I keep her first album in heavy rotation. I got it because of her sole radio cut, "Angry Johnny". When I first heard the remainder of the album, I nearly chucked it out the back window. It seems that my musical tastes had not yet expanded to appreciate her style. Grimly, I gave her another chance and spun the CD a few more times. Now, I remember my first reaction and think that I must be dumber than a box of rocks.

"Hello" is an excellent album, one of the best I've ever heard...challenging, complex, with a seeming multitude of genres represented in just a dozen or so songs. The lyrics are clever, the vocals are great, the music is just pure gold. I wish I could find some way to express the sheer joy this album brings me without sounding like some pathetic fanboy. (Too late!)

I especially like it when she slows it down and approaches ballad territory, in "Fingertips", "Fly Away", and "Beautiful Girl". This last track is my absolute favorite, ripe with a yearning poignancy. But much as she can strip it down to the bare bones of intimacy, she can also punch it right back up and rock out with the best of them.

Strong, funny, wry...a great album by a very much unappreciated artist.


Hello, Poe, where are you now?   July 6, 2005
Kieri (Portland, OR)
15 out of 15 found this review helpful

It takes three or four listenings to get the full impact of this part-rock, part-trip hop, part-blues release from Poe. The tone itself is a little schizophrenic, from the lush opener "Hello" to the amusingly psychotic "Trigger Happy Jack" and "Angry Johnny." She moves onto the dreamy "Dolphin" and the melancholy "Fly Away" after taking a detour into the spoken word in "That Day."

So if you're a fan of Tori Amos, Beth Orton, Fiona Apple, Dido, Kate Bush, Veda Hille, Liz Phair, Sarah McLachlan, Garbage, PJ Harvey, or Norah Jones, I strongly suggest that you get this CD, and her brilliant follow-up, "Haunted" (and a copy of her brother Mark's HOUSE OF LEAVES. Craaaaaazy book.)

If you're a current Poe fan looking for a fix, try Conjure One's self-titled debut, where Poe sings several incredible songs, and the Great Expectations soundtrack, for her song "Today."


a delightful change of pace   January 28, 2000
13 out of 13 found this review helpful

i bought this album not really knowing what to expect. one of those impulse purchases. you know what i mean. beforehand, i'd heard a lot about poe, how she's supposedly pretty talented and her album makes you wish she'd put out another, all that. and you know, i think they were right.

i was pretty taken aback by 'hello'. poe's sweet and quirky and melodic voice just sort of sank right in. usually it takes me some time to get comfortable with a record, but this one is a quick tonic. what with the strange and unique lyrics that sound more like stream of consciousness writing, coupled with poe's strong and moody ambience, it's very easy to get caught in the flow of things. the songs vary in personality--from the manic 'trigger happy jack' and 'choking the cherry' to the romantic 'fingertips' and 'fly away', this album proves that not only can a girl be bitingly sarcastic and intelligent, but also do it with grace and style.

either way, this album, even though i know absolutely nothing about the girl and still unsure as to what planet she's coming from, is a wonderful change of pace. more artists, both male and female, should take a quickstudy from poe and realize that the same old shtick of superficial lyrics and vocals so diluted by digital means just isn't what a lot of people are craving. and even though this record is nearly 5 years old, its originality and sincerity enables it to remain a classic.


Why isnt she getting the recognition of say Allanis?   August 24, 2004
Elizebeth Neumann (Seattle, wa)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

This woman is awesome! I was skeptical to listen to it 5 years ago as it was in the collection of a die hard Tori Amos and Allanis fan. Now I kow there are a lot of fans out there for those two gals but I personally do not like their music. So I thought for sure this would be something I would hate. I was so completely wrong! This cd is one of the most original collections of music you can find.
There are no genres of music left unturned, folk, rock, jazz and everything inbetween. She is brutally honest with a great sense of humor.
Add to that she has an amazing voice.
It was such a long wait between her two cd's and Im guessing it will be even longer for her third. But thankfully her two cd's she has given us will keep our ears and minds entertained until she can record again.
BTW: everyone I have played this for over the years from Tupac fans to my mom have found something on this cd to like. That says a lot. You wont be dissapointed.


Poe, please give us another album soon   February 24, 1999
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

If you like trippy, jazzy ambient beats, coupled with tracks that rock, you should pick up this CD.

I became aware of Poe about 2 years ago when MTV was playing "Angry Johnny" on 120 Minutes and the local alt rock station had a remix of "Hello" in heavy rotation. I was impressed by both tracks but never made it to the CD shop to pick up the CD.

I bought it last week and have not been disappointed at all. I'm listening to it daily. Every track is solid, and the album is amazingly eclectic. Hard, jazzy and dancy at the same time. In addition, Poe's lyrics are poignant and fresh. Her team of songwriters is to be commended. Finally, her voice is heavenly. I especially enjoy female artists, and she is among the best I've heard.

Hope she gets around to releasing another album soon.