'Ghosts'

In my opinion, this is the best album from 2007.

Although she may not have gathered much attention from her first record, her popularity nearly quadrupled with the release of her outstanding album, Ghosts. Not technically a commercial success, I think it could have sold a lot more providing there weren't manufacturing issues that made the commercial markets look away. Since then, the album has been hard to find in places offline. Thank goodness for iTunes, YouTube, and Spotify.

When I describe this album, I feel like I'm talking about beautiful scenery from an enchanting movie because the work is so inspired by emotional triumphs and inspirational to Siobhan's faithful fanbase. A lot of people compare Ghosts to works of female singers who are known for their artistic side, such as Kate Bush, Bjork, and Tori Amos to name a few. One thing that's been made very clear is that there was been a lot of effort put into this album and we can see how much of a self-proclaimed perfectionist Siobhan is.

Siobhan has a trait shared with many artists that I like which is that their genre is a bit debatable. You could consider this an electronica record as Wikipedia says it's an electronica album, but the album doesn't sound like pure electric in my ears. Alternative pop and experimental are accurate, but it doesn't have that common stuff you find in pop music. Avant-garde might be stretching it, but it's only since I started writing this review now that I have wondered what the true genre of the album is. But I guess it doesn't really matter. I love it, it's wonderful, and that's all that's really important.

I love the way Siobhan sings. I love how it's like she seems to master nearly every vocal technique because all her notes are in tune, sound natural, and are really classy. With her huge range, she can pull off any genre she wants to and she does. She did it in One Touch and Revolution In Me and she nailed it here. She can really pull the experimental thing off because she's had a range of experience and a huge heart for music.

"Don't Give It Up" was chosen as the first single and opening track of the album because Siobhan and the team felt that it was the song that gave the best overall image of the album. I personally think that it only shows a fraction of the lovely sounds that the album offers, but I bought the single and don't regret it because it has interesting production with the crystal clear verses and the ethereal chorus which gives the song a lot of character.

"So You Say" was a really good choice for a second single because it's a haunting ballad that has all these vibes of nature which makes the song sound really refreshing and good to listen to regardless of time, season, or mood. When you're sad it's the kind of song that lifts your mood. When you're happy, it's the kind of song that relaxes you. When you hear the song, it might remind you of Florence + the Machine because of its production. The musical arrangements are really pretty and I love the imagery.

"There's a Place" is just as gorgeous as the previous tracks, but has that regular acoustic hook layered with some sweet synthesizers. Siobhan's vocals on this song are really high and sound fragile, but I think it sounds really blissful. I love the lyrics to it and I think they are wonderfully executed on this song. I think everything about this song is a highlight from the freestyle guitars and the orchestral vibes to the lush vocals. It makes me feel really fuzzy when I listen to it.

"Sometimes" uses great keyboards and vocal editing. The beginning to the song sounds really breathtaking and the mild use of dubstep echoes give it a lovely touch. Everything seems so random in this song but at the same time, it all falls into place because it's so freestyle. And I believe that this album's genre is now freestyle. It's a great genre indeed. I can see why people will be reminded of Kate Bush on this song because it's so light and ethereal.

"12 Acid Blues" is a good acoustic tune. It seems to be people's least favourite because it's not as ethereal and magical, but I think it deserves a place on this album simply because Siobhan, the co-writer, and producer, James Sanger, gave the song a really unfortunate story, but still one that grabbed my attention. It's about how a girl tries to book a holiday but it doesn't go to plan and in the chorus she goes on wishing that she listened to her father with the "if you try to run before you crawl." It's a really interesting song. I love the bass line to the song.

"Make It Right" is amazing. Siobhan sounds really mature and classy on this song and the backing vocals give the song a really great character, and then it builds up, ready for the dark ballad "Coming Up For Air" which makes me, the listener, feel lost in the distorted music but tranquilized by the vocals. This one reminds me of my favourite Madonna song, "Frozen" which was produced by William Orbit. This really lovely ballad was produced by Marius De Vries, who I think did a great job.

At this point of the album, we're coming up to my favourite song of the album. "Goldfish" is another exceptional track from this album. I love how dark, cinematic, and emotional the song is. It's not a belt ripper, but it's got that lovely ethereal touch that really puts great emphasis onto the song's theme and mood. It's such a magic song.

"Medevac" is Siobhan's favourite song, and I think it's one of mine too because it's so emotional and I feel like there is a sound of breaking out of the shell. "Help me out here, cause I'm strung out!" The first line of the song instantly grabs me. I think Siobhan is at her vocal peak on this track because she really means it because it's a song about James.

"Halcyon Days" is so relaxing because the music sounds like something you would do yoga to or meditate to. The guitars sound really oriental and the music sounds like you're lost in another world but Siobhan is singing about real life experiences. The pipes sound so tranquil and it makes me just want to relax and dream of exotic holidays. This song makes me think of my friends Sophie and Amy because they've been to some really awesome holidays like Thailand and India.

Although it's not a single, the title track "Ghosts" seems to be Siobhan's most popular song because it shows all the known perceptions of her, such as how she's a young Kate Bush. "Ghosts" is one of my favourite songs by Siobhan because the music sounds so beautiful, the lyrics are sublime, and the song is just so fascinating. The song makes more sense backward than it does forward. I think it's a really cool way to end the album because it leaves a brilliant, breathtaking last impression.

Of course if you bought the album on iTunes, you have the two lovely bonus tracks, "Re-Offend" and "Man On A Mission". Both are lovely tracks that blend into the style of the album. Though wherever you buy this album, it's surely worth it. If you're into the power of superior ginger musicians, then buy it. If you like good pop music: buy it. This is one of the albums that I play regularly and would recommend regardless of taste.