Tidal

Fiona’s talent is undeniable. I don’t love piano driven pop music, but this album did a nice job blending in orchestral elements to keep it interesting.

I guess part of being a dude who grew up in the 90s is that I didn’t pay much attention to what women were doing musically in the 90s. So while I’ve been aware of who Fiona Apple is for a long time I’ve never knowingly listened to her music until now, though I do know how influential she is. And yeah, this is great, and that she was nineteen when she recorded this shows what a phenomenal singer and songwriter she is. The loungey/jazzy thing I don’t love, and it sounds very of its time now, and took me a couple of listens to connect with it, but now that I have I will likely revisit this at some point.

I’ve loved Fiona Apple since seeing the ‘Not about love’ video on an obscure music video channel as a young teen and I savour any opportunity to revisit her work. This time this album soundtracked a particularly difficult morning and was just what I needed. It’s not my favourite record of hers but it is brilliant. Kicking off with powerful ‘Sleep to dream’ you know you’re in for a fun ride. My particular favourites were ‘Slow like honey’ and ‘Never is a promise’. She really shows up for all the sullen girls out there and this sullen girl felt inspired, as always, by listening from my bed on a rainy Friday morning.

oh my god what a great album. i've only listened to When the Pawn so I wondered why THAT wasn't on the list. But after listening to this, i get it. if there was only 1 slot for Fiona, Tidal deserved it. It's just beautiful. her voice, the instrumentation just invites a flood of emotions, which was perfect for the train home on a friday night LMAOOO. Shadowboxer a generational song.

I liked a couple of her songs when they came out but hadn’t listened to much of her stuff. Not bad.

Got a bad headache in the middle of listening, but despite it causing me genuine pain this album’s still great. An angrier, more dramatic Norah Jones

Fiona Apple sometimes falls in the same category as like Bjork and Joni Mitchell, which is woman I want to love so much and I think are so badass and cool… but something with their music doesn’t click for me. With that being said, this album surprisingly hit really really good today so I think I’m evolving.

Really nice vocals, some songs weaker than others but pretty great overall.

Favorite tracks: Sleep to Dream, Criminal, Carrion, Shadowboxer A name I knew but never took the time to listen to, what a mistake!

Would probably have given this a 5 as a teen, would give it a high 4 stars now, still like a lot, just maybe not play it on repeat a lot, would also maybe skip the first song.

Luscious and loquacious 3.5

This girl’s always going to be one of my favorite lyricists of all time.

Such a great debut album. The playing was so good. The lyrics were so good. The singles were so good. Just a great album. Criminal still sounds fresh.

Classic 90's vibes

Starts off incredibly strong, stays really good. I love the opening 4 songs, raw but beautiful. Her singing is incredible and hard to believe given her age at the time. The piano and instrumentation is also great. I was surprised to get this just a week after "Fetch the Bolt Cutters". Very interesting to compare the two. Both are really good, but I prefer the later work by a hair. I appreciate the confidence to be experimental gained over time. I'm a bit younger than her, so possibly her more mature songs speak to me at this point in my life. I was also a little too young to appreciate this when it came out, unlike "Fetch the Bolt Cutters" which hit me immediately and hard. If I got served this a year from now with more space from FtBC I'll bet I would give it 5 stars, but I'm unable to avoid a direct comparison and end up at a very strong 4 stars for "Tidal". Still an album that I will listen to many times and always love. Fav - Sleep to Dream, Sullen Girl, Shadowboxer, The First Taste

sleep to dream, realmente tiene un muy buen inicio con el beat. es mi primera vez escuchando a fiona, cuando escuché su voz rompió con este beat que traia la canción y tomo una vibra mas experimental sullen girl realmente no esperaba mucho de la canción pero es tan calmada, el piano de fondo y el outro realmente te cautivan, ni siquiera note que estaba por terminar, una de mis favoritas sin dudarlo shadowboxer se siente la influencia del jazz amigo, su voz encaja tan bien con la vibra de la canción se siente como estar en un bar clandestino de los 20s rodeado de showgirls dando su mejor espectáculo la canción grita cabare criminal, inicia con una energía marcada y fiona suena realmente expresiva, las melodías de la canción cambian constantemente pero no son tan notorios las subidas de tono y hace que encajen tan bien con la energía que trae, es como si buscará el extasis pero sin estallarlo hasta llegar al punto indicado, el outro se siente tan bien hecho como si todo lo escuchado antes fuera solo la construcción para poder llegar a el y disfrutar a fondo de si, slow like honey, que alguien me pase el vino por favor dude 6 minutos, suena prometedor el escenario q puede crear con la vibra tan seductora y misteriosa que presenta, realmente se siente una dulzura suave sutil qué te envuelve pero no te busca empalagar busca atraerte a ella por más the first taste, su voz no busca sonar la mas limpia la canción conserva el movimiento de su lengua al pronunciar, mierda EL CAMBIO DE RITMO ES TAN DIVINO Y COMO ARMONIZA, le añadió tanto brillo a la cancion se siente como estar en el caribe tomando el sol con la brisa y las olas a tu alrededor, los pequeños toques de rock, son tan divinos, es mi favorita hasta ahora the child is gone, triste, fue lo primero q pense con sus primeras notas y su voz melancolía como si estuviera arrepentida o decepcionada de algo solo lo confirman, se siente como estar en un teatro, never is a promise, es llanto con melodías decorando los sollozos de una chica que canta desde lo mas profundo de su alma cada nota tocada en rl piano acompaña tan bien a la voz de fiona emboca tanta tristeza q es imposible no empalizar con la canción pale September lleva una melodia tan ligera y melancólica como si anunciará que el album está por llegar a su fin, tiene un tinte de restropeccion como si mirara dentro de si buscando algo sobre lo que pueda cantar, lo logra pero sabe que esta llegando a su fin carrion, es un adiós en tantos sentidos la canción construye un ambiente donde sientes que habra esperanza pero de pontro se derrumba pero no importa q tratas de reconstruirla solo para que cada caída sea mas dolorosa, es como si cada vez que la música se tornaba suave fiona trataba de contenerse, mantenerse al margen pero al cuando se tornaba mas pesada fiona expresaba su verdadero sentir, se quitaba ataduras para cantar desde lo mas fondo de su pecho está dinámica se observa hasta el final de la canción donde fiona explota y se siente su desesperación por no volver a reconstruir lo perdido solo dejarse llevar y poder sentir es como si todo el album hubiera estado por ese momento. no es lo q suelo escuchar pero realmente valió la pena

Fantastic album. Fiona has a superb voice and meshes perfectly with the jazzy orchestrations behind her. Such a joy to listen to.

3.5

Incredible songwriting and vocal performance accompanied mostly just with driving piano chords. Shadowboxer is my favorite Fiona Apple song.

