Fiona Apple - When The Pawn...
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Music Reviews of When The Pawn...
Music Review: Fuel This Songbird To Take Flight
Rating: 5 Stars
The epitome of tormented female-oriented music, this New York native writes arty alterna-rock with an urban twinge of melancholy; like a lonely person walking along the empty streets of a big city. (One immediate smiles at the correlation between the chug-a-chug chorus of her single, Fast As You Can and the subway-shot video for it). Whereas her first album, Tidal, was primarily comprised of variations on a tortured crush theme, albeit with surprising awareness and articulation, When the Pawn... (90 word title) explores more intimate aspects of this young woman's mental state in addition to all the boy-craziness- "Paper Bag" - "hunger hurts and I want him so bad oh it kills..." For instance, "Mistake" explores Apple's ambivalence towards authority ("Do I wanna do right?/ Of course!/But do I really want to feel I'm forced?/To answer you/Hell no!"), and "The Way Things Are" focuses on the natural human longing to stay in one miserable state instead of taking the effort to break free and become mentally healthy ("Wouldn't know what to say to a gentle voice/If it rolled right past me...I'm much better off/The way things are"). When the Pawn... is essential for anyone who likes good alternative music with thought-provoking lyrics. Footnote: Although people will always think "chick rock" when they think of Fiona (perhaps it's because of involvement in Lilith Fair?) When the Pawn... is not purely "feminine" music at all. Yes she's a woman and yes, she's writing about herself, but the struggles and joys that her lyrics convey are not at all gender specific. And besides, those electric guitar riffs, those ever-moving bass lines, and those drum solos, are damn edgy and contain a lot of testosterone, which beautifully blends with Fiona's feminine, sultry alto.Music Review: Fast As You Can
Rating: 3 Stars
Newly Adapted Lyrics:"I bought this CD too soon I don't know how to live without my hand on its throat, I fight it always and still, Oh darling, it's so sweet, you think you know how crazy, how crazy she is, You say it's ok you won't hate, but I know and I pray that you will!
Fast as you can baby run free yourself of this fast as you can... Fast as you can baby run free yourself of this fast as you can...
This may seem soft in your palm but she'll soon grow hungry for a fight, and she will not let you win,
Her pretty mouth will find the phrases that will disprove your faith in her, And if she tries to find her way into your heart with a charming voice...
Fast as you can baby scratch it up free yourself fast as you can... Fast as you can baby scratch it up free yourself fast as you can...
Sometimes, her voice don't shake and shift, But most of the time it does, And she'll get to a place where she'll be begging for a buck... She'll drown in the wonders and the was And she'll be your girl, if you give it as a gift, And you give her some more of your money, And she'll be your pet, if you give her money, I'm tired of whys, choking on whys, Need a little less because, because...
I got this CD and then I even tried forgiving it, but it's too soon so I'll fight again, again, again, again, again.
And for a little while more I'll soar the uneven chords complain and blame her cracky voice, But if you're getting any bright ideas, quiet dear,
She's blooming within,
Fast as you can baby wait watch her, she'll sing better Fast as she can, maybe late but at least about Fast as you can forget her let this thing sell itself Fast as you can... Fast as you can Fast as you can Fast as you can Fast as you can!
Music Review: Showing Promise
Rating: 3 Stars
I'm not going to echo the praise of the other reviewers here, though I do agree with most of it. Fiona Apple could develop into a terrific songwriter if she gets over a few crutches. First of all, if I may offer her some advice -- put down the synthesizers and back away slowly!! The overdone production threatens to crush every single song on this album, even more so than on Tidal. She's got some fierce piano pounding in here ("On The Bound") but it's continually covered up with annoyingly fake orchestral effects. Fiona is now at the level where she can afford to get some real players on her album. A less organic songwriting voice would do just fine with the pop-and-circumstance production, but for this singer it drags her down. It really reduces my enjoyment.Secondly, her style really needs to be freed up a little. You can feel the constraints on her verse-chorus-verse-angst-Angst-ANGST pattern. Anytime she breaks free of this, she really shines. "Slow Like Honey" on her last album is an example, "Paper Bag" is the closest thing on this album. It's the only song where she really sounds like she's having any fun with it. For another thing, the bridges in her songs are almost invariably better than the actual verses -- "Fast as You Can", for instance. The song suddenly breaks loose in the middle, in a truly sublime moment.. and then it's back to the last verse, and a noticable downshift in energy.
The album is definately worth listening to if you're looking for an up-and-coming talent. I think she'll really shine in the future. On "Pawn", however, she hasn't quite found her way yet.
Music Review: Fantastic
Rating: 5 Stars
I love this CD. I've had it for a year and I still listen to it constantly. Fiona Apple sings with such power and such conviction, and it her music aches with realism. My favorite song would have to be "I Know." I love the song. I love the jazz feel to it, and how it seems so mellow, yet is so heart-breaking, especially with the ending lines: "If you find you love me/ Then tell me so..." It's such a perfect and such a telling song. "Paper Bag" is just as good. I love the beat, but I love the lyrics even more: "I thought he was a man/ but he was just a little boy..." It's excellent. "I Know" and "Paper Bag" are reasons alone why the CD should be bought, and that's not even touching on the other 8 songs. "Fast As You Can" is so different, with such a strange beat behind it. I find it so cool how it switches from the fast beat feel to the jazzy crooning. It's another song with amazing lyrics that I found to be so easy to relate to. "Love Ridden" is a powerful love ballad that makes you ache right along with her over her lost love. "Get Gone" has a strange power to it; it starts out sounding like a love ballad but quickly switches over to a powerful sound and her belting out that her lover doesn't care about her and how she doesn't know what to do anymore. A perfect, perfect song for any girl who has been slighted or used by a guy. To me, these were the high points of the CD. "On the Bound," "To Your Love," "The Way Things Are," and "A Mistake" are great songs too, and this CD is definitely worth the buy.Music Review: Another bite from the Apple
Rating: 5 Stars
Recently I picked up Fiona Apple's second album, When The Pawn Hits The Conflicts He Thinks Like A King What He Knows Throws The Blows When He Goes To The Fight And He'll Win The Whole Thing `Fore He Enters The Ring There's No Body To Batter When Your Mind Is Your Might So When You Go Solo, You Hold Your Own Hand And Remember That Depth Is The Greatest Of Heights And If You Know Where You Stand, Then You Know Where To Land And If You Fall It Won't Matter, Cuz You'll Know That You're Right....which is typically shortened to When the Pawn... I was inspired to do this by my recent listening to the unreleased Extraordinary Machine, which is floating around all over the internet, and I would buy in a heartbeat.
So, When The Pawn... is another excellent album from Fiona. I've been listening to it mostly as I drive to and from work this week, and have fallen in love with a number of the tracks: "To Your Love", "Fast As You Can", "Limp", "Get Gone", and "A Mistake" are the ones which come to mind. Fiona has her own rather unique musical style, a mix of rock and blues and jazz and funk which complements her interesting and thoughtful lyrics.
This is not dance music. The songs don't all sound the same. The lyrics don't read like they were written by a teenager. If that's not your cup of tea, perhaps you should move on.
It's too bad that musical crap like Britney flourishes, while Fiona creates excellent music and is mostly ignored. Even the Grammy-winning Norah Jones can only aspire to be as thoughtful as this.
So, in case you were wondering, I do recommend this album. ;)