This came out in 2002 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
I was going to presume the question in that album title was rhetorical. Because honestly, if there has ever been a performer who seems to believe every single second of life is a rich emotional tapestry infused with deep, hidden significance, it’s Chantal Kreviazuk. Or at least it used to be.
But on her third album What If It All Means Something, we’re all in for a pleasant surprise: For some reason — success? marriage? who knows? — Chantal finally seems to have the confidence to lighten up. “I used to carry the weight of the world,” she admits. “Now all I wanna do is spread my wings and fly.” And so she does, moving away from the pretentious, self-involved piano-balladry that dogged her earlier work and heading into a more upbeat world of poppier melodies, soulful grooves and bouncier beats. Granted, she still has a little ways to go — a lot of her lyrics still have that too-personal dear-diary quality, while her melismastic, Joni Mitchellesque delivery sometimes sounds contrived. But even if she’s still far from carefree, Kreviazuk has taken a big step in the right direction.
