Since it emerged onto the scene, Scottish singer KT Tunstall's debut album, Eye to the Telescope, has been the talk of the town.

After its release in February, the singles "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" and "Other Side of the World" are on full rotation on VH1, where Tunstall was featured on You Oughta Know: Artists on the Rise.

With her brazen voice and vast range, she crafts her own mix of acoustic blues fused with pop.

Slightly reminiscent of early Sheryl Crow, but a little edgier, Tunstall shows a remarkably mature sound for someone new to the big leagues.

With plenty of lovelorn ballads and brassy shakedowns, the album does a good job varying her sound to showcase her multifaceted talent.

Her most touted single, "Black Horse and Cherry Tree," is a rambling adventure and one of the strongest songs on the album. This is where she really sinks her teeth in and gets a little gritty.

On "Silent Sea," Tunstall shows off her pipes as she lulls the audience into her tangible world. It has a very intimate acoustic vibe; it's subdued, but she's certainly not holding anything back.

This is definitely not just another coffeehouse bore or Lisa Loeb wannabe.

A noteworthy track toward the end of the album is "Stoppin' the Love," which has potential to be another single and hints a bit at a bluegrass vibe.

With the help of legendary U2 and New Order producer Steve Osbourne, Tunstall's bold debut is of a higher caliber than most.

Telescope is certainly not your typical rock record, but despite most of its lighter fare, you can hear all the stuff below the surface.

With her decorative lyrics, Tunstall relates her intimate experiences to anyone who will listen.

Ultimately, Tunstall didn't blow me away. Although all of her tracks are solid, I would have like to seen more lively tracks like "Cherry Tree" that really grab your attention and keep it.

But for those who might write her off, I'd say Tunstall is likely to surprise most. Telescope shows great potential, and Tunstall can rely on her trifecta of talent, which forms a sound that is uniquely her own. Grade: B+

-- Reviewed by Laura Smith