If Eye To the Telescope introduced a bold new talent, KT Tunstall's Acoustic Extravaganza confirms that the Scottish singer is no fluke. Whether stripping down tracks from her platinum debut--nominated for both a Grammy and Britain's coveted Mercury Prize--or taking on Beck's tender "Golden Age," it's all about the Voice and the Voice is good. While Telescope elicited comparisons to Joni Mitchell and Bj??rk, in acoustic mode, Tunstall sounds more like countryman Rod Stewart back when he was fronting the Faces. She's got that soulful thing down to a science, but there's nothing affected about it, and she never pushes too hard. Ten years of busking can do that for a girl (it's how she learned to use a loop pedal to duplicate the sound of a full band). Originally only available through her website, Acoustic Extravaganza doesn't include hit singles "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" and "Suddenly I See," the theme from The Devil Wears Prada, but then it isn't a greatest hits collection. Recorded in two days, the CD/DVD set consists primarily of non-LP material, like the angry "Ashes," plus the featurette Five Go to Skye (Making the Album). The parental advisory warning ("explicit content") refers to the profanity in "Ashes." Otherwise, there's nothing objectionable going on here. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

I bought this album when it first came out last year. The CD works well, with some great songs and a fresh, lively sound. I prefer it to her first album, and the DVD is a quality bonus, an interesting and inspiring video of the recording. The beat box demo prompted my son to buy one and incorporate it very successfully into his own stage act! The new album is due out shortly, but you'd be a fool not to get it at this price.

I can't help feeling that undue pressure was exerted on KT to follow up her brilliant 2005 Telescope album, resulting in a collection of half baked ideas, out-takes and alternative versions. To be fair, KT's voice has never been better, and the first 4 songs are strong enough, but after that it's pretty weak - notepad sketches instead of fully conceived canvasses - and the "acoustic" versions of Miniature Disasters and Universe and U really don't add anything to the originals. Apparently there's a proper new CD due for release soon and I hope we can see more of those bluesy vocals that start off Extravanganza so promisingly. On the evidence of a recent live gig KT has plenty of strong new material to follow.

We all knew KT Tunstall from the word go was going to be something special and nothing like the other singer/songwriter clones we were flooded with. Do not expect this album to be anything like "eye to the telescope", genre wise that is, not quality wise.

She covers some brilliant songs..."Ashes", "Boo Hoo" and "Change" all brilliant laid back tunes. Also she sings a few of her own from her previous album. All in all every track is faultless and pleasing. I can't give this fiver stars because it quite simply isn't her own original work.

However, this is a job well done, especially if you've had a hard day at work and you need to chill out a bit.

From the very first time i saw her debut on Jools Hollland i knew i would become a big fan. This collection of acoustic tracks is very different to "Eye to the Telescope" but just as good. Her voice changes with each song, from soft and quiet in Gone to the Dogs to rugged and husky in Girl and the Ghost. Another brilliant success and i can't wait for her to tour again.

This is a great CD/ DVD combination. Incidentally, I think that you'll have to order this "Digi Pack" version to get the DVD. The CD is a mixture of songs off KT's "Eye to the Telescope" and other songs from her back catalogue, but recorded in live unplugged session style. The DVD includes a making off documentary, which gives background to why the recording sounds so fresh - they basically set up and rehersed one day, and recorded the whole album the next. All is someone's front room. This gives versions of songs that are much better than on "Eye to the T", which always felt a bit forced and over-cooked to me.

Interesting historical note - "Acousic Extravaganza" was the name that KT gave to the music nights she used to run in Edinburgh, when she was on her way up. And this recording is a return to a more natural, intimate style. And it lets her real tallent with a softer guitar playing style and voice come through.

One final note - the "parental advisory" only applies (as far as I can tell) to the first track, where one should indeed be advised. From track two on this is my five year old son's favourite bedtime music of the moment.