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Once in a very great while, a musical artist comes (seemingly) out of nowhere and blows both critics and audiences away with their amazing talent. Scotland native KT Tunstall is one such artist. The first time I ever saw her was on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, when she was promoting her single, "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree." I was immediately struck by her musical virtuosity (she played all the instruments that the song called for by herself), smooth, smoky voice, and self-possessed stage presence.

Tunstall's debut CD, Eye to the Telescope, is one of the best albums of 2006. Her sharply focused independent spirit is readily apparent on each of the disc's 12 tracks. Her confident songwriting (she either wrote or co-wrote every song on the album) is reminiscent of Rufus Wainwright's in its lyrical storytelling. Rarely does singer-songwriter have such strength of voice so early on in their career. Tunstall's skill with instruments also rivals that of Prince or D'Angelo; she's mastered everything from guitar to piano to drums. Every song is different, but the album is artfully mixed so as not to feel random in its arrangement. Standout tracks include, "The Other Side of the World," "Another Place to Fall," "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree," "Miniature Disasters," and "Suddenly I See." If this brilliant album is any indication, we can continue to expect great things from Tunstall in the years to come.

Learn more about this author, Julie Uyeno-Pidot.
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