Hello (Poe album) explained

Hello
Type:Album
Artist:Poe
Cover:Poe - Hello.jpg
Released:October 10, 1995
Recorded:1994–1995
Length:41:24
Next Title:Haunted
Next Year:2000

Hello is the debut album by the American singer-songwriter Poe.[1] [2] It was released in 1995 on Modern Records.

Background

Aside from the Detroit studio of album producer RJ Rice, the recording of Hello took place at a variety of studios in Los Angeles.[3]

The first music video for the album was for the single "Angry Johnny"; it featured Poe on the skeletal frame of a bed looking forlorn whilst destroying a variety of effects one might associate with romance (like roses or a box of chocolates). The song's rage-filled lyrics quickly found her being lumped into the "angry female rocker" category, and the video was heavily played on MTV's Alternative Nation. The second single, "Hello", did not fare as well, until a remix version was released two years after the album's initial release. At least one other track (Junkie) was remixed as well, since the 1999 CD-quality download of 'Hello' contains a version of 'Junkie' with more instrument layers (horns and warbly guitar) that is 6 seconds shorter than the 3:06 original.

Hello was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on November 20, 1996.[4]

Critical reception

Trouser Press wrote that "Poe has enough personality to keep the pleasant and occasionally intriguing album her own, but not enough to make it a strong statement."[5] MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide called the album "a mess of over-personal, overproduced folk songs," aside from "Trigger Happy Jack" and "Angry Johnny." Tulsa World wrote that Poe "rips and rocks, but she doesn't kick out the jams at the expense of the songcraft."[6] Glen Ballard in an interview on Spotify's Landmark series quoted "Around the time, I was making this record Jagged Little Pill, I heard some tracks by an artist named Poe. I heard a couple of these things and it really blew my mind. As much as anything, the Poe record, "Hello", was probably the biggest influence I had at that time, honestly, because it was a brilliant record that had jazz influence, hip hop, electronic, rock. It was a hybrid of the first degree."[7]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Poe.

Sample credits

Personnel

Credits adapted from CD liner notes.

Musicians

Technical

Design

Chart positions

AlbumBillboard (US)

YearChartPeak position
1996Heatseekers4
1996The Billboard 20071

SinglesBillboard (US)

YearSingleChartPeak position
1995Trigger Happy Jack (Drive by a Go-Go)Modern Rock Tracks27
1996Angry JohnnyModern Rock Tracks7
1996HelloModern Rock Tracks13
1997Hello (Remixes)Hot Dance Music/Club Play1

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Poe | Biography & History. AllMusic.
  2. Book: Hip Hop around the World: An Encyclopedia [2 volumes]]. Melissa Ursula Dawn. Goldsmith. Anthony J.. Fonseca. December 1, 2018. ABC-CLIO. 9780313357596. Google Books.
  3. Hello . Hello (Poe album) . . 1995 . CD booklet . . 92605 . Canada .
  4. Web site: RIAA - Gold & Platinum. Recording Industry Association of America.
  5. Web site: Poe . Trouser Press . 20 December 2020.
  6. Web site: Poe, Hello. Tulsa World.
  7. Web site: Influences . en . 5 November 2015.