My typical complaint with lots of indie projects is that they seem to be carried by strong vocal performances, with pretty innocuous and safe instrumentals seemingly relegated to a support role for their front man/woman to perform over. Fiona Apple certainly delivers on the strong vocals, but I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of production I found across the album. To be sure, there's more traditional keys and strings in half these tracks than I care for personally. But, for example the stretch of Criminal, Slow Like Honey, and The First Taste are absolutely loaded with more unique layers like fairly aggressive electric guitars or eccentric drums. What a welcome surprise this was with a genre I typically don't enjoy that much. I was fairly disinterested through the first 3 tracks, resigned to another indie experience where all the songs blend together for me in hindsight. By the time the bluesy notes of The Child Is Gone started hitting, I was looking forward to a re-listen.

Good background music, magical voice, but I don't see myself thinking "oh I should really listen to Tidal now"

Fiona Apple has a great voice. I think I enjoy it most when it's opened up and fully fledged, though the quieter more conversational moments are also captivating. I must make a note to listen to more.

Fiercely wields the piano like a sword - announcement of a unique voice and musical sensibility but sometimes takes itself a bit too seriously for its own good.

slow like honey sooo fire

Top notch stuff though all the songs are not perfect

Enjoyed that! Beautiful album, love all her jazzy rifts. So distinctly Fiona Apple. I knew criminal, but so many other great tunes on the album too

я кабуто нерелизнутые песни ланиты слушаю

I can't believe I never listened to this. The first half is perfect, slows down in the second but still very interesting and cool.

We been knew Fiona tf?

yesss girl

Nice album. A lot of interesting things going on in the songs both musically and lyrically. Definitely an active listen.

I love Fiona Apple. This album is great. She's sharp and has a way with words. She was an angry young woman and I'm here for it. She sounds like nothing else.

Stunning that a 19 year old sang and composed this.

really really enjoyable listen. Really good pacing like powerful in some songs and much more gentle in others. Standouts for me were shadowboxer, The first taste and Carrion. Really good song writing and vocals and a lot of songs have a chord progression near the chorus or in the chorus that scratches my brain in a nice way.

Pleasantly surprising, I had never heard of her before but this album was a great easy listen. Beautiful vocals mixed with nice jazzy piano and bass lines.

Good

Good background music. Giving 90s/00s romcom

So fucking good. I bought this CD when it first came out and before I understood how brilliant she was. Glad to hear it now.

Melodic and impressive

This album still holds up. Sold song writing.

Would probably need to listen again to get a clearer understanding of the album but enjoyed the music.

I liked it much more than I expected, my perception of Fiona Apple is more poetic/arty than music I usually like. This album was really musically compelling and jazzy, though a little meandering sometimes. I wouldn't be surprised if this keeps growing on me.

Pretty good! I enjoyed it

Fetch The Bolt Cutters was my intro to Fiona past any radio play. Love that album, surprised it took until this for me to go back and listen to her first record.

Big fan of her voice, this was my first Fiona Apple album I’ve listened to and I’m sure it won’t be the last

No. 335/1001 Sleep to Dream 3/5 Sullen Girl 4/5 Shadowboxer 4/5 Criminal 3/5 Slow Like Honey 3/5 The First Taste 4/5 Never Is a Promise 4/5 The Child Is Gone 4/5 Pale September 4/5 Carrion 3/5 Average: 3,6 Most of these songs I didn't love right away. But some really had a hidden beauty to them and as they went on got better and better.

Very familiar with this album

Good debut album (1996), especially with impressive given that Apple was only 18 when it was released. Favorite song was Shadowboxer. Of all of her albums, not my favorite, but I enjoyed listening to it nonetheless.

!!

Decent solid album

Very good album

oeeh, vette groove voor Criminal Heel eerlijk gezegd afgedwaald tijdens het luisteren. Betekent wel dat het lekker chill is. Chill om tijdens het koken/eten op te hebben staan. Stem is trouwens erg rustgevend en ergens zelf een beetje grounding. Maakt me helemaal zen. Voel mezelf helemaal in mn mooie appartementje, met al mn spulletjes voor elkaar, sex and the city-stijl, dit te luisteren terwijl ik mn diner maak met mn maskertje op, badjas aan, no worries. God ik wil echt een grote mensen woning (23-12-2025, voor als je dit terugleest) Moet het misschien een keer aandachtiger luisteren want nu ik dit schrijf tijdens Carrion (laatste nummer) hoor ik wel toffe dingen.

I’ve always loved the song Criminal but the whole album is solid.

4.6

very warm and lovely, a nice album to sit and listen to

Really good album.

but surprised that this is the second of two f apple albums on the list! but its damn good... shes the best !!

relaxing!

Big fan of her more modern stuff but this is still a classic

It's not my favorite Fiona Apple - all of her later albums are better in my opinion, but it's still very good.

Great record and, remarkably, this is her debut album. Favourite Track(s): Criminal, Sleep To Dream, Never Is A Promise, Slow Like Honey Least Favourite Track(s): Sullen Girl, Carrion

