Phenomenal
sophomore effort from
LA-based, wit obsessed
pop artist Poe. Released on
October 31st, 2000, Haunted is an extremely personal record, so much so that it almost borders on "
concept album" status, dedicated to her father,
Tad Z. Danielewski (
1921-
1993). The following story is included in the liner notes:
A few years after my father died my brother and I came across a box of cassettes -- recordings of my father's voice. One was a letter to my brother that he had spoken into a tape recorder long ago; another was the recording of a speech he had given during his years as a teacher; and a few more contained random recordings of forgotten family noise. Hearing his voice again shook me to my foundation. At first I couldn't bear to listen to him, then I couldn't stop. Finally I began sampling him. It was an eerie process. Had I resurrected a ghost? In some ways I had. Ultimately I entered into a dialogue with that ghost. Pieces of that dialogue compose the story contained on this album.
The samples of Poe's father occur as
segues from song to song, teaching, arguing, guiding a child of the past into her adulthood of the present. The songs themselves are self-assured, painting the picture of a strong woman who, in many ways, is still just a girl.
I think one of my favorite series of samples is from one of the father's lectures:
"This cannot be all there is to life because in our confrontation with a cold universe there is something comical to the idea that we can really enforce our will on humanity. Power corrupts.
". . . and at the end of it all lies of course the final phenomenon of deterioration -- entropy -- which is a predictable deterioration when the creative energy ceases: everything has to fall apart."
Poe has matured on this record, and fulfilled all
the promises made by
her debut. The album's title really sums up the general notions the album comes to. The stark and powerful
beginnings end in
sentimentality and a resigned
sweetness. It's as if we're witnessing
the end of a mourning process, and left with the resulting
hope.
Track list:
- Exploration B
- Haunted
- Control
- Terrible Thought
- Walk The Walk
- Terrified Heart
- Wild
- 5&1/2 Minute Hallway
- Not A Virgin
- Hey Pretty
- Dear Johnny
- Could've Gone Mad
- Lemon Meringue
- Spanish Doll
- House of Leaves
- Amazed
- If You Were Here