Haunted
Give Poe credit for overcoming obstacles and delivering a second album as ambitious and loaded asHaunted. Extending over 15 wildly diverse tracks linked together by ambient interludes and spooky tape splices of old cassette recordings featuring the singer's late father, documentary filmmaker Tad Danielewski, the album shows the songstress moving effortlessly through ethereal folk-hop ("Haunted"),Shania Twain-style country rock ("Walk the Walk"), and flamenco-infused balladry ("Spanish Doll"). The only constant through the turbulence--emotional and otherwise--remains her desperately romantic voice and its desire to bid her father a proper farewell at every turn.--Jaan Uhelszki