Nous sommes en 1996 et je suis probablement planqué derrière la caisse du magasin. L'année est étrange, le grunge commence à sentir le sapin, la Britpop sature l'espace médiatique avec ses guerres d'ego ridicules, et au milieu de tout ça, une vague de "filles en colère" déferle sur les ondes. On a eu Alanis Morissette qui hurlait ses tripes dans un cinéma l'année d'avant, mais là, Sony nous balance quelque chose de différent. Une gamine de 18 ans, qui a l'air d'en avoir 14 et la voix d'une chanteuse de jazz de 40 ans qui aurait passé sa vie à fumer des cigarettes sans filtre dans un club enfumé de Manhattan. Fiona Apple et son album "Tidal". Je me souviens très bien de la réception de cet album au magasin. Il y avait ceux qui l'achetaient pour la musique, et il y avait ceux (beaucoup de mecs, ne nous voilons pas la face) qui l'achetaient parce que le clip de "Criminal" passait en boucle sur MTV. Vous voyez duquel je parle : cette ambiance glauque, voyeuriste, filmée par Mark Romanek, où elle a l'air d'une waif sous-alimentée cernée par des mannequins héroïnomanes. C'était l'époque de l'héroïne chic, et Fiona en était l'égérie involontaire. Mais réduire Tidal à cette image marketing un peu crade serait une erreur monumentale. Parce que derrière cette façade de lolita dépressive se cachait une musicienne d'une précocité terrifiante. Ce qui frappe d'entrée de jeu avec ce disque, surtout quand on le remet dans le contexte de mes goûts habituels, c'est son incroyable maturité musicale. On n'est pas dans le rock indé lo-fi mais dans une pop baroque, jazzy, orchestrée, lourde de piano. C'est propre, c'est produit par Andrew Slater, mais c'est surtout habité par une âme ancienne coincée dans le corps d'une ado new-yorkaise. Le morceau d'ouverture, "Sleep to Dream", pose les bases : une basse lourde, une batterie qui claque, et cette voix. Putain, cette voix, c'est du contralto profond, riche, qui ondule entre le mépris et la vulnérabilité. Quand elle balance "I tell you how I feel, but you don't care", on la croit. On est loin des jérémiades adolescentes habituelles car ici, la douleur est ciselée, analysée, et recrachée avec une élégance qui force le respect. Évidemment, il y a "Criminal", le tube, celui qui lui a valu un Grammy. Musicalement, c'est une tuerie, ce piano syncopé, ces flûtes un peu bizarres en arrière-plan, et cette ligne "I've been a bad, bad girl". C'est devenu un cliché instantané, mais réécoutez la structure du morceau. C'est du funk blanc, lent, poisseux, irrésistible. C'est le genre de morceau qui mettait tout le monde d'accord dans le magasin, des fans de R&B aux rockeurs purs et durs. Mais là où l'album m'attrape vraiment, moi le vieux con cynique, c'est dans ses moments les plus sombres. "Shadowboxer" est un chef-d'œuvre de torch song moderne, c'est du cabaret noir. On s'imagine Fiona seule au piano dans une salle vide, avec juste un projecteur sur elle, en train de disséquer une relation toxique avec la précision d'un chirurgien légiste. "Never Is A Promise" est d'une tristesse abyssale, avec ses cordes qui montent et descendent comme une marée de larmes. C'est là qu'on réalise que la gamine ne joue pas un rôle, elle ne "fait" pas la dépressive pour vendre du papier glacé. Elle a ce truc, cette fêlure authentique que l'on retrouve chez les grands écorchés vifs. Alors pourquoi 4 sur 5 et pas la note maximale ? Parce que, avec le recul, "Tidal" souffre parfois d'un peu trop de polissage. C'est un premier album, et on sent que la maison de disques voulait s'assurer que ça passe en radio. Certains arrangements sont un poil trop "adult contemporary" à mon goût, un peu trop sages par rapport à la folie qu'on sent bouillir sous le crâne de Fiona. Elle lâchera vraiment les chevaux sur l'album suivant (le fameux album au titre de 90 mots), où elle enverra valser les conventions pop pour de bon. Mais ici, elle joue encore le jeu, tout en subvertissant les règles de l'intérieur. Cet album est la preuve qu'on peut faire de la musique populaire, accessible, sans prendre l'auditeur pour un con. Les textes sont denses, parfois alambiqués (elle aime bien les mots compliqués, la petite), mais toujours percutants. Fiona Apple en 1996 a réussi à toucher une corde sensible universelle, celle de la mélancolie rageuse. Elle n'était pas dans la pose "Riot Grrrl", elle n'était pas dans la performance artistique à la Björk. Elle était juste là, derrière son piano, à nous dire que la vie, c'est parfois de la merde, mais qu'on peut en faire quelque chose de beau. "Tidal" est un classique des années 90, un incontournable qui a vieilli comme un bon vin et il mérite amplement sa place dans les 1001 albums. Il est le début d'une carrière chaotique, rare et précieuse. Si vous ne devez écouter qu'un seul album de "chanteuse à piano" de cette décennie, oubliez les autres, c'est celui-ci qu'il vous faut. C'est sombre, c'est sensuel, c'est intelligent. Et bordel, quel talent pour une gamine qui n'avait même pas le droit de boire de l'alcool légalement dans son propre pays au moment de l'enregistrement.

amazing that she was only 18 or so. good album

Absolutely nuts that she was 18 when making this album. When I was 18 I was trying coco puffs mixed in coffee (not good btw)

Good stuff. Maybe the songs sound a little similar to each other, but they're all good.

Fiona apple has a great voice and the songs are there, but it noticeably a debut.

Ret fint, jeg skal ihvertfald høre mere. Det er en lille 4er idag.

Det veksler mellem nogle meget fine klavermelodier og et kantet, jazzet indie lydbillede hvor klaveranslagene nærmest slår som en rocktromme. Når man dertil lægge en helt fantastisk vokal får man et ret godt album som jeg har svært ved at finde ud af om er en stor 4er eller om den faktisk fortjener 5 stjerner. Måske albummet genbesøges senere.

Enjoyed that. Imagine I've heard her without knowing before. Recording this at 19 is insane. 4/5.

Fiona Apple is a name you hear a lot of but I personally never took the time to dive into her work. This was a great introduction! I enjoyed pretty much the entire album and want to listen to it again with a more focused ear. It's at times fun and at other times deeply emotional. I can totally see her influence in the acts that would follow. (Looking at you, Regina Spector.) This won't be the last time I listen to Fiona Apple.

This was really really great! I’ve only heard a couple songs here and there. The criminal video is burned into my brain. But this is something else. When the album was finished it started playing another of her albums and I had no problem with that.

Nostalgia factor is pretty high here, but again what she does she does well, and I'm digging some of these songs, so worthy of my digital collection.

Like it.

Good vibes. Her piano playing really complements her singing. Perfect late night enjoy a drink music.

:)

Classic - First half album is 10 out of 10

She released this album at age 18. Eighteen! I was washing dishes at a restaurant for an insane Frenchman and stank of grease and industrial soap after every shift. Oh I’ve wasted my life…

i liked it a lot!

304/1089 - She's out of tune and every song sounds the same, but other than that it's alright.

My first time hearing her work and I’m blown away. Had a great time listening and hopefully more of her work made the list.

8/10

4.0 - Very Good

A rather baffling selection when it comes to Fiona Apple. When the Pawn... is generally viewed as her magnum opus, which I'd be strongly inclined to agree with, but it's nowhere to be found in the 1001 list, with her debut prevailing here instead. That said, Tidal is still an enjoyable listen, however unlike with When the Pawn... I do find my attention wavering at various points as the album advances. This is nowhere near as dextrous or as confident as its successor, but the strong points are very strong indeed. She has a wonderful voice, acting as the vehicle for some very introspective and sentimental lyricism, and the piano arrangements are often delicate, bordering on melancholic, but the album is at its apex when all of its atmospheric elements combine into something grander, louder and generally more memorable.

Can I say that this album was good, but I won’t seek it anymore.? I enjoy her soothing voice and the melody of the songs. I feel like this is a friend that comes into your life for a season and then leaves. I enjoyed the music while it lasted, but I’m good. 1. The First Taste 2. Slow Like Honey 3. Carrion 4. Never Is A Promise 5. Sullen Girl 6. Sleep To Dream 7. The Child Is Gone 8. Shadowboxer 9. Criminal 10. Pale September

Never heard of Ms Apple. This was awesome!

This was a throwback to my 90's CD collection. It's aged really well---feels like it could've been released yesterday. Would I listen to again? Definitely.

Yea I like this one. Id heard it before but not a lot. I’d listen again.

Amazing debut album. Criminal is such a great song. The others are good too, even if I don’t like this album as much as her others.

Opening tone and ending tone of this album are distinctly different, was not enjoying the vocals at the beginning loved them by the end

Really good, almost a 5.

