Search - Amanda Ghost :: Ghost Stories

I Found Myself an Idol

neptin | Atlanta, GA USA | 06/21/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

The Beginning of an Artist

_ | Atlanta, GA USA | 03/24/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"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."

One of the BEST CDs of the year

Paul Lyons | Los Angeles, CA USA | 09/20/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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..."