Ghost Stories

Chantal Kreviazuk | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 1, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nettwerk Records
• ASIN: B000NVIXHI
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #53,629 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

From Amazon.ca

Although it took four years for Chantal Kreviazuk to record the follow-up to her successful disc What If It All Means Something, the Canadian singer/pianist was anything but idle in between. During that 'break' she gave birth to two children, wrote songs for Avril Lavigne and Kelly Clarkson, and recorded her fourth disc Ghost Stories at home, with husband Raine Maida (the Our Lady Peace frontman) producing.

Ghost Stories proves to be a stylistic departure for Kreviazuk; rather than settle into warm, traditional ballads, these songs are frequently unpredictable. The classical music she studied as a child--combined with her love of the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper (she references the album in the lyrics of opener "Ghosts of You")--has manifested into this evolutionary disc. Many songs come across as mini-operas, constantly morphing from one style and tempo to the next; as a result, Fiona Apple and Tori Amos comparisons will be made--especially in the frenetic "You Blame Yourself"--but the numbers remain stylistically her own. The anthemic "Asylum" is an impassioned highlight, inspired by a war refugee from the Congo, while "Mad About You" is another powerful moment, a love song whose chorus bursts wide open amidst Kreviazuk's fragile, raw vocals. Kreviazuk's unique "So Cold" veers abruptly from a straight-ahead soliloquy to an emotionally-exploding gospel-style chorus; while perhaps not destined to be a pop radio hit, it offers a glimpse of something brilliant, an evolving singer/songwriter who still has many colours yet to show. --Denise Sheppard

Product Description

CHANTAL KREVIAZUK Ghost Stories (2007 US issue 13-track CD for the fourth studio album by the Canadian singer/songwriter and produced entirely by Chantals husband and Our Lady Peace member Raine Maida the album does not have a single guitar onany of the tracks and includes the singles All I Can Do Wonderful and Ghosts of You plus also includes the bonus tracks Time & I Do Believe complete with picture sleeve)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Finally back with a new cd!, September 17, 2006

By 

Jake Z "holden84" (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ghost Stories (Audio CD)

I have been a fan of Chantal Kreviazuk's since she released her debut in Canada in 1996. I have had the pleasure of seeing her in concert, with just her and a piano, and it was mezmerizing. I even met her, she is very down to earth and nice. I waited for this new release and now it's here. The album is void of any guitars, instead there are rich string melodies. Some of the songs are growers, but as a whole its a pretty good album. Highlights for me include the moving "Ghosts of You", the inspiring "All I Can Do", and the upbeat "Wonderful". Other highlights include "Asylum" and "Wendy House". Overall a really good cd!

Amazon has the wrong tracklisting though. Here is the correct one:

01 Ghosts of You
02 All I Can Do
03 Spoke In Tongues
04 Mad About You
05 So Cold
06 Waiting for the Sun
07 You Blame Yourself
08 Grow Up So Fast
09 Wonderful
10 Asylum
11 Wendy House

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Angsty, October 10, 2006

By 

Amanda Richards (Georgetown, Guyana) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ghost Stories (Audio CD)

Chantal Kreviazuk is accustomed to co-writing big pop songs for artists like Avril Lavigne (6 tracks from "Under My Skin"), Gwen Stefani and Kelly Clarkson, but now that it's time for her to deliver her own fourth studio album, she chooses to go in the opposite direction, resulting in an angst ridden, sometimes melancholy album that's more gospel than glitter and more personal than Pop.

The first two tracks are not representative of the rest of the album, and on the first listen you may be disappointed that there are not more tracks like these. "Ghosts of You" starts with some sweet, sad strings and then morphs into a ballad lamenting lost love, where she sings "please don't go / these ghosts of you / the only thing that helps get my through the day". The first single "All I Can Do" is definitely the stand out track of the album, and more songs like this would have made for a five star album. With great lyrics like "All I can do is love you to pieces / Give you a shoulder to cry when you need it", this is easily my favorite track.

As I said, you may not like the rest of the album on a first listen, but keep in mind the tracks "Grow Up So Fast", "Wonderful", the gospel chorus of "So Cold" and the stirring, war inspired "Asylum" as you go.

The album showcases Kreviazuk's ability to play a mean piano, which coupled with her plaintive vocals and haunting lyrics makes for some pretty intense listening. It's not going to be the album to get your party started, but you'll reach for it on quiet days when you're feeling a little blue and need something introspective to match your mood. Recommended for the days when a good cry is all you need.



Amanda Richards

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Emotional and Strong, December 24, 2006

By 

Karl G "Jerry" (Singapore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ghost Stories (Audio CD)

Chantal's 4th Studio Album is marvelous, and very much different from her previous 3.

Chantal has taken a cue from Nelly Furtado and has changed her music, to a darker, more lyrical, more angsty and much more soulful level. The lyrics are now very angst-ridden and carries a stronger message to all who listen to it.

All I Can Do is very dark, very meaningful and it makes you yearn for more. However, the rest of the album is not like the first single, ranging from the rousing piano intros of Ghosts of You, the melodious and catchy tune of Wonderful and the shocking lyrics of Asylum.

This album is very varied and it shows that she is no more the girl who mused about Time leaving her behind. She is now the woman who sees the world for what it is.