20 Arts & Entertainment AprilApril 25, 25, 2006 2006 THE RETRIEVER WEEKLY Eye to the Telescope has what it takes think of my music as feminine but Kate to KT. Now, obviously I’m KATE NUNLEY with a raw edge.” Her description favorably biased towards the name Retriever Weekly Staff Writer is accurate. Kate, but KT isn’t even original The first track, “Other Side and seems like something a preteen KT Tunstall has successfully of the World,” is unpretentious would find cool. Tunstall is 30 taken familiar musical elements pop with intelligent lyrics. After years old; she doesn’t need to go and crafted something new, an repeat listenings it has become by “KT.” Obviously, some record elusive “it” quality that recently one of my favorite tracks on executive thought otherwise. has been hard to come by in the the album. The second track, Tunstall was the best selling mainstream music industry. Her “Another Place to Fall,” has more female artist in the UK over the debut album, Eye to the Telescope, attitude and includes a cautionary past year, solidifying her success is real and relatable. message to a friend. Tunstall sings across the pond. Also of note is 30-year-old Tunstall has with conviction, “See yourself as a her diverse heritage: half Scottish, been compared to Sheryl Crow fallen angel / Well I don’t see no a quarter Irish and a quarter and Fiona Apple, but her sound holes in the road but you.” Chinese. can better be described as a blend The album tackles a wide Overall, KT Tunstall has of pop and blues. By avoiding an range of moods, from “Under the created an impressive debut, over-produced sound, Tunstall Weather”’s dreamy vibe to the proving that pop music does not stands out among the slew of envious “Suddenly I See.” The have to be manufactured and female singer-songwriters in the country-rock tinged single “Black shallow. music business. For example, Horse and the Cherry Tree” is most of Natasha Bedingfield’s instantly addictive. I haven’t heard Kate Nunley is a Staff Writer album Unwritten sounds like it something that original make it to for The Retriever Weekly. She can came out of a machine instead of VH1 airwaves in a long time, but be reached at knunley1@umbc. a musician. the cable station has dubbed her a edu. Tunstall’s soon-to-be signature “You Oughta Know” rising star. catchy melodies and minor-chord Her strong alto voice really acoustic guitar rifts tie the album stands out on “Stoppin’ the Love.” together. Eye to the Telescope has This song features gritty guitar already achieved critical and chords and jazzy vocals. Tunstall commercial success in the UK. definitely steps outside the pop Tunstall wrote or co-wrote arena on this track. Unfortunately, every track on the album and also some of the slower songs in the plays guitar, piano and percussion. middle of the album tend to blend I have to admit, it means more to together. me as a listener when somebody One minor pet peeve I have writes their own material. KT was with Tunstall’s entire image is the [noinnocentbystander.com] quoted in Teen Vogue as saying “I lame shortening of her given name KT Tunstall: Her new album is a good blend of pop & blues.
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