I.P. Luciano Pavarotti

The classical music world has lost one of its most beloved figures. Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti has died at the age of 71 from pancreatic cancer at his home in Modena, Italy. With a voice like no other, his sincerity, urgency, and transcendent beauty is truly a great loss. Please enjoy 3.5 minutes of goosebumps while watching a performance of “Nessun Dorma”

Devendra Banhart

Devendra Banhart has been on the outskirts of my musical radar for a few years now, but he had not come to the forefront until I recently listened to his highly anticipated new album Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon due out on Sept. 25 on XL Recordings. He always seemed more on the fringes of indie-folk than another one of my favorites Iron & Wine (probably because of this track #11). Mr. Banhart keeps a firm grasp on that fringe with this new album. I don’t mean Devendra isn’t accessible, just that he’s not as accessible as an Iron & Wine record (The Shepherd’s Dog comes out the same day…coincidence?). Mr. Banhart’s recordings rarely sound studio polished, his stream-of-consciousness stories can be strange, and his arrangements usually sparse. His songs come in different forms, and he really doesn’t cater to label demands. This freedom of expression comes through vividly on the new album as it did on his first XL Recordings release Cripple Crow. Where Cripple Crow marked a departure from his comfort zone, Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon seems like a return to form, with a musical vision reborn and manifested in refreshing ways. Smokey sees Devendra ranging from intimate folk tunes to epic electric rock. There is so much raw energy projected through this album that it’s worth revisiting Mr. Banhart’s back catalog to hear his progression as an artist. For now, enjoy one of the new (maybe more obscure) tracks from Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon.