Send "KT Tunstall " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Popmatters |
 I have to admit, I wasn’t expecting much from KT Tunstall’s third solo album, Tiger Suit. I wasn’t a huge fan of her debut, Eye to the Telescope, but did enjoy a few choice tracks, such as “Under the Weather” and “Other Side of the World”. Her percussive-heavy, almost A-melodic, songwriting structure wore very thin and continuously bordered the banal. I didn’t even bother to pick up her sophomore release, Drastic Fantastic. However, I’m a firm believer in giving artists second chances—hey, not everyone can be brilliant all the time. Imagine my surprise when four songs into Tiger Suit, I began to change my tune about Ms. Tunstall.The album opener, “Uummannaq Song”, is a wonderful tone setter that sounds familiar enough to recall the singer’s style, but once that chorus hits where she sings: “I, oh well I could live in this town/Five cold years before I/Yes I could live in this town/Before I head for home”, it’s clear that she’s hitting new highs and challenging her own comfort level. The chorus to “Uummannaq Song” is wonderfully infectious, recalling the ‘80s pop hits of Luba, Alison Moyet, and Joan Armatriding. The same can be said for the Radiohead rip-off “Difficulty”, and Feist-ish “Fade Like A Shadow”. The lyrical content suggests Tunstall underwent some life affirming and humbling experiences during the hiatus between Tiger Suit and Drastic Fantastic. Suddenly, she is less concerned with offering spoon fed folk/rock tunes that speak to what she believes you want to be hearing from her, and instead casts her gaze inward. She is mindful to not interject any of the typical arrogance that is standard for many pop/folk singer/songwriters of this decade, but is rather humbly introspective and self-reflexive. This is evidenced in the beautiful lyrics of “(Still A) Weirdo” where she sings: “I’d always thought it’s automatic/To grow into a soul less static/But here I am upon the same spot/Attempting to lift off into space/I don’t always get it right/But a thousand different ways/And I just might/Pay my lip service/Keep it eloquent/Optimistic but never quite elegant/Still a weirdo/Still a weirdo, after all these years”. Although there is a resemblance to Tunstall’s “Under the Weather”, the vulnerability and earnestness is more pronounced here. She has definitely dropped the pretense and lost the arrogant self-indulgence that assumes her shit don’t stink, and is instead trailing head-first through the infrequently tread path of pensive humility....full text |
| Bbc |
| It looks like a shapeless stripy jumper on the album cover, but KT Tunstall's Tiger Suit is her protection against the world, a clawed insurance in the face of critical brickbats and the pressures of having to go out there and be a star. It's served her well. Three albums in, Tunstall appears undamaged, an ordinary girl you'd want to spend time with and an honest performer it's hard to dislike. What sounds like faint praise is more charitably cast as recognition that Tunstall has settled into a familiar groove. Years of busking and almost wilful avoidance of the spotlight meant that by the time the Mercury-nominated Eye to the Telescope turned up in 2004, Tunstall was fully formed as an artist, equipped with an effects pedal and songs that sat just on the edgy side of AOR. Second album Drastic Fantastic barely tinkered with the formula, but suffered from a relatively short gestation. So Tiger Suit stands at a crossroads, an ideal opportunity to take a few risks. This, according to KT, manifests itself in a dancier feel to the songs. It's true that producer Jim Abbiss – who put the laddish funk into Kasabian – brings a dusting of sequenced beats to the clattering, bolshy Uummannaq Song and the flirty Glamour Puss, but it's a toe in the water. More striking is the almost ravey building intensity of Difficulty: intriguing electro-rock that wouldn't sound out of place on U2's Zooropa, in a good way. Even so, these end up rare deviations from the KT template....full text |
| Ultimate-guitar |
| Sound: KT Tunstall instantly made waves back in 2005 when her single “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” become a staple of both radio and VH1. The singer/songwriter hasn’t necessarily made as big of a splash with her follow-up singles, but that’s not to say that Tunstall doesn’t consistently deliver fresh, unique ideas. Her third studio album Tiger Suit (not counting KT Tunstall’s Acoustic Extravaganza) doesn’t skimp on her trademark rhythmic acoustic work, but it also is a beautifully textured and genre-hopping album that holds listeners interest from beginning to end. While plenty of acts prefer to begin with a powerful bang for their opening songs, Tunstall eases into her record with low-key tambourine, exotic melodies, and primal chanting in “Uumamannaq Song.” The track sets an instant mood and sets the stage for what could easily be the first single on Tiger Suit, “Glamour Puss.” That particular song delves into a bit of electronica, well-utilized whistling, and mellow adult contemporary feel that should make it attractive to radio stations. Tunstall’s ace in the hole is her ability to keep her arrangements changing, whether that means opting for a different way to phrase her vocals in the second verse or building with new instrumentation. Another impressive factor is the fact that each of the 11 tracks are distinct entities, whether it’s the bluesy “Push That Knot Away,” the lush, Sonic-Youth effects in “Difficulty,” or dark, cowboy-ish groove of “Golden Frames.” The closing number, much like the opener, doesn’t go out with a bang. Instead, “The Entertainer” is a moody offering that contains dreamy, Smashing Pumpkins-like guitar effects. In short, Tunstall pulls out sounds that you just wouldn’t expect your typical singer-songwriter to deliver. // 9 Lyrics and Singing: Tiger Suit’s lyrical content is full of descriptive imagery and at times intriguing storytelling. There’s a quirky quality to each phrase, which undoubtedly is aided by Tunstall’s engaging delivery. “Push That Knot Away” veers into inspirational territory with lines like, “In the morning when you wake; It is a doorway for you to walk through to become what you make; And just remember you have heaven in your heart,” while “Glamour Puss” tells the story of feisty ingénue (“Long legs taking you somewhere; Catch your reflection in the window pane; The universe is starting to feel ya; Drinking tequila like it’s the name of the game”). There isn’t necessarily life-changing content, but Tunstall’s lyrical ideas are pleasing enough. // 8...full text |
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