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

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'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.

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.

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.