Singer/songwriter once meant one man or woman with an acoustic guitar. But artists like Tom Waits have rendered that definition obsolete, creating instead the image of singer/songwriter as postmodern troubadour. Poe's 1995 debut, Hello, established her as a potential star of that genre with catchy hooks, smart lyrics, and a provocative attitude.

On her long-overdue follow-up, Haunted, Poe takes all of those attributes and multiplies them exponentially to not only deliver on that promise, but blow right by it. The explosive "Wild" features furious guitars and Poe sampling her own "la-la-la" bridge from Hello's title track. Just as impressive and even more powerful is the CD's finale, the gorgeous acoustic "If I Were Here." The song, which opens with a friend's daughter whispering "I miss you" and includes a snippet of Poe's late father's voice, is both brutally and beautifully emotionally raw.

Poe also once again showcases the attitude that made "Angry Johnny" a smash. The sexy, drum-heavy "Control," and "Not a Virgin" -- built around an aggressive, repetitious beat -- display a confident bravado that will prove alluring to male and female listeners alike. A heady, emotionally complex work that is as infectious and accessible as it is cerebral, Haunted is one of those very rare albums that can reinvigorate your love for music.