Product Description

'Drastic Fantastic' is the second album from Scottish folk-pop singer-songwriter KT Tunstall. Continuing in the same vein as her previous 'Eye To The Telescope' LP, this release features the single 'Hold On', and is again produced by SteveOsborne, who is notable for his work in the dance world. There are discernible progressions in Tunstall's musical prowess, here employing lead guitar and ukulele for the first time, as well as a greater reliance on re-creating her live sound.

Track Listing

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 Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #254 in Music
• Released on: 2007-09-10
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced

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

Customer Reviews

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. Sure there will be those who cry sell-out with this album but that couldn't be further from the truth. KT manages to go full on pop and keep what made her great.

The album takes a while to get going with "Little Favours" and "If Only" managing to sound decent-good but without sounding special and seem slightly uninspired. The next track "White Bird" shows KT has not lost her way but again it is only a good song, nothing special at all.

The album finally comes into its own with "Funnyman" a brilliant pop songs which I loved from first listen, "Hold On" (the album's first single) is similar in that it's incredibly catchy and brilliant. "Hopeless" and "I Don't Want You Now" are great tracks not as good as the preceding two but they grow on me more and more with every listen. "Saving My Face" is another brilliant fast pop song that I loved at first listen.

"Beauty Of Uncertainty" shows that KT can still write great, beautiful, slow songs and "Someday Soon" again strengthens this fact. "Paper Aeroplane" is a nice end to the album, a good (but not great) slow-paced song.

Overall, I'd give this album a 4/5, at its best it's brilliant pop at its worst it is decent and sounding slightly uninspired, but there are no bad songs on the album and it is well worth picking up.

I have just one thing to complain about, the fact that "Journey" was a mere b-side, the song is easily better than half the album and really should be on it but at least it was released.

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 tracks that did not orignally catch the ear. The same can be said for Drastic Fantastic. Its a different sound from ETT and this might put you off if you expect more of the same. Play the tracks a few times however and that depth of music and lyrics come through again. There is no doubt that KTT is a very special musician and the more you listen to her music, the more you get out of it. An excellent disc.

Trouser Wobbler
What a honey KT Tunstall is. Nevermind the music, I just want to have her babies. I mean, I want her to have mine and ...errrmm, if she er.. if she wants to that is. Yes, if she wants to then... I.. don't.. really.. mind. Errr..... Hmmm.