Musically, Ghost Stories is predominantly an alternative rock album influenced by electronica and trip hop.

Four singles were released from the album with "Idol" and "Filthy Mind" becoming top-twenty hits on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.

He praised Ghost's vocals for being "confessional without being self-pitying, strong while still being warm, and confrontational while simultaneously asking for compassion".

[5] Greil Marcus wrote in his column "Real Life Rock Top Ten" that Ghost sounds "like she's singing from the basement of a nightclub long after whoever locked up thought it was empty - but then she changes her clothes and gets all wistful instead".

[6] Kevin Oliver, writing for PopMatters, stated "she manages to sound convincing, if a bit unoriginal," likening her music to that of Alanis Morissette, PJ Harvey, and Natalie Merchant.