Fetch the Bolt Cutters

I listened to this album when it first came out and enjoyed it. Since 2020 it's aged relatively well. A ton of tracks stick out while a few fall to the back. All around a strong album. 3.7/5 -> 4/5.

Yeah, this is pure brilliance. Not always easy to listen to, due to some intense subject matter. But pay attention because this hits hard, both musically and emotionally.

I don't like Fiona Anna. Maybe her face reminds me too much of a friend I don't like either. So I was certainly biased. Nevertheless, I tried to listen to the album. I think the first track was not too bad. After the chanting in an unpleasant voice got on my nerves more and more in the second track, I only gave the other tracks a quick listen. There was nothing more that I liked.

This is ok. I enjoyed some of the instrumentals and singing, but no songs really stood out to me.

This album is brilliant and infuriating in equal measure. There are portions of it that are quite wonderful, but other bits that I find quite annoying. Giving this a three, but unlike most threes, it's not because it's "pleasant but unmemorable", but rather that that's the only way to average out the fact that this albums is both 5 and 1.

I don't know why, but Fiona Apple keeps making me think of Tom Waits on this album. Probably because like Bone Machine, this album is built around drums, and she's a little weird (but clearly a much better singer than Tom). This album is growing on me with every listen. I like her singing style and the lyrics are compelling. Great music, just a few weird points (like the endings of I Want You to Love Me and Relay - but both are really good songs overall). Giving it a 4 because I want to keep listening, but the occasional weirdness keeps it from a 5. That said, I have a feeling that, like Tom Waits, after a while I won't even notice the weird moments. Favorite tracks: I Want You to Love Me (except the weird ending), Shameika (great story too: https://pitchfork.com/features/article/fiona-apple-shameika-fetch-the-bolt-cutters-interview/ ), Relay (awesome song - great vocal line/lyrics, love the acoustic bass and the drums - little weird toward the end, but still a great song), Newspaper (man, that built up to something amazing), Heavy Balloon (great groove and singing).

[Review pending as author listened to this album, got up, opened his front door, and walked all the way to Brooklyn to offer himself at the altar of the witch coven Fiona Apple surely created through the power and majesty of this album alone]

Great one. Listened to this a ton during pandemic lockdown.

It's werid and disjointed, and I cannot figure out why I had to hear this one. Apple isn't my favorite to start with and this might be my least favorite of her albums I've listened to. At least she can sing, so she has that going for her, I just didn't understand the percussion, the strong structure, the recording quality, etc. The only plus it got is that, while I never enjoyed it, I never got to the point where I really thought about turning it off, either.

This is a fantastic album, but it's surprising to see something so recent on a list like this. I've listened to it several times since it came out, but still feel like I'm digesting it! Fiona Apple must be one of the most consistently great singer/songwriters working today.

Watching the fine line when it comes to art pop of making a song that's enjoyable to listen to and still interesting is hard to walk, and in my opinion, this album fails at it. Often it feels aimless or like it needs to throw anything and everything in at once without really sticking with me. Definitely angrier than expected, and that led to some manic parts I liked, but it was definitely wearing thin by the end. It does make me curious about her 90s album on the list, as I can't imagine it's too similar production wise. Or perhaps it is?

One of the stand out albums of the last couple of years, definitely deserves its place on the list. Is it a masterpiece only time will tell, but for now it feels harsh not to give this the full 5 stars.

Ah muistan kuunnelleeni tätä kun tuli ulos. Erikoinen ja omalaatuinen, kiinnostavalla tavalla. 4/5

No está mal, me han gustado canciones como "Under the table", "For her" y "Drumset". Lo volveré a escuchar.

I can imagine exactly what her house is like. There will be at least one cat.

OOOOOOO great album. The expiramentation lends the album this off kilter, shambling kind of feel. Reminds me of a Tom Waits feeling. Relay is probably the song that grabs me the most. For Her is a heavenly blend of harmonies and rage.

Great album as always by Fiona. I think the hype over it is slightly overblown and partially just a reevaluation of her legacy in general. This isn’t my favorite album of hers but a middling Fiona Apple album is still better than 99% of the music out there.

As much as I feel like I should, I just can't get into this. It has some interesting and somewhat catchy tunes (Shameika, I Want You to Love Me and Ladies are highlights) but I find this is overall just a trying listen. 2.5/5

This is at once her most experimental and most casual sounding record. I appreciate everything about it - especially the way she emphasizes the percussion. She lets her voice rip here in a way that she never really has before, and it stops you in your tracks. She's holding nothing back. This album captures both her intensity and her playfulness equally well. Love the message and love Fiona Apple.