Poe

My favorite song is Trigger Happy Jack. I wish her entire album had consisted of songs with a harder sound like this one, but I still enjoyed it. As a Heavy Metal fan I have to say I was pleasantly surprised that I actually enjoyed this album, but I wish she did more like Trigger Happy Jack.

She says it right in her songs. That's why she talks to us in the way she does. It's strange, you should see my cd collection -it goes Deftones, Static-X, Tool, Coal Chamber, Marilyn Manson, Poe, Rob Zombie, Mudvayne, etc. etc. I don't normally go for this particular type of music but Annie Danielewski can be suducting in more ways than one. Her lyrics lay down how a song can spiral deep inside the psyche. "you must of had your moments... inside the sun" - "cause that day, in my life, I dreamt tomorrow had a prettier face. I dreamt tomorrow we'd have better things to say". Her voice will simmer nerves to the point that you'll keep coming back for more. 'Hello' is definately her best album. It's hypnotic, it's beautiful, it's Poe. For a hellish jezabel she'll "blow you... away."

Poe is a master of covering all the landscapes, emotionally as well as instrumentally in her work. She works the elevated vocabulary and sexual digital metaphor like a poet, bending it against catchy rhythms and sometimes quite soulfully stark accompaniment. I can appreciate the woman power element she brings to her sound--Ruby-esque in a frank and sometimes scathing way, but always with tremendous depth of feeling. While I appreciate her ability in mastering tracks as dance tunes, she shows a real strength of emotion in the bleak "Fly Away." Every song on this CD is win, though. Rare find, that.

i have nothing to say except I love Poe and it is unfortunate that not enough people appriciate her. my favorite artist by far

I've been listening to Poe for over 10 years, and consider her to be one of the finest artists out there. Both her albums are a must have, though they are quite different.

My first act upon meeting the woman of my dreams (who has thankfully become my wife) was to get her hooked on Poe. She's now as big a fan as I. Hoo-rah! :D :D :D :D

Seriously, well worth the price.

When THE WALL came out a friend came and grabbed me and said "I'm going to do you a favor!" and he put Pink Floyd's masterpiece on and we listened in awe. Let me do you a favor and tell you to BUY this album, dim the lights, have a wine and listen to start to finish.

This album is simply perfect. POE's HAUNTED takes you on a journey with an unbelievably crisp combination of delicate, raw, edgy, sexy, personal and perpetually fresh lyrics, music and sounds.

The production on this album is simply astonishing. Poe's voice is absolutely perfect to pull off this album and you can hear every word she sings.

Listen to it from start to finish as she takes you on a intense experience and each song is a different stage. If it were a movie, you could compare it to Shawshank Redemption (yes I know that was random)and POE is both Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins as she takes you through the pain and triumphs of life in way the transcends description.

I discovered this wonderful singer through a song called "Walk the Walk", which I fell in love with the second I heard it. Soon after, I got hold of the entire CD and realized that this is not just a great rock album, it's a story, a journey. Poe (Annie Decatur Danielewski) delivers each song in such a personal way that you can't help but get swept away by the enchanting music and the intriguing lyrics. Some songs, like "Wild", "Control" and "Walk the Walk" leave you feeling empowered and are very cathartic. Others, like "Haunted" and "5 and a Half Minute Hallway", have a dream-like feel to them. Then there are those songs that are simply a joy to listen to without having a specific agenda, such as "Spanish Dall", which is a beautiful combination of Spanish guitar and heart-wrenching lyrics, or "Lemon Meringue", which lives up to its promise that "this will be a good song" (as the funny guy in the intro says). At the forefront of it all is Poe's voice, mature and compelling, which carries each song with intelligence and grace. And as strange as this may sound, the songs are not the only thing that makes this album great. It also contains bits of dialogue between father and daughter, some of which appear at the beginning or end of songs, some are independent tracks, and all these bits add depth and mystery to the story told by this album.

So if you appreciate innovative rock and are looking for more than your average pop-rock sound that dominates today's charts, this could be the album for you.