Yesterday I got Joni Mitchell’s Court and Spark, and after the album ended Spotify played “Shadowboxer”. I guess Spotify and 1001AG had the same idea as I’m being “forced” to listen to this album today. So let’s pretend like I didn’t listen to it yesterday (or several times a few weeks ago) and talk about it. In her own words, Apple says this album "was more for the sake of proving myself; telling people from my past something. And to also try to get friends for the future." Which are things she doesn't seem to concern herself with in later records. You can hear her trying a little too hard in some parts, but I know enough about the late 90s record industry to guess that likely wasn't all her fault. The machine needed things that sounded like Alanis Morrisette's juggernaut album, Jagged Little Pill (1995), so there's no way this record was shipping without a few songs that leaned more alt-rock madgirl than jazz-pop sadgirl. To satisfy the former we get "Shadowboxer" and "Criminal", and those are followed by "Slow Like Honey" and "The First Taste" which are prime examples of the latter. If you only have twenty minutes for this record, those four tracks are #3-6. [insert several winking emojis]

The album suffered for listening to it after catching up with the previous day's album, and I'm factoring that in here because I was leaning more to a three than a four on first listen. On my first listen I was disappointed that none of the songs hit as hard as Criminal. (I still sort of feel that way.) The second listen made me realize that Criminal was the star of the show in visible, obvious ways but there were parts of other songs that hit me just as hard in subtler ways. added to collection

Fiona Apple's Spotify bio says "Her roots lay in jazz, show tunes, and classic '70s singer/songwriters" and well, this is where you certainly hear that the most!

Trip down memory lane, and throw back to when I was in Montana! "Criminal" is the standout for many reasons but other notable mentions include The album is very much of its time and I feel she improved with subsequent albums.

even in hs, I thought this album has really high highs and then some parts I really struggle to get through the song.

You could tell me that Fiona Apple was a singer in a seedy 1930’s nightclub, with a voice like cigarettes, or a contemporary of Adele, and either way I’d believe you. Coupled with instrumentation you don’t hear much anymore, this was a great album

Enjoyed it.

Favorite song is the first taste. Very weird album, genre wise.

I have been meaning to listen to Fiona Apple for quite a while, so it's good this popped up. Requires a specific mood, but I like her mix of melancholy and rage.

Why did she stop doing this and start doing the bolt cutters bullshit

Al inicio un poco lento, como todo álbum, se tiene que disfrutar en calma y con la mente fría para enfocar atención en las letras, así como los ritmos. Fuera de todo, un buen álbum.

This is a good one Fiona 4/5

I’m a fan of Fiona Apple. This album has her vocal style, themes and aesthetic represented with the vocal jazz-inflected pop, torch singing, etc. I think she has two better albums - When the Pawn… and Idler Wheel - and that’s probably why I’m having trouble adding another star because I’m unlikely to spend a ton of time with this one despite a fair amount of really good songs like Shadowboxer, Criminal, Pale September and Carrion.

This is great! Reminds me of Tori Amos.

Love my Fiona and this is a killer debut (the poetry!!), but it’s not something I revisit in full frequently the way I do her other records. Rating this as a standalone even though my bias wants to give it a 5

Actually pretty surprised by this one. Never knew much aside from a few hits. Beautiful voice and she’s got some soul.

Another one I own on vinyl. Still a great album - I can't believe she was *19*. So raw and powerful.

Surprised how much I liked this.

Great voice and some great songs

Never heard of this artist and was pleasantly surprised , a very nice blend of soft female vocals and some very quirky songs which is enjoyed a lot . As the album progressed I engaged with it more and more and will as a result listen to more of her content

This album is so angry and it just sounds so great, especially as a debut. As an introduction to Fiona Apple's music, it is very promising. 9.5/10

Pretty good

I had previously heard of Fiona Apple but was not really familiar with her music. From this album, I recognized Criminal. While Criminal is definitely the strongest track from this album, the rest of the album is good as well. She has a nice voice, and the songs on here suit her well. I enjoyed this and would listen again.

Amazing album, it requires careful listening to get the lyrics, it's a statement and it makes itself known by the songs. Always recommended this one.

I enjoyed the jazz influence and the deeper voice. I enjoy the darker lyrics though, knowing that they come from real trauma is sad.

An excellent addition to the woman confessional album. Great tunes. 4/5

I've actually listened to a good amount of later Fiona Apple and I think that's working against this album a little. If I'd heard this first I think it might be a 5! Also the second half of this worked a lot better than the first for me - I think I needed some time to sink into it. This feels like an album I have to be in the appropriate mood for. Criminal is still one of the greatest songs ever written though. It's crazy that they released two singles from this album before that, it's clearly the one. Is it good? For sure Do I like it? Yes Is it essential? Yes Would I purchase it? Maybe Will I ever listen to it again? Definitely! I think this is gonna be better on a relisten 3/1089

The album started off sounding like 5 to me: incredibly modern right off the bat, and taking into account Apple was only 18 when this came out, already makes this pretty incredible. But the second half of the album is noticeably weaker. There are some great songs, Fiona Apple is obviously a very talented musician who knows how to channel her emotions to effective musical output, and I love her voice, but I feel this album is stretched a bit with a few songs that should've been cut.

i listened to it for the first time and i think i like it. I've heard "criminal" before, thats a good one. I really love jazz music so obviously i like this album for that, and i like that songs are not the same, i definitely should listen to it one more time, now i think thats 9/10

day 19: one of my favourite voices in music i love ms apple. i adore when the pawn and bolt cutters, and this is real close to those in quality. never has she been as ANGRY as on this one, but it comes as a gentle catharsis and a necessary evil. the music is super varied, drawing from jazz and soft rock like all of her albums, but also touching on dreampop, reggae and classical. as expected the melodies are the highlight. the hits are hits and everything else sounds great too. especially a nice touch on many of the songs finishing with 2+ min instrumentals, fantastic atmosphere.

I guess I'm a new Fiona Apple fan. A little late to the game. Always figured she was good, just based on the way people spoke and wrote of her. Having experienced her myself? I love the jazzy piano and voice parts. When the drums aren't driving the song.

Loved this album

Fiona Apple is a great artist and this is an amazingly composed debut album. It is so easy to listen to and she invokes each song with such character it maintains your attention throughout

I only knew Criminal from this record, which I do like a lot, and we'd previously been given Fetch The Bolt Cutters by the generator, which I gave a 3 but really thought was a 3.5. I really love her voice, but on top of that I think the instrumentation is also really interesting and beautiful in places. This sounds incredibly accomplished for a debut album (later reading that in 2022 Rolling Stone put it at number 25 on the top 100 debut albums of all time, wasn't a surprise... and made me want to check the list to see what albums didn't make it onto the generator). On the more negative side, which is very much a personal preference for sub 5 minute songs (ideally sub 4 minutes), the tracks are often a little too long. It might be a little too samey in the middle section too. Overall though, I really liked this. And slightly more than Fetch The Bolt Cutters, so 4/5

Somehow had never given any of Fiona Apple's albums a proper listen. Really loved this. Great songwriting and her voice is just stunning.

