KT Tunstall Acoustic Extravaganza

Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Ashes
2. Girl And The Ghost
3. One Day
4. Golden Age
5. Boo Hoo
6. Gone To The Dogs
7. Change
8. Miniature Disasters
9. Universe And U
10. Throw Me A Rope

Disc 2:

1. Five Go To Skye
2. Gone To The Dogs
3. Throw Me A Rope
4. Wee Bastard Pedal
5. Out Takes

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #21369 in Music
• Released on: 2006-10-02
• Number of discs: 2
• Format: Explicit Lyrics

Amazon.co.uk Review
If Eye To the Telescope introduced a bold new talent, KT Tunstall's Acoustic Extravaganza confirms that the Scottish singer is no fluke. Whether stripping down tracks from her platinum debut--nominated for both a Grammy and Britain's coveted Mercury Prize--or taking on Beck's tender "Golden Age," it's all about the Voice and the Voice is good. While Telescope elicited comparisons to Joni Mitchell and Björk, in acoustic mode, Tunstall sounds more like countryman Rod Stewart back when he was fronting the Faces. She's got that soulful thing down to a science, but there's nothing affected about it, and she never pushes too hard. Ten years of busking can do that for a girl (it's how she learned to use a loop pedal to duplicate the sound of a full band). Originally only available through her website, Acoustic Extravaganza doesn't include hit singles "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" and "Suddenly I See," the theme from The Devil Wears Prada, but then it isn't a greatest hits collection. Recorded in two days, the CD/DVD set consists primarily of non-LP material, like the angry "Ashes," plus the featurette Five Go to Skye (Making the Album). The parental advisory warning ("explicit content") refers to the profanity in "Ashes." Otherwise, there's nothing objectionable going on here. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

CD Description
Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall follows up her wildly successful debut album 'Eye To The Telescope' with this stunning collection of cover versions, b-sides and album tracks, all reworked as stripped down acoustic numbers. Recorded in a cottage in the Isle of Skye in 2005, 'KT Tunstall's Acoustic Extravaganza' includes versions of classic tracks suchas 'Throw Me A Rope' as well as a cover version of Beck's 'Golden Age.'

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Customer Reviews

Best CD I have heard in a couple of years
I found this CD quite by accident as I was browsing in a local store, and from the very first bar of the very first track I have enjoyed the whole album.

The songs have an almost jazzy feel to them, crossed with a bit of country and a bit of rock. And they all have plenty of feel... You know that KT means what she sings! There is a fantastic atmosphere to the album too - recorded as it was in someone's front room - which if you close your eyes makes you feel as if you are in a small smoky club and the artists are with you. This also gives the instruments just enough of a raw edge so that you know that they are actually being played as opposed to a machine doing the hard work. But the record does not sound under-produced because of this.

My only slight gripe is that at the start of a couple of songs they have left the sounds of the musicians chatting and getting ready to start the song. It is only for a couple of seconds on one or two of the tracks, and I suppose it was supposed to make the album sound even more acoustic. It was not necessary and comes across to me as a little pretentious.

The DVD is OK - it gives you a 20 minute insight into how the album was recorded. Quite interesting, but I would have liked to see a little more of the actual recording in progress.

But I can recommend this album to any true music enthusiast and anyone who enjoys quality music recorded by real artists.

Buy it, you will not be dissapointed.

Unplugged and lovely
This is a great CD/ DVD combination. Incidentally, I think that you'll have to order this "Digi Pack" version to get the DVD. The CD is a mixture of songs off KT's "Eye to the Telescope" and other songs from her back catalogue, but recorded in live unplugged session style. The DVD includes a making off documentary, which gives background to why the recording sounds so fresh - they basically set up and rehersed one day, and recorded the whole album the next. All is someone's front room. This gives versions of songs that are much better than on "Eye to the T", which always felt a bit forced and over-cooked to me.

Interesting historical note - "Acousic Extravaganza" was the name that KT gave to the music nights she used to run in Edinburgh, when she was on her way up. And this recording is a return to a more natural, intimate style. And it lets her real tallent with a softer guitar playing style and voice come through.

One final note - the "parental advisory" only applies (as far as I can tell) to the first track, where one should indeed be advised. From track two on this is my five year old son's favourite bedtime music of the moment.

KT Does it again!
Been waiting in eager anticipation for the next creation from KT and she's done it again, a second great album. If you liked 'Eye to the Telescope' then you'll love this, some great tracks especially the opening 'Ashes' making harmony out of discord, and the soulful 'Gone to the Dogs'. The clear acousics and KT's special flair coupled with great songwriting and singing make this another inspirational album. Whey Kool KT! There's some nice footage of the making of the album in someone's living room and a couple of live songs on the DVD.