I'm new to Poe. When I heard the first track, I knew I had to get this album. I love morbid. That's what this whole album is. The reason it gets 3 stars is, because the voices in the background are annoying. It's a good album nonetheless. My favorite tracks are

Exploration B
Haunted
Control
Terrible Thought
Beat of my own drum
Wild
Spanish Doll

Sometimes I have to hide this CD from myself for months, because it will simply take over any and all players as well as my head for excruciating long periods of time. Ahh, sweet, sweet Haunted torture...I found myself immensely intrigued with the running thread of her father and her family's past.

Truly one of my top 10 favorite albums of all time--and that's really saying something because I am an all-genre kind of gal. The only thing I'd heard previously from Poe was 'Angry Johnny' because it smothered the airwaves back when I actually listened to radio. Then I found this, purely by accident...although I have a feeling there's nothing accidental about any of Poe's work.

The CD was released in conjuction with her brother's book The House of Leaves, and the two complement each other subtly yet effectively. That book is quite a commitment, so take it slowly.

Brilliant.

In the musical realm, there is feminine and masculine, Yin and Yang. While this is very much a 'Feminine' work, it manages to appeal to a masculine listener a lot more then, perhaps Sara McLaughlin. I wouldnt go as far to say as it's 'Pop-y' as some reviewers did, as much as I would say it is a very diverse album. Albums like this generally tend to capture the interest of a diverse audience, and are in turn thought of as 'mainstream'. Yeah, so it's not as snarling and dripping with passionate angst like Hello. Whats here is a passion of another kind. Overall, the melodies are lush and beautiful, the lyrics enveloping, and the progression of the album tracks perfectly placed. If you can listen to 'Hey Pretty', 'Wild', 'Haunted', or really ANY of the tracks on this album and think 'Emotionally void, too mainstream, contrived', then go back to listening to G.G. Allen, you elitist prick. Or was Troubled Troubadour too commercial for you?

When THE WALL came out a friend came and grabbed me and said "I'm going to do you a favor!" and he put Pink Floyd's masterpiece on and we listened in awe. Let me do you a favor and tell you to BUY this album, dim the lights, have a wine and listen to start to finish.

This album is simply perfect. POE's HAUNTED takes you on a journey with an unbelievably crisp combination of delicate, raw, edgy, sexy, personal and perpetually fresh lyrics, music and sounds.

The production on this album is simply astonishing. Poe's voice is absolutely perfect to pull off this album and you can hear every word she sings.

Listen to it from start to finish as she takes you on a intense experience and each song is a different stage. If it were a movie, you could compare it to Shawshank Redemption (yes I know that was random)and POE is both Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins as she takes you through the pain and triumphs of life in way the transcends description.

I discovered this wonderful singer through a song called "Walk the Walk", which I fell in love with the second I heard it. Soon after, I got hold of the entire CD and realized that this is not just a great rock album, it's a story, a journey. Poe (Annie Decatur Danielewski) delivers each song in such a personal way that you can't help but get swept away by the enchanting music and the intriguing lyrics. Some songs, like "Wild", "Control" and "Walk the Walk" leave you feeling empowered and are very cathartic. Others, like "Haunted" and "5 and a Half Minute Hallway", have a dream-like feel to them. Then there are those songs that are simply a joy to listen to without having a specific agenda, such as "Spanish Dall", which is a beautiful combination of Spanish guitar and heart-wrenching lyrics, or "Lemon Meringue", which lives up to its promise that "this will be a good song" (as the funny guy in the intro says). At the forefront of it all is Poe's voice, mature and compelling, which carries each song with intelligence and grace. And as strange as this may sound, the songs are not the only thing that makes this album great. It also contains bits of dialogue between father and daughter, some of which appear at the beginning or end of songs, some are independent tracks, and all these bits add depth and mystery to the story told by this album.

So if you appreciate innovative rock and are looking for more than your average pop-rock sound that dominates today's charts, this could be the album for you.

I'm new to Poe. When I heard the first track, I knew I had to get this album. I love morbid. That's what this whole album is. The reason it gets 3 stars is, because the voices in the background are annoying. It's a good album nonetheless. My favorite tracks are

Exploration B
Haunted
Control
Terrible Thought
Beat of my own drum
Wild
Spanish Doll

Sometimes I have to hide this CD from myself for months, because it will simply take over any and all players as well as my head for excruciating long periods of time. Ahh, sweet, sweet Haunted torture...I found myself immensely intrigued with the running thread of her father and her family's past.

