Customer Reviews

Ghost Stories

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What to say? Amanda Ghost is amazing. It's a pity she is not more popular but true talent is hardly ever popular. Ghost Stories is an great CD to listen to. It's ear-candy is a fusion of rock, pop, dance, and classical. Amanda Ghost penned the lyrics to all the tracks on Ghost Stories. Below are Amanda's explanations for some of the songs featured on the albumn ...P>"Filthy Mind" is about everything that goes on in our minds that we wouldn't dream of saying aloud.

"Idol" is about not having a singer that inspires her, the sorry state of music today. "The last person that said something to me in modern music was Kurt Cobain. He's a spiritual leader for the disenchanted. I can't think of anyone around now that I can say, 'Wow, that person's really got something to say,'" Ghost laments. "We're all becoming victims of style; it's style over content. What's trendy, what's fashionable, what's hip--that's not what speaking to the youth is about. I'm not trying to be aspirational; I do want people to empathize, though. I'm not putting myself on a pedestal, saying, 'Everybody, I've got the answers!' Because I don't. But I do ask the questions. Everybody's got sh-t going on in their head they wouldn't want to broadcast."

"Glory Girl" is about Amanda's older sister. "The Wrong Man" is about every man Ghost has ever been involved with. Cellophane is about how she feels. Like shes wrapped in a clear substance, people can see how she carries herself but they can't see how she feels inside. Blind Man is about music industry executives.

Concerning Empty, Amanda says, "I had a one-night stand in L.A. with some French guy, I can't remember his name. It was at the American Music Awards. I was drunk," Amanda Ghost laughs with her usual candor. More seriously, she adds, "After I had this one-night stand, I felt so empty. There was no triumph in it, there was no trophy at the end. I felt even hollower than I felt before."

"A Child Believes" is about her father. And finally, "Numb" is about a deep platonic friendship, the kind that in some ways is more intense that any romantic relationship. "I feel everything four million times more than anyone else--I'm very, very sensitive," admits Ghost, as she reveals the personal story behind "Numb." "It's all about not wanting to feel what I felt, wanting to anesthetize myself to the relationship. But the irony is that I did [feel it], of course, otherwise I wouldn't have written the song. When you're going out with someone and it's not working out, you're like, 'Okay, finished, over, it's gone.' With friendships, you can't do that, you can't just go, 'It's over, it's finished.' You always just have to keep working on it. The person I wrote that about is the person I love most in the world. I love him more than anyone in my life, any lover I've ever had. They bring great things to you, but for every luxury, there's a heartache, there's a price to pay."

It's hard to come by such great songs these days that are not written by 4 or 5 people. It's obvious Amanda is not doing this to make money - she's doing it to express herself and for sake of creating art.

Amanda Ghost is effectively able to blend different musical sounds into a cd of lush landscapes and mixed emotional meanings.She also writes her own songs and really displays her talents of being a singer/songwriter.The production is eclectic,containing moments of dance,folk,modulated dj electronica,eastern influences,band trip-hop,alt-rock,and conceptions fitting for movie soundtracks.

Amanda is comfortable in a myriad of musical genres and settings."Idol" sounds like the perfect song for video play,having a strong band sound that captures attention.In fact,a video snippet for this song,as well as a snippet for the soothing grooves of "Glory Girl",is included as part of the enhanced cd,which can be played and accessed through a computer video player like Quick Time."The Wrong Man" is part eastern vocal stylings...mostly India influenced...,part reggae and dance hall,and part spinning electronica.The 'a.m. bar song' or 'late night back porch tune' would have to be "Cellophane".It is steeped in country and has an alternative bluesy vibe.This song is the most accoustic and also contagious song on the album,with Amanda chanting her anthem: "Funny how it feels...when there's nothing to say".I found myself joining in and chanting away also!"Blind Man" is beautiful,simply because of the layered vocal structure and smooth gospel hum that Amanda sings over."Silver Lining",the best song on Ghost Stories,has a serene quality.It definately caught my attention,when I heard it for the first time on radio (which consequently made me immediately go out and by this album),while driving around town.It is a stunning song using sparse strings,subtle piano,and calming background brush rhythms."A Child Believes" utilizes more of a symphony feel and accoustic guitar style.It is a very spacious and atmospheric song,also having some meditative tribal drum patterns being included behind Amanda's echoing vocals.What also impressed me about these and other songs on the album,is that the songs could easily transfer into tunes for movie soundtracks.They have a truly visual and cinematic feel to them,and are enhanced by Amanda's vocal work.

Speaking of her vocals,Amanda has one of the most unique voices out there,sounding like a "grittier" version of say....Stevie Nicks.Ghost Stories is a terrific debut album.Amanda Ghost has a style of musicianship that hopefully will continue to improve and impress.