Classy sadness is the best way to describe this album. The songs are jazz or soiree in nature and invoke a sadness but feel somewhat fancy while doing it

Very soulful. Not something I would have listened to normally but I definitely appreciate the talent.

I’m going to try to ignore the fact that the music video for “criminal” awakened some new feelings for teenage me. Fiona Apple is so cool, the epic sound, the attitude. All of it. Imagine being her parent when she started writing these songs at 8 years old. Mind blowing.

Damn good voice, great sound, lyrics a little dark but no doubt a reflection of her age and upbringing. Solid all around and a pleasant change for this list.

What a great album, i loved the angsty alt sound that this album had. Can't believe Fiona Apple is not in the conversation more, especially with her songwriting skills. Will definitely be listening to her more

More balanced album. Still has her anger mixed with some good lyrics.

This album has some really soulful tunes. Fiona does a good job vocally controlling the pain and anger her lyrics express. Some of the beats and bass lines hit sad and sinister. I wouldn’t look to this album on a sunny day but in the right headspace she can cater to powerful emotion.

Great debut. She has only improved since this, but this is her assessable and a good introduction.

This smth new, m8xed genres

I think this is a very good album overall. It may just be overexposure, but I really cannot stand Criminal.

Album like this reminds me that not all pop music is bad. Songwriting is good and so is Fiona's voice. A bit too long, but doesn't get worse near the end, actually liked Carrion more than the other songs on the album

Fiona has her own signature vibe. The 90s angst at the piano is well-earned and lyrics match. Probably her most famous tracks on this album and I found myself stopping to mull lyrics a a few times. Great album to finish a drive home.

Still really enjoy this album and have it iny library. Ilit isn't too to bottom bangers but I can easily listen to this while album and not skip a song. Cover 4/5 it's good and simple.

The mood of this was perfect for the vibe of the day I listened. I truly like nearly everything about this album from the piano and the lyrics, to the structure of each song melodically. The only downside is this isn’t an album I can listen to at anytime or any day, I have to be in the mood for the moodiness.

A soulful, loungy album with amazing vocals, passionate lyrics, and moody arrangements. It loses steam in the back half but an incredible debut album. Too bad the industry ran her off and we didn't get to see her mature. Cover is also a 4/5, basic but well matched to the album itself.

Wow - I had never listened to Fiona Apple apart from a few hits and cover songs. Big mistake - I love this. Her voice is incredible

Good one. She's got some range. There are a variety of styles here, and I was just expecting more like "Criminal". I LOVED "Slow Like Honey". My rating: 4/5

Красиво круто! Во второй половине правда загрустила что-то, медленные меланхоличные песни пошли, а начала то прям бодро злобно ух

This album is really surprising. I loved how subtle yet beautiful and wonderful it feels. This album is so well done, with so much softness and care. It is, definitely, such a pleasant and interesting listening. Some songs, however, feel less powerful as they don't contribute sonically much to the album, feeling a bit bland. But the overall is splendid. So, even if I don't care about some songs, I can't deny this album is actually good.

Amazing for a 19y old

Listening to the whole album helps me appreciate her soulfulness and creativity as a songwriter beyond the radio hits. This is something I could have gotten really into in college had I encountered it.

Studio executives seemed to not be able to see past her sexual appeal in 1996 (her video for "Criminal" caused my parents to call and have MTV blocked from our cable subscription.) Her experience over that first year of skyrocketed fame is gnarly and heartbreaking, and I'm so grateful that it didn't break her because she has certainly become my favorite female artist of all time. There are artists with a half dozen albums on this list that I reactively raise a stink about, but if all five of Fiona Apple's extraordinary albums were represented on this list, I would stamp it with my full approval. Sadly, only two are, and since each successive album after Tidal got more daring, more sharp, and more gorgeous, I find myself wanting to review Tidal as a stand-in, especially "When the Pawn Hits…" and "The Idler Wheel…." Sticking only to Tidal, so much of what makes her special is already here, some of it fully formed: her deep, soulful voice filled with lived pain; her deeply emotional piano; her ear for lush arrangements and propulsive percussion. There's a urgency to her music and her lyrics that demand attention. She’s an absolute fireball. The front half of Tidal is stronger than the back half, carried by her breakthrough singles, though its the closing track, "Carrion," that most points to what’s ahead: moments that raise the hair on my arms (about a minute in here) evolving into a cacophonous symphony that evokes John, Paul, and George at the end of Abbey Road by way of Patti Smith. If you like anything on this one and haven't spent time with her full catalog, you are in for a hell of a treat. That lull in the back half here knocks a star off. Do I add it back on as a sort of protest star at the absence of three of the next four albums? That's not usually how I approach my thinking through these ratings, but Fiona makes me do strange things.

Haven’t given Fiona a real listen before but this is a well made album. She’s angry and has a lot to say. Can’t believe she made this at 18ish? So much depth to the composition and her beautiful voice. I quite liked this album. Maybe I also needed it today? Is it strange to compare her to Amy winehouse?

really really really good. 4.5

8/10

Tää oli kiva! Hyvää groovea, taitavaa laulamista ja hienoja biisejä ylipäätään!

Alt rock of the 90s? I'm in!

Vibe

Wasn't expecting to like this after bouncing off "Fetch the Bolt Cutters" hard, but I really enjoyed this!

She never quite got there again but this album holds up.

Schön zu hörende Songs, angenehme Stimme. 4/5

This album is so moody and angry. I initially was a little biased against it because I tend to like music I can dance and bob my head to, but I understand why Fiona has been part of the conversation for decades.

Haven't listened to it in years but it holds up.

I loved this album! I’ve tried to give Fiona Apple a shot in the past and her music never quite managed to draw me in. This listen through of Tidal hit just right though. Her voice is incredible, the lyricism is fantastic, and I love the weird blend of influences and sounds which includes everything from jazz to grunge to show tunes. This is an album I’ll be returning to pretty frequently!

I get the hype

i like fiona apple a lot! have never listened to this album in its entirety, but had a couple songs saved. largely liked it! and the succeeding album's mix afterwards.

No private session used for Spotify. I like Fiona's work a lot, mellow, lots of a piano and then there is her low sultry voice..let's just say it works for me and leave it that.

Hard to believe she was only 19 making this album. Pretty good sounds and themes.

Cool!

a very intriguing and engaging pop fusion album. heard a lot about fiona apple so was excited to finally listen to her stuff. was very pleased with what i heard - i though the long songs worked very well and i loved the colour and dissonance that the piano chords were full of in almost every track. i think if i listened to album another one or two times i would've given it 5*, but based on a first listen it gets a strong 4*.

Coming just over a week after the algorithm gave me her latest album, I’ve been given her debut. It’s not the first time I’ve heard it, I’ve been well aware of the hype around her ever since she released the video for _Criminal_ but for some reason, the music never did much for me before. Well… it’s finally landed, perhaps thanks to listening to and loving _Fetch the Bolt Cutters_… I now get it! Incredible talent and to think she wasn’t even 20 when this was released. A dark chamber/alt pop album featuring jazzy piano arrangements underpinned with a blues that belies her years. Her voice expressive, and sultry; it’s a fantastic debut!