Truly one of my top 10 favorite albums of all time--and that's really saying something because I am an all-genre kind of gal. The only thing I'd heard previously from Poe was 'Angry Johnny' because it smothered the airwaves back when I actually listened to radio. Then I found this, purely by accident...although I have a feeling there's nothing accidental about any of Poe's work.

The CD was released in conjuction with her brother's book The House of Leaves, and the two complement each other subtly yet effectively. That book is quite a commitment, so take it slowly.

Brilliant.

In the musical realm, there is feminine and masculine, Yin and Yang. While this is very much a 'Feminine' work, it manages to appeal to a masculine listener a lot more then, perhaps Sara McLaughlin. I wouldnt go as far to say as it's 'Pop-y' as some reviewers did, as much as I would say it is a very diverse album. Albums like this generally tend to capture the interest of a diverse audience, and are in turn thought of as 'mainstream'. Yeah, so it's not as snarling and dripping with passionate angst like Hello. Whats here is a passion of another kind. Overall, the melodies are lush and beautiful, the lyrics enveloping, and the progression of the album tracks perfectly placed. If you can listen to 'Hey Pretty', 'Wild', 'Haunted', or really ANY of the tracks on this album and think 'Emotionally void, too mainstream, contrived', then go back to listening to G.G. Allen, you elitist prick. Or was Troubled Troubadour too commercial for you?

My favorite song is Trigger Happy Jack. I wish her entire album had consisted of songs with a harder sound like this one, but I still enjoyed it. As a Heavy Metal fan I have to say I was pleasantly surprised that I actually enjoyed this album, but I wish she did more like Trigger Happy Jack.

She says it right in her songs. That's why she talks to us in the way she does. It's strange, you should see my cd collection -it goes Deftones, Static-X, Tool, Coal Chamber, Marilyn Manson, Poe, Rob Zombie, Mudvayne, etc. etc. I don't normally go for this particular type of music but Annie Danielewski can be suducting in more ways than one. Her lyrics lay down how a song can spiral deep inside the psyche. "you must of had your moments... inside the sun" - "cause that day, in my life, I dreamt tomorrow had a prettier face. I dreamt tomorrow we'd have better things to say". Her voice will simmer nerves to the point that you'll keep coming back for more. 'Hello' is definately her best album. It's hypnotic, it's beautiful, it's Poe. For a hellish jezabel she'll "blow you... away."

Poe is a master of covering all the landscapes, emotionally as well as instrumentally in her work. She works the elevated vocabulary and sexual digital metaphor like a poet, bending it against catchy rhythms and sometimes quite soulfully stark accompaniment. I can appreciate the woman power element she brings to her sound--Ruby-esque in a frank and sometimes scathing way, but always with tremendous depth of feeling. While I appreciate her ability in mastering tracks as dance tunes, she shows a real strength of emotion in the bleak "Fly Away." Every song on this CD is win, though. Rare find, that.

i have nothing to say except I love Poe and it is unfortunate that not enough people appriciate her. my favorite artist by far

I've been listening to Poe for over 10 years, and consider her to be one of the finest artists out there. Both her albums are a must have, though they are quite different.

My first act upon meeting the woman of my dreams (who has thankfully become my wife) was to get her hooked on Poe. She's now as big a fan as I. Hoo-rah! :D :D :D :D

Seriously, well worth the price.

That description may be a tad dramatic, but it's a good summary of this guy Poe's music. Lyrically he comes from the wry sardonic tradition of Richard Thompson and Warren Zevon, but musically the sound also draws from David Sylvian and Morphine with touches of Nick Drake (a blend that's perfectly suited to his velvety voice). Wrap all those influences into a smoky/mellow acoustic brew that remains intelligent and avoids sounding derivative, serve chilled with a tasteful cham-PAN-ya, and you've got Love Is Red. This disc is missing the fun & laughs of a live DP show, but otherwise it's got the same warm intimate feeling down pat.. and it's his finest album yet.

