Telescopic Boogaloo

I have been seriously deprived of good new music this year. Not a lot has really grabbed a hold of me and demanded "Buy me now!! You must have me!!" So I've taken some chances, one being Nelly Furtado's third CD, which is fine but doesn't measure up to her first two CD's. Same with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's third CD. (Maybe there should be a "junior joke" in addition to "sophomore slump"? Discuss.) And then, of course, there's Gnarls Barkley, who are basically unavoidable at this point.

But then I saw the video for a song called "Black Horse & the Cherry Tree" on VH1 (I know, I can't believe they actually played a music video, either) with a black-maned, cherry-lipped songstress rocking out on her guitar.

I immediately thought, "Is this 1997? Is Lilith Fair coming back?" I mean, the last time VH1 introduced us to a solo female artist was Anna Nalick standing around a fake apartment for her catchy, breathy "Breathe (2 A.M.)" So to see a female rock-folk singer playing her own guitar (something lacking from the singers VH1 and MTV usually highlight) just seemed so...retro. I was slightly skeptical, but this bluesy ditty was just too toe-tapping, bass-thumping-in-your-pelvis rocking to ignore. Besides, the singer looked like she'd kick my ass if I did.

A few days later, sitting in my office, a song came on the radio with a hook that would make even the butchest lumberjack want to skip in the rain. I figured the song was titled "Suddenly I See" as that phrase is repeated throughout the chorus, but I didn't catch who the artist was.

Later that week, the same thing: catchy song on the radio, raspy lilt to the female vocalist, this time a thoughtful ballad that I later learned was titled "Other Side of the World."

It wasn't until a week after all of this that I learned they were all by a singer-songwriter named KT Tunstall. Then it wasn't until even later that I learned my sister had her CD, Eye to the Telescope, and loved it. And, oh yeah, my brother, too. And, according to Billboard, about half a million other people as well (the CD was certified gold). I'm obviously behind the times.

But I did finally pick up Eye to the Telescope and understand why KT is catching on. The Scottish musician writes songs that are reflective, melodic, aggressive and melancholy, sometimes all in one song. More impressive, however, is how consistent she is. My cynical expectations for CD's these days is that they are bound to include some filler. Not KT. I could pick any song and enjoy it just as much as any of her others.

There's a reason why "Black Horse & the Cherry Tree" was such a break-out hit in multiple countries while "Suddenly I See" was included in The Devil Wears Prada and both are distinctively KT's. It's not pandering to the masses by trying to include the token rock joint next to the token adult-contemporary feel-good ditty. According to her website, Tunstall's musical influences include David Bowie, Billie Fitzgerald, James Brown, Lou Reed, Johnny Cash and PJ Harvey. She's a self-taught guitarist and singer who's filling a void. Melissa Etheridge's crazy-awesome performance at the 2002 Grammys was a highlight in what has become an adult-contemporary career. Courtney Love has finally high-dived into the deep end of the crazy pool. Sarah McLachlan, Jewel, Fiona Apple and even Tori Amos all seem to have already peaked. While KT may look like Meredith Brooks, I'm confident she's more than a one-hit wonder (three songs on the radio already prove that).

Yes, it may not be fair to lump all these female musicians together, but guess what? That's what happens to any artist. There just quite frankly aren't that many mainstream female rockers right now. After having seen Tunstall's live act on HBO On Demand where she created her own multi-layered band out of just her voice, guitar and recording device at her feet, I'm certain she's the real deal.

And I'm music deprived no longer.