If you buy one CD this year, I PROMISE you it should be Amanda Ghost's Ghost Stories. I took a chance, never hearing any of her music, a Virgin Records employee highly recommended it and I now feel like writing him a thank you letter for the recomendation. Her songs are the perfect blend of electronic, rock, dance, pop and even country. If you like Portishead, Stevie Nicks, and -- oh forget it, she's Amanda Ghost and I guarantee she will be huge. The only draw back of this whole CD is the artwork. I wish there were some actual photos of her besides the crappy image manipulated cover. Oh well...

Amanda Ghost is a British recording artist of Indian and Spanish descent who writes dramatic, bittersweet and beautiful pop songs. She is also the woman behind James Blunt's recent hit single 'Beautiful'. I like neither Blunt, nor that song. I am, however, irresistably drawn to this album, Amanda Ghost's 2000 debut Ghost Stories.

During the course of my working day I'm lucky enough to be able to listen to a wide variety of new music, and maybe it's the fact that I'm getting older & fussier, but I feel as though you have to listen to alot of so-so stuff in order to uncover the really good stuff. Ghost Stories is the REALLY good stuff.

In terms of her vocal style, Amanda Ghost sounds to me, somewhat bizzarely, like a cross between Alison Moyet and Shirley Bassey - suffice to say, she has a warm, full and character-rich voice that is utilized to great effect on Ghost Stories.

The pulsating 'Filthy Mind' opens proceedings and would fool many into thinking they've just purchased a Hi NRG/trance type of album instead of the pop album it really is. It's an excellent track but is the exception rather than the rule here. The following tracks 'Idol' and 'Glory Girl' are devasatingly good songs - full of impassioned singing, soaring choruses and honest, cutting lyrics. 'Blind Man' is also a stunner and provides the album's other real highlight.

Ghost Stories is pretty dark, introspective stuff, but crucially, it is also frequently electrifyingly beautiful - the sort of music that gets you in the guts and taps your emotions with the greatest of ease. A month ago, Amanda Ghost didn't even exist in my consciousness - now she seems to have direct access to the pleasure centers in my brain.

Ghost Stories has already become a firm favourite in my record collection and I can't wait for the new one - scheduled for release this year!

If I could take just 10 CDs to a desert island than this would be one of them. Why you ask? Because of its awesome diversity. I don't even know where to begin for there's so many different genres fused together, which is always a lovely combination. A lot of songs like "Idol" would probably be considered pop-rock with an electronic edge and despondent lyrics, but there's so much more to GHOST STORIES than just that. Every song here (whether it be melancholy or happy) is simply addicting. Songs like the orchestrated "Silver Lining" and the smooth, melodic "Glory Girl" emote beauty beyond words while songs like the punkish techno driven "Filthy Mind" get the blood pumping as you feel the need to dance. Her re-make of "Empty" is also a nice addition, although I find Sonique's version to be slightly better...

Now don't become doubtful because of these negative reviewers trying to convince everyone that this album is a flop with a voice that is worse than a froghorn. People's tastes are different, I know, but I think that I'm able to distinguish a good voice from a bad voice and this is definitely good. Those close-minded people are clearly out of their minds, so ignore them! Shes got a voice that's different, agreed, but don't you think it's refreshing to hear something different once in a while? She's filled with a passion that is fierce and unstoppable, and the melodies are haunting and beautiful - so what's there not to like?

Buy it already!

When you hear her name you may pass her off as a gimmick, as my sister did. However, when you hear her voice you will be reminded of the saying "What's in a name?".

Ghost Stories is BY FAR one of the best 2 cds I've purchased this year. (the other is I MEGAPHONE by Imogen Heap, it's great too!!) I know I love a cd when almost 3 months after it's purchase I still listen to it daily!! I loaned it to my friend on Tuesday and I am having withdrawl.

Anyway, if you have any inclination towards female singers Amanda will possess you without a doubt. As others have said, there is a song for every mood. Mourning (NUMB) Optimism (Glory Girl) Affirmation (IDOL) ANGER (Cellophane) Melancholy (Silver Lining) ....there's just no way I'd rather spend 45 minutes than being serenaded by this sincere siren.

I discovered Amanda Ghost's music by accident, and I liked her brand of edgy pop/rock so much that I had to buy her CD. Her voice has the purity of a pop star, but her music, all composed and written by Ghost herself, has the range of a true musician. The most well-known cut, "Idol," and the less played "Glory Girl" are perfect for the pop airwaves, while the edgy "Filthy Mind" and the haunting "Cellophane" sound more like alternative rock. "Empty" is reminiscent of the classical instrument-driven, sultry rock of Rasputina. In the end, though, Amanda Ghost has her own sound which makes this CD stand out from other artists.

The best part of Ghost's music is the marriage between excellent music and equally accomplished lyrics. Too often artists emphasize sound over substance, and as a result, they don't lend themselves well to multiple listenings. Ghost is an exception. "Wrong Man" equates one-night stands with a psychological need to substitute physical contact for emotional stability: "No matter what I say, you're just filling a void in me." In fact, many of the songs deal with the human desire to numb oneself to reality. Not only does "Numb" bemoan that Ghost is "falling out of love with you/I'll find defenses," but "Empty" declares "tonight I'm yours, but I don't feel it," and in "Cellophane" claims that "nobody moves me." "Blind Man" is a supposedly an attack on soulless music executives: "It must be wonderful/To think you know it all." Despite the recurrent themes, each cut sound distinctive. You won't finish this CD thinking that all the songs sound alike.