It does leave one wishing for more - a couple songs are repeated from past albums and the whole still doesn't pass 35 minutes - but it's all solid from start to finish. The tunes sit somewhere between smooth jazz (I mean 'smooth' a-la Miles, not the laughable Kenny Gs that have given the term a bad name) and soft pop, with other subtle touches such as the Spanish-tinged title track. The production is perfectly understated; some backing bass and drums is really all that's needed. The lyrics are subtly witty and the whole experience is an alluring treat for folks of almost all musical tastes. It's a beautiful disc you can play around your spouse, your friends or your parents. Here's hoping his next album (which he says will be "a record about God and porn") doesn't take another four years to see the light of day.. or more likely the dim-lit glow of night.

I first listened to this CD one early morning/late night in my bed on my personal player. I was immediately transported to some small smoky intimate cafe from the first three songs. As time went on, I saw many images and was blown away by David Poe's voice...I don't know why his music gave me the same emotions as when I listened to Jeff Buckley's "Grace." Their music definitely different but they both have some intensity, however Jeff more strongly than David. Buy this album and be blown away (the lyrics to Love is Red is biographic for me)and be wrapped up in delightful strong imagery.

Such an amazing album.. It's exactly the type of music you want to just listen to while sipping a glass of wine and smoking a cigarette.

The best song on this album is So Beautiful.. David just keeps getting better with each effort he puts forth. The whole sound of the album ranges from Jazz to Folk. He blends both styles into a wonderful audio sensory experience.

For any David Poe fans please visit the David Poe Message Board. http://com2.runboard.com/bdavidpoe

I haven't listened to Poe's previous record "the late album" for a while, but remember it evoking what its title suggests....an album meant to be listened to in the late hours. That album always made me think of a sexy, dimly lit, late night lounge with a jazzy band playing in the shadows, where most people were too absorbed in their own paramours to pay much attention to the music. The opening track of "Love is red" starts where "the late album" left off, with that same, smoky, moody feel. But then, something totally different happens. As the record progresses, Poe gets into a wicked, mildly psychedelic groove that recalls nothing so much as Nirvana's final live show "MTV unplugged in New York" which was recorded just weeks before Cobain's untimely demise. That show was a departure for Nirvana, in that they deconstructed their own songs, turning them into intense, more quiet psychedelic songs instead of the loud, feedback riddled electric feel of the originals. On "love is red", Poe's voice sounds eerily similar to Cobain's on several of the tracks. "The late album" was great for certain moods. "Love is red", on the other hand, is an album you can groove on anytime, and on balance, is a much better record than its predecessor (unless, of course, lounge jazz is your thing). One can only hope this new direction is a sign of things to come from Poe.

I was introduced to David Poe via a in-studio webcast on KCRW and was captivated enough to purchase Love is Red. Last night I was lucky enough to find used copies of "David Poe" and "The Late Album" and immediately bought them. Imagine my surprise when upon listening to them I find that four songs from Love is Red are taken from Poe's first two albums (Moon, Settlement, You're the Bomb, Love Won't Last the Afternoon). I think these are fantastic songs, but is it fair to fans to promote this as new music? Taking those songs away would have left a very nice, but much shorter, recording. I guess perhaps the way to look at it is that I am being reminded of some very expertly crafted songs that I really enjoy.

Phenomal album from top to bottom. This has been a perenial favorite for me since the year it came out and is always one of the first albums I recommend to friends looking for new music.

David's songs conjure up a variety of detailed atmospheres and emotions, all the while sticking to tight, concise and very very catchy pop songs for grown-ups. Try songs like "Echo Box" and "Childbearing" to get hooked initially, and songs like "The Drifter" and "The Late Song" will keep you coming back over and over again.

Unfortunately, David seems to be one of those artists who has fallen through the cracks of the singer-songwriter/adult pop (hate that term) music world. Hopefully, he gets well deserved recognition at some point in the future. In the meantime, we can make do with this excellent set of songs.