Better than Coldplay

Mi è piaciuto. Un po’ romantico bello il sound le melodie e i brani dove risalta il pianoforte

alcuni pezzi mi sono piaciuti, ma altri erano troppo lenti

Fiona Apple's debut showcases an artist mature way beyond her 19 years of age. The jazzier stylings of these tracks make the record stand out in the sea of 90's female singer-songwriters, even Apple's closest-sound peer, Tori Amos, didn't foray into jazz this much, opting for a more Alt Rock approach. We can already hear some of Apple's signature musical elements here, such as her confrontational lyricism or her great use of the lower keys of the piano, which my brother once described as "villain music". Later albums would refine her aesthethic and add more and more strange instrumentation and sounds to the music, but the essence is already here. Key tracks: Sleep to Dream Sullen Girl Shadowboxer Criminal The First Taste Never Is a Promise

Really enjoyed this one (4.5⭐️)

Oh that voice. Hard to believe Fiona Apple was just a teen when she made this album. The first roughly half the album is absolutely masterful… vocally, lyrically, and musically. That sultry rich soulful voice just pierces right through you. The second half of the album starts to drag a bit and I found myself getting a little bored with the music… although her voice is still amazing. If the second half had matched the first, this would’ve easily been a 5.

Good apples

Very forward thinking album and sound. Couple of bangers but liked the whole album feel. She was only 19 in 96 so very very impressive for her age. Got Radiohead vibes from something released in 96 & that doesn't happen much. I think "Tidal" directly influenced Billie's "When we all fall asleep where do Go" & Rihanna's ANTI.

Fiona Apple keeps proving to me that she's one of the best female singers. Favourite Songs: Sleep to Dream, Shadowboxer, Criminal, Never Is a Promise. Least Favourite Songs: Slow Like Honey, Pale September.

Very good, sinister etc.

Fiona Apple has an excellent voice and a wonderful production underneath it - the (flattering) Bjork comparisons have been made many times before but it's hard not to taste it even in her debut work. While it's not a life-changer for me I can see how listening to this album a couple times as a depressed teen would make it somebody's lifelong favourite (it has that 'it' quality about it). fav tracks: The First Taste, Criminal, Never Is a Promise

Her debut album. Pop / Indie. For a young woman of nineteen at the time the lyrics and melodies throughout are incredibly mature. I like her vocals. Shadowboxer is a good example. Slow Like Honey is a beautiful, smokey track. Lovely lyrics and vocals again. I liked her authenticity. I believe her. Very solid album.

Joli, ca me rappelle un peu Joni Mitchell mais sans l'aspect folk.

About what i expected from fionas debut but thats not to say its bad there is some really good songs here that make the album worth a listen 8/10 Favourite: Shadowboxer Least Favourite: Pale September

I liked the second half of the album more than the first half.

Tidal indeed washes over you immediately as a tidal wave would - the no-compromises confidence of Apple’s songwriting is nothing short of exquisite - from the first note of Sleep to Dream to the last of Carrion. My first thought upon finishing was the question of which track was my favourite, and this couldn’t immediately be answered, the hallmark of a truly brilliant album. I feel this way still with When the Pawn, Apple’s second outing and one of my most listened albums ever. So why did it take me this long to listen to her first? The simple answer is that I was afraid it wouldn’t live up to the high bar (albeit in reverse) set by When the Pawn. In reality this fear became completely shattered on first listen. It’ll take more than a few relistens, but Tidal could be every bit as good as what followed. There’s perhaps no immediate hooks as with e.g. Limp and Fast as You Can, except for Criminal, understandably her most famous track. But that needn’t matter, I suppose. Especially when approaching the end I am inclined to hit play all over again.

Fiona Apple was impossible to avoid in the 90s. Of all of the angry woman songwriters, there seemed to be something very unique about her. There's something kind of sexy but equally disturbing about her. Her youth implied a bit more innocence like the 90s pop starlets who took up most of the spotlight at the time. But she felt more corrupted and overly mature in a way that cut deep and took everyone by surprise. The top songs of this album still feel fresh today, and a bit shocking. Half of the album's 10 songs are excellent, especially the three stunning singles. The rest is a bit forgettable but the strong tracks are well worth revisiting.

Thought this album was beautiful. Voice and instruments really made this a great moody album.

Well, she’s got an amazing voice and I’m afraid a long line of breathy singers wanted to be her. I won’t remember a single song and I think that may be my lack of sophistication because it’s clear she’s thoughtful and talented and nonetheless it would be background music for me.

Kind of beautiful, kind of scary. I like it.

Brilliant for 18. It gets a bit ponderous in the back half so isn't a subjective five for me, but there are some great songs here and she's obviously a talent.

Moody, broody, spooky, snooty. Wonderful.

Glad I finally got to dive into Ms Apple's work. I've loved every collaboration I've heard of hers and dig this era of singer songwriters. There's some rough edges to this debut both for good and for bad. The songs are a bit samey but we'll focused in a unified sound at least. I liked it. Great album.

Originally a 3 but her attitude at the VMAs (??? Mtv??) and the last track bumps it to a 4. SO vulnerably unapologetic. So 90s. Not to mention incredible technically. Cool vibraphone(marimba?) on one of those later tracka. FOUR!

One of the most impressive things about this album is that Fiona Apple was only 18 when it came out. If she really did write her own lyrics based on personal experiences, then she was pretty mature for her age. What I enjoyed most about the album, though, is the music itself. I love the piano and the drumming on this album. The beats have a strong driving force, but they don’t overshadow the piano, which really drives the album. The combination of the two works very well together, and the production behind it is pretty solid too.

started off well, got a little bit like Alanis Morrissetti in the middle, then had a really good song - slow like honey. A very lyrically emotional album. Never is a promise and the child is gone are very real emotional songs, although i find the voice a little bit strained maybe. the last song, Carrion is also excellent. That and slow like honey are the standout songs. Definitely warrants another listen. 4 stars

Everytime I listen to Fiona Apple, I think "holy shit, this is good music". And that's exactly what I thought this time. The top songs sound better and the deep cuts are still solid.

Alanis Morrisette - should be listening to this album on repeat. Easy listening jazzy

I like the vibe. I am not really into this type of music, but I see the appeal.

goat

Surprised at how good this was. Singer songwriter in piano vibes but with a clearly dark ish, grunge feel to it. Makes it sound of the time, but refreshing compared to the bubblegum pop that comes after this

Soulful vocals and lyrics. Less aggressive and subversive than I expected from Fiona Apple, but in a good way.

78/100 incredible to be fair, always loved my jazz and recently due to artists like quadeca i've loved modern art pop, so to see some of its roots are incredible, inspiring me to listen to more from her in the future 1000%

I know of Fiona, I know how legendary she is in her own right. Not much of a fan of her music, too slow for me. I definitely know a track of hers but haven't really heard much of her stuff. These are good songs too. The first half of the album better than I thought.

