Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I Found Myself an Idol, June 21, 2001
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.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Beginning of an Artist, March 24, 2001
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.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amanda Ghost Will Haunt You, June 7, 2002
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!
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