Amanda Ghost deserves all the listeners she can get. I only hope that she continues her maturation as an artist.

I bought this CD after hearing "Silver Lining" on ER. I downloaded the song on Napster and listened to it at least 15 times a day. A few months later, I was in a CD store and I happend to see the CD "Ghost Stories." I was in the mood to spend money, so I bought it on an impulse. It was the best impulse buy I've ever made.

At first, I didn't really like the CD: it was like nothing I'd ever heard before. But it grew on me, and now I can't stop listening to it. I can't wait until she makes another CD.

"Ghost Stories" is perfect for every mood. It starts out with "Filthy Mind", a catchy dance song. Next is "Idol", which is my second favorite song. I love Amanda's voice, especially on this song. My favorite song is "Silver Lining." This song is so beautiful and really shows off Amanda's talent as a singer and songwriter. The last three tracks, "Empty", "A Child Believes", and "Numb" are all very powerful and have a sad-like quality.

This whole CD is amazing. There is not one track worth skipping over. It's the kind of CD you can listen to over and over and over again (I know, I've done it). I would reccomend this CD to anyone even slightly thinking about buying it. It is by far the best CD I bought this year and one of the best I own.

I had never heard of Amanda Ghost until I heard the track "Cellophane" while listening to the original soundtrack to the movie "Sweet November", and I thought it was exceptional - obviously quite personal and really poignant lyrically, but with a hard and uncompromising edge. It made me want to seek out more by this performer, and I wasn't disappointed with her album.

"Cellophane" is still my favourite track, I love the bitter helplessness of Amanda's vocal delivery. But the other tracks on the album are equally strong and each one has a character of it's own. Amanda's voice is quite gravelly, and comparisons have been made to Belinda Carlise and Bonnie Tyler (not in musical style, obviously, just voice similarity), which are fair enough to give you an idea. It's a vocal style that best suits the darker material that Amanda is highly capable of writing, otherwise she risks sounding like everybody else in this overcrowded market. The opening track "Filthy Mind" is among the best examples of what she can do, it's suprisingly danceable but with a dirty punk feel to it like - a bit like the great early songs by Curve. A shame she does not reproduce this style in the rest of the album, as some of the tunes are a bit flat in places, like the song "Idol", which has a very bland sing-song chorus that renders Amanda's voice totally unremarkeable. Her songs need to be edgier than this to really grab the listener's attention.

Luckily there are better ones. Aside from that great opening number mentioned above, "Glory Girl" and "Wrong Man" also fare better, even though the former actually takes on quite a positive mood, Amanda has a way of writing enigmatic lyrics that withstand different ways of interpretation. And that's quite a talent, it means each listener finds what they want when playing this album. It also helps that the sleeve and packaging is quite minimal, featuring just one distorted image of the artist, which is a brave marketing move for an unknown artist, but it pays off in my opinion.

I hope to hear a second album by this singer soon, if she mines deeper into her fertile imagination and doesn't go soft with the musical production (this album has excellent production when it tries), it will be even better than the first.

I thought I would write a new review "Ghost Stories", one of the first cds I reviewed a couple years ago here on Amazon. Back then I didn't go into as much detail when reviewing albums as I try to now. I came across "Ghost Stories" one day at my favorite record store and being the sort of person that I am, I took a chance on this album and bought it on a whim. Thank heavens I did. I absolutely loved this album right from the get go. This is quite a diverse album although too short for my tastes, but better too short with awesome songs than too long with mediocre music. "Ghost Stories" is a conglomeration of techno, folk, pop, and rock music. Very Garbagey sounding at times like on "Idol". I remember clearly listening to this album several times on the day I had bought the cd. Two years later, the music still holds up. Amanda definitely has one of the most unique voices I have ever heard. A bit shrill at times yet rough and vulnerable at times. My two very, very, very favorite tracks on this album is "Glory Girl" and "Silver Lining". "Silver Lining" is a beautiful ballad. I always get weepy and emotional when I listen to it. And "Glory Girl" has this end-of-the-summer feeling to it. I love singing along to that song. The video (if you pop in the cd on your computer) for that song is very simple and profund. The song itself is a nice blend of pop, rock, and trip hop. "Filthy Mind" is a great way to start off this wonderful album with its fierce techno beats. "Idol" is another great song. All the songs on this album is wonderful in their own right. I always thought "Ghost Stories" was one of those overlooked albums from 2000. I consider this album a true gem from that year (unlike Nelly Furtado's debut album). I sure hope to hear more from Amanda Ghost soon. "Ghost Stories" is one of my personal favorite albums of all time.