KT Tunstall's latest album, Tiger Suit (released October 5th), is an eclectic and upbeat mix of elements: most notably hard rock, dance, adult contemporary and folk rock. The music is energetic and pulsing (almost danceable) with lyrics that read like an angsty high school diary. While the mixture of musical styles and elements is certainly commendable, I felt that the album lacked an enjoyable and relaxed sense of flow. Perhaps the constraints of a mainstream artist makes what Tiger Suit was seemingly trying to accomplish too industrious of an endeavor?
There are really only a handful of popular artists that I just don't understand the appeal of and KT Tunstall has always (very unfortunately) been one of them. While I often hear Tunstall lauded as a non-cookie cutter, non-conformist musician, I have always failed to see what it is exactly that sets her apart from the norm. Hoping that Tiger Suit would be the album to change my mind I gladly accepted the opportunity to review it, but after listening I was left with nothing but 90s flashbacks to Melissa Etheridge and Sheryl Crow. Additionally, what Lady Gaga's "Alejandro" was to Ace of Base's "Don't Turn Around", KT Tunstall's "Difficultly" is to Radiohead's "The National Anthem"... something that sounds disturbingly close to, but not nearly appealing as, the original.
This isn't to say that Tiger Suit isn't an enjoyable album. Actually, it would have certainly been a hit in the 90s and I might have even bothered to purchase it back them. But the album hardly seems appropriate for the times and sadly leaves KT Tunstall in the dust of many of her contemporaries (see Neko Case).
**I was provided with a complimentary copy of this album, in addition this post makes me eligible to win a gift card from One2One Network. I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post & was not obligated to give a positive review of the product. All opinions expressed here are mine. **
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