Chantal Kreviazuk Album: “Ghost Stories”

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

Chantal Kreviazuk has produced many good songs in the past, some of which are "Time", "In This Life", "These Days" and "Feels Like Home". Her voice is very pure and breathtaking, which allows her to be free spirited and emotional on the tracks mentioned above.

For her previous three albums, she has taken on a more lighthearted approach to the topics she was writing about, like life, destiny and wasting of time. But in this album, she grows darker, and that darkness becomes somewhat her downfall.

"All I Can Do", "Ghost Stories", "Waiting for the Sun" and "Wonderful" are clear standout tracks in this album, with "Spoke In Tongues" making a good lasting impression as well. The US bonus tracks "Time" and "I Do Believe" add on to the good repertoire, with "Time" returning for another show. "I Do Believe" is more like her, albeit a bit darker.

However the rest are painfully hard to listen to, especially Wendy House and You Blame Yourself, where she hits sounds that she has not touched in the past.

What If It All Means Something, her 3rd album, remains her best, and though this album has some gems inside, they are still not enough to make her album as outstanding as it could have been.

Get over it, she has grown a lot and so has her music. She's getting beat up, just like Heather Nova has been, for writing what she is living now. She is a mom, and if you don't think that doesn't change your perspective, then you need to talk to a new mom. You don't really want the same music that she sang on her first cd, do you? Or her second or her third.

Yes, it is more melodic, less intense, but do you doubt that is how she is feeling right now? If you don't like it, too bad, the rest of us will just enjoy:)

This is the first time I have felt the need to write a review because of the bad ones.

This album by Chantal Kreviazuk is the absolute best one she has made.

There is not one of the songs on this album i don't like.

The piano part of the songs are incredible and really well komposed.have the sheet music to some of the songs on the album, and all I can say is that this music is written with great musical insight and intelligence.No wonder she has had so many hits with that mind.The lyrics are great too and really touches isues that concerns everyone, who has just lived a litle.All in All this is an Album that connects lyrics and music in a way that speaks to people, who has an ear for quality.

Love, love , love this album and this artist.

I am not familiar with Chantal Kreviazuk's music. I prefer listening to goth and industrial music for most of the time but every now and then I like to listen to singer/songwriters like Tori Amos and Sarah McLachlan. I recently came across Chantal Kreviazuk's latest album "Ghost Stories" (she obviously aped that title from British singer/songwriter Amanda Ghost) at my local library. I decided to check out her music. I have to admit that I found her cd to be quite pleasant to listen to. The songs have a good pop hook but I also found her music rather bland and uninspiring to listen to. I wasn't too wild about Chantal's voice either. Her voice got on my nevers quite a bit like on "Blame Yourself" which she sounded awfully whiney. I could hear an obvious Sheryl Crow influence in Chantal's voice and I can't say that is a good thing either. "Ghost Stories" is pleasant to listen to but offers nothing that hasn't been said and done before by other female singer/songwriters.