David Poe's "The Late Album" is interesting. His sound is dense punctuated by flutes and other flourishes. His lyrical sense overpowers the melodic content, but he still maintains interest. "Echo Box" that opens the set has great electric guitar with Poe's voice like an electrified Nick Drake, "Tonight is calling clear, I can see your house from here." "Childbearing" has pretty images with a steady rhythm track, "That little girl is going to break that little boy's heart someday." Poe perhaps tries to reassure himself that he's not dead on the moody title track. Lyrically, Poe is inventive as on "Wear Your Best," "There was a landmark man with a face like a happy god, changed robes on the road on the way to the seminar." "You're the Bomb" has a slow lounge feel with the brushes on the drums and a prominent bass line as Poe apparently compares a love to an explosion, "You & I set the town on fire, brighter & hotter than the rising sun." "Good Lonely" has a churning slow beat with Poe's hushed vocals set amid an ever-changing cast of supporting instruments, "Driving home, she plays a Christmas song, says it makes her happy, but it's February." There is a bonus track, an acoustic version of "The Drifter." Poe's album is tremendously interesting, but still leaves me a bit outside of it. His excellent lyrics are on the dark side and open up the more you spin the disc. Ultimately, although he uses great harmonies and varied arrangements, there is sameness in the music. This lack of distinctness as a songwriter makes this an average disc with some outstanding merit. Enjoy!

I'll Not Repeat The Other Succinct, Cogent, and Complimentary Reviews

Simply a wonderful album (oops, showing my age there!). Around where I live, nothing like this is ever heard on the FM dial. (Probably not heard much elsewhere, either, given the preponderance of shreiking, half-naked, female "artists" out there.)

I purchased the CD on the strength of several Amazonian reviews and am doggone happy I did.

Poe's second fulfills the hopes found on his spotty self-titled debut of five years ago. The bittersweet tone of this set of masterful essays on love lost gives an overall autumnal sheen to Poe's observations. Fans of such musical poets as Joni Mitchell, Duncan Shiek, Jackson Browne, or Van Morrison will find images and wordplay worthy of multiple reads. The production is tastefully done, all in the service of the songs, rather than the other way around. Poe moves effortlessly from the the rant of "Echo Box," to the smoky blue lights of "You're the Bomb," to the blissfully irreverent "Deathwatch for a Living Legend" without cracking a smile or losing his way. Watch this guy -- the dark, wistful, self-deprecating, and literate Poe is the raven to John Mayer's bluebird.

I own 700+ CDs that cross many genres and decades, and this is one of the 5 CDs I'd take with me to a deserted island. A friend loaned me "Late Album" a week before we were to see David Poe perform live so I would have an idea of what to expect. I'd never heard of him before, but after one listen to this CD I was immediately hooked on Mr. Poe's intelligent lyrics and musical style.

I honestly enjoy every song, but standouts for me are "The Drifter", "Childbearing", "Never I Will", "Good Lonely", and the absolutely superb "You're the Bomb." This CD works well if you're looking for background music while you're doing something else, but I strongly recommend that you give it your undivided attention - I promise you won't be sorry.

Finally, if you have a chance to see David Poe perform live please do so. He has a wonderful rapport with the crowd that makes you feel as though you're all old friends that he's entertaining in his living room. He's a gracious and charming guy that I hope gets all the success he deserves.

David Poe is that rare musician who writes as beautifully as he plays. The substance of this self-titled debut is uncanny- a fine blend of lyricism, groove & Americana. If you're reading this, feel lucky that you found David Poe when you did. A friend of mine saw him open for Chris Whitley a few years ago- that's how he heard of him (no thanks to the marketing machine of the music industry). Thanks to my friend, I purchased this CD & consider it to be one the best I own (& I own many). Take heed listener- there are angels among us & David Poe is one of them.

Please. Spoilt upper middle - class kid from Centerville, Ohio goes big city with Lis Loeb song stylings. What has this world come to? I fear real music is now dead and buried.

Save some money this season and go buy a homless guy a warm cup of joe :)

and i bought it. that was over 2 years ago, and i broke that cd last week. i'm praying and setting up altars that someone will buy me this cd for christmas. it's incredible. the honesty and the pain he speaks with move my soul every time.

David Poe...talent, emotion, musicianship, lyricist extraordinaire. If you're interested in cutting-edge, listenable, acoustic, artistic beauty combined with a hint of rage, melancholy, humor and joy, you gotta put this one in your collection. Made me think, made me revisit former loves, made me want to immediately play it again and again. Impressive first-out effort.

This is my favorite album of last year. As a debut, it ranks with the first solo efforts of Neil Young, Elliot Smith and Joni Mitchell. The lyrics and songwriting are personal but don't grovel for attention. Intimate, ambitious and unique.