Customer Reviews

Late Album

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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 has grown-up, embraced enthusiasm without losing any of the charm he found in the angst-ridden lyrics that made his listeners love him. This CD won't just grow on you, it will demand to be watered, fed, and taken out in to the sunshine where David is obviously now spending more of his time. Your favorite song will change every time you listen. Inspired by the Beatles and Trip Shakespeare, David is finding the joy in his journey after all. Grab your headphones, a glass of wine, and just listen...

I LOVE this album! I heard cuts 1&2 on my local NPR station (KCRW 89.9 in L.A.) and called in just to find out who it was and what is that album! I had never even heard of David Poe before, so I was thrilled to purchase it and have listened to it nonstop for weeks! I have also given it to friends and family. I generally prefer female singers, i.e., Beth Orton, Alannis, Norah Jones, some Tori (Little Earthquakes, really). I'm not a wild chick--thankfully, this is not a "wild" album--just really listenable, and COOL music that I continue to enjoy and wish I could hear more of in the mainstream.

David Poe is unknown here in Hamburg/Germany, so when he played a concert a year ago in a small club there were only a few people didn't know what to expect. But after this concert David had made real fans out of the small audience.And me, I'm one of them.
The new album is as intensiv as the first one and I'm so happy that my great expectations were not getting disappointed. It's an album you must have!!!
It's a shame that The Late Album is not released until now in Germany and you have to import it from the US. Hope David Poe will play some concerts here to enlarge his fan communitiy.

The Late Song (track four) starts off "If you can hear this-- I am alive." Thank God for that-- I've been waiting four years for the follow up to David Poe's first album. And now it's here-- "The Late Album." Better late than never I say! I purchased this just this past Tuesday (on its release date) & I've listened to it a dozen times already-- in one word it's this: BEAUTIFUL. In my amazon review of his first Album I proclaimed that David was an angel living among us-- I still stand by the claim. This album will accompany all those late night drives on wet autumn roads!

While not every song was to my taste, the project overall is an imporant breakthrough. In the LATE ALBUM, we glimpse the heights to which contemporary American music can be taken when the artist has intrigity, true talent, and the will not to make "devil's bargains" with the recording industry.

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!

David Poe is unknown here in Hamburg/Germany, so when he played a concert a year ago in a small club there were only a few people didn't know what to expect. But after this concert David had made real fans out of the small audience.And me, I'm one of them.
The new album is as intensiv as the first one and I'm so happy that my great expectations were not getting disappointed. It's an album you must have! I've never been the US, espsecially to NY but this record makes me feel like I would go through the streets of downtown NY. Naiv but true.
It's a shame that The Late Album is not released until now in Germany and you have to import it from the US. Hope David Poe will play some concerts here to enlarge his fan communitiy.

This album is a pleasant departure from the bare bones debut. The energy really picks up speed with the enhanced production, and additional instruments.
There is a song for everyone here. The writing really shows a depth of character and heartfelt observation of the human condition with a sometimes painful, but always honest human touch.