Criminal is SUCH a 90s song. Love it. Not sure the rest of the album is my bag.

this was leaps and bounds better than the other Fiona Apple album i listened to from this list. this album came out 24 years earlier than the other one and it makes sense i liked this one more. i think the “songwriter” cares more and more about the lyrics and less about the music over time (see the tortured poets department) and im just so heavily a music-first listener. and the music here was so much better than the other album imo. dark and deep and haunting and just worked so well throughout

musica para garotas tristes nascidas na década de 90!! algumas sao meia bomba, mas sempre teve um aspecto que me surpreendeu. um instrumento, uma letra, qualquer coisinha. achei legal demais

Great album: beautiful voice, rich harmonies, sensitive lyrics… nothing negative to say, apart from maybe a tiny lack of diversity… Favorites : - Sullen girl - Shadowboxer (a surprising jazz sound married with beautiful lyrics and a devastating voice: already one of my favorite songs…) - Never is a promise

Brought me back. Love the tracks I love and meh on the tracks I don't. 3.5/5. I'll round to 4 for nostalgia.

So, so good. Holds up well. Unique voice and songs. Lots of great tracks.

#44 Tidal ~ Fiona Apple There is a world of pop music outside the orthodox definitions of 'pop music' that manifested in the 80s-90s. This microcosm of many sounds mostly developed out of a variety of influences where one would not expect from pop, such as jazz, classical, rock, nascent hip hop or punk: bits and pieces of not-so-commercial sounds or forgotten antiqued genres meshed together by however a musician sees fit. Although slow to get going, out-of-leftfield pop projects only really got a shine outside artist and critic circles and into the public limelight deep into the internet era, where you had a variety of firebrand personalities emerging with their own takes on pop: Lana Del Rey, Marina and the Diamonds, Crystal Castles, Grimes, The 1975, Sky Ferraria, Lorde, etc. Another big result of these sort of artists getting the spotlight is their earlier influences getting more attention. Fiona Apple's Tidal is one such example. Tidal, like most Fiona Apple stuff, is slow burn stuff. It's not instantly gratifying like other albums, but instead smoulders over time, catching by the middle of the album before pulling its most slow burners all the way to the end. As a result, it may take a bit of an open and forgiving ear to get used to Tidal's Broadwayesque numbers and sweeps, but once you catch on, you will find some incredibly luxurious sounding and sweetly enjoyable songs. Much of Tidal's songs are drawn back in instrumentation, mimicking the sound of chamber jazz standards, a love of Apple's. This minimalism serves to highlight Apple's piano playing and her smoky, nearly husky vocals which propel her introspective lyrics of vulnerability concerning past experiences of love. Interestingly enough, much of these lyrics were written long before Apple reached her late teens, which makes her use of metaphors incredibly impressive but also explains a dangerous lean into indulging into sentimentality and angst. In fact, how much she leans into her brutal mix of honesty and drama is the one defining characteristic that characterises the different songs of Tidal, since the instrumentation of each song remains more or les the same, especially towards the second half of the album. Although it comes as a strength in showing the glimpses of her range, from the pounding jazzy stomps of Sleep to Dream and Criminal through honeyed bittersweetness of Never Is a Promise to the misery of Carrion. Tidal is probably the easiest way to approach Fiona Apple's repertoire of not-so-safe pop albums, a showcase of her talent in verbalising complicated emotions of love and pain, and a unique ear for hearty showtunes. Despite not being the most-out-there album to indulge in its variety, nor the most quick-paced to catch on easily, nor the most mature album to tackle broken love, what it is is incredibly solid and sweet tasting honey. And the best way to enjoy this album is how it sounds: sitting by yourself in a comfy spot near something warm and simply relax into the album. Also Kanye West really loves this album, funny that.

Le temps m’a manqué je devrai réécouter. Mais j’ai vraiment aimé le jeu de piano et sa voix. A revisiter dans un contexte plus calme.

This is just a fantastic album. Fiona Apple's voice is fantastic. The band behind her is so strong. The songs are diverse and so much fun. This is just great. The guitar tones/solo in "Carrion" are GREAT! Probably a 4.25 Liked Songs: "Sleep to Dream" , "Shadowboxer" , "Criminal" , "Slow Like Honey" , "The First Taste" , "Never Is a Promise" , "The Child Is Gone" , "Carrion"

Really loved the 2nd half, even though I did fall asleep to it at one point.

A very impressive debut album. Great songs, singing, and arrangement. I’m not the target audience of the character who’s singing these songs (seems to be a tough-as-nails, world weary, late-20’s mid 30’s woman, who’s cynical about love), so the lyrics all run together after a while. I wish there was a little more variance in the character. It’s a 4.

Very cool album. Fiona Apple is a cool singer-songwriter.

Fantastic debut album, but not her best — that would be EXTRAORDINARY MACHINE in my opinion.

*4.5 Favorites: Criminal and Sleep to Dream. I really enjoyed every song. This reminded me of a calmer and less rock influenced Alanis

The talent and potential Fiona Apple had at such a young age is on full show here, even if the album does feel a bit repetitive towards the end. However, Apple’s performance accompanied with lush instrumentation make this an impressive debut. Rating - 7.6 Top Three Tracks: Sleep to Dream, Criminal, Carrion Least Favourite Track: Pale September

Never heard of Fiona Apple before - really enjoyed the album though

Liked it! Aged well.

Astounding voice. Incredible talent. A travesty this is her only album on the list. A 4 star album by a 5 star artist.

This was way better than I expected/remembered.

Song to cull: The Child is Gone I got this album when it first came out and listened to it constantly. I know all the lyrics. It's one of my favorite albums from when I was younger. "When the Pawn Hits..." is a better more mature album but I still like this one.

First listen to this one, although I was familiar with 'Extraordinary Machine' and of course the single 'Criminal'. What a terrific debut, a surprisingly great and mature jazz pop for an 18 year old, with some terrifically vulnerable and honest lyrics. I understand how she got lumped in with all the 90s alt-rock ladies despite sounding nothing like them.

8/10… art pop / piano rock

good

"Sleep to Dream" and "Criminal" come on and I sing them. It's partly familiarity and nostalgia - radio singles from a time when I listened to the radio - but I love both those and I think they're a step above the rest of the album. There's a nice variety to Tidal but I kind of wish she carried the "Sleep to Dream" aggro spoken word jazz fusion style through more songs. "Never Is a Promise" started to catch my ear on relistens though. Bonus round, from a couple years after Tidal: Every now and then I queue up the music video for Apple's cover of "Across the Universe" from the Pleasantville soundtrack. One-two punch of a really great video and a really great cover.

Sultry and good piano songs

Ik ben fan van Fiona's sound, die op dit album al duidelijk te horen is. Grappig om te horen hoeveel "The First Taste" dan ineens van dit geluid afwijkt. Klinkt meer als een poging om als Sade te klinken.

Oh I loved this so much!

This surprised one surprised me. I remember when this sound came out. I didn't want to like, but I was because I thought she got famous through an industry connection, which was both ignorant and unfair. Listening to this record all the way through, it's impressive. It's not really my thing, but I believe it's really a unique record and probably paved the away / inspired a lot of others.

Highlights: Sleep To Dream, Shadowboxer, Slow Like Honey, Never Is A Promise In a nutshell: “I’ve got my own hell to raise” The comparisons to Tori Amos and Alanis Morrisette are fair but Fiona holds her own on Tidal. Self-penned songs, skilled piano, alternative orchestral pop meets jazz. It was great to revisit this album. Overall: 7/10

Excellent for the most part

really good very emotional! like ldr but a little more interesting

Sultry, bluesy, wonderful.

I liked this! Fiona has a really beautiful voice and a good range.

This just extraordinary great songwriting. And sort of timeless. Sixties singer songwriting or indie who cares. Four plus

Great voice. Building to better albums.

Great lyrics. Cool album. Can't believe I've never listened to it before

It's a beautiful album, perhaps buried among other piano pop songwriting in the late 90s. That's a shame if listeners not familiar with Fiona Apple missed this one.

3.5

was quite a nice listen

Interesting and emotional debut album

Decent, listenable, but not mind-blowing in my opinion. Love Fiona apple but I'm not so sure about this album. Halfway through it feels like I've been on the same song. The First Taste has a whole different vibe, nice and seems catchy def why i voted the album higher. The last songs are more diverse, love it.

I like how this album feels both a bit angry and with lot of attitude (like in 'Sleep to Dream' or 'Carrion') and very relaxing at the same time (like in 'The Child is Gone' or 'Pale September'), while everything also sounds fantastic and very alternative. A great experience.

Interesting, rich, and still fresh sounding in many ways.

My opinion has largely remained the same on this album over the 10ish years I have been listening to it. First half is really good, second half slows down a bit too much, then ends on a high with Carrion. Lana Del Rey for girls who have more good days than bad. Post by Björk is a great follow up after listening to this. At least for me.

Very enjoyable listen. Must confess I was not aware of the artist before this was served up so a good example of why this exercise is a useful process. Not exactly in my wheelhouse, but I’m fully able to appreciate the artistry behind it and there’s some very nice ballads including on the album.

i like fiona apple

I was pleasantly surprised, the first side had a lot of tracks I knew and the back half was a chill listen.

so random bc i so close to listening to this album yesterday, really liked it, will have to listen to more

W sumie takie całkiem fajne jak na popik. Smutne... 4/5

First real dive into Fiona Apple. She has a great voice and style. I know she's a beloved figure in the art pop/ singer songwriter world but I never really went down that road. I'm compelled.

4.5

Absolutely fantastic album, just not quite in 5 star territory though

Favourite songs: Sullen Girl, Shadowboxer, Carrion* Doesn’t blow your mind by any means, definitely an album intended for a female audience so didn’t much resonate with me… Okay I’ve listened to those three songs a few times now and I’m a much bigger fan after a couple listens, moving my score up from a 6.4.. 7.2/10

Caught me off guard, very good soothing album, gives me Sade vibes

Loved listening to this album. I knew the song Criminal.

As far as singer songwriters go, one of the GOATs

ethereal experience

Fantastic

Solid album. Criminal is a banger of course. Orders of magnitude better than Fetch the Bolt Cutters imo.

Stunning debut album. Fiona Apple has a voice that lulls you into a cozy comfort like you know her then all of the sudden she will sing some of the most biting words you’ve ever heard string together. Hearing this and knowing where she goes from here was very interesting. If I have any criticism, it would be that the album is a bit front loaded with all the catchiest songs.

Flott plet

I was late discovering Fiona Apple. Her album Fetch The Bolt Cutters floored me and went back for a listen to the whole catalogue. Tidal is a great debut that hints at directions she would explore later. Not fully cohesive but such a joy to hear again

I just fucking love Fiona Apple, and this album is an undeniable masterpiece. Her vocals are entrancing and the lyrics are both deeply personal and deeply poetic.

I guess I like a gal with a deep voice and a piano. ‘Criminal’ is probably one of the weaker songs on here tbh.

Cool music that makes me feel cool. I love her voice and inflections.

ughh her mind

Gefällt mir sehr gut. Ich mag die Jazzigen Züge und den Instrumentalischen Hintergrund

Excelente álbum. Solo conocía a Fiona Apple de nombre, pero no había escuchado su música. Percibí varias influencias en su voz como Bjork y Sade. Algunas de las canciones me parecieron bastante adelantadas a su época. Me gustó el uso de la armonía que por momentos sorprende. Un disco que seguramente escuche otra vez

Fiona is an underappreciated genius. She’s still very young here and finding her voice, but she manages to put a handful of perfect tracks down. Sleep to Dream, Sullen Girl, Shadowboxer, and Criminal are just a stellar start to a record by a teenager. If this pace kept up it’d be 5 stars from me. Unfortunately it drags a little mid-record but comes back strong with Carrion. When the Pawn… is where she become a full-fledged classic singer and songwriter in my book.

I tried listening to this in 2021 and I believe I fell asleep. I was tired, it was a 16 hour road trip. I've always liked two of the songs on this: Sleep To Dream and Criminal. The rest, I'm not as familiar with. Sullen Girl took me by surprise and I believe that the slow atmosphere is something that I can understand better at this age. Shadowboxer puts her voice front and center. For her young age, she definitely had a voice that could move mountains. I'm not saying that to be cliche or some shit, I do mean that. What I recognize about these outro sections so far is that they bring in moments of solos from these instruments with "quirks" to their sound before fading out. Just as this album begins to make more sense to me, Criminal comes in and steals the show. This is a good sign. Slow Like Honey is probably the first skip but it's a natural comedown from Criminal. The First Taste brings it back up. It's one along with Criminal where Fiona shows this more ferociously naive attractive side of her rather than just pure anger and piano. I may not even know what I'm saying. Never Is A Promise has excellent lyricism, straight up. This girl can sing, damn. It's such an engaging song that the next two songs don't matter as much to me. There's about 3 skips on this album. That doesn't discredit how impressive this is for a debut at this age, it's just that some of the songs I don't vibe with as much. At the very least, this album has a strong closer in Carrion. Why isn't When The Pawn on this list? 7/10 (but 3 stars here as I feel I enjoyed the MMLP more) (Update: It's a 4, Phil, are you insane?) (7/10, 4/5 on this scale)

I've heard of her but was not familiar with her work. She's compared to Tori Amos and the likes (and I really like Amos or O'Connor for example) but it feels like a more "pop" version of the aforementioned artists. It's good, but I wasn't blown away as I hoped I would be.

Definitely a lot better than I went in expecting

Incredible debut! Took me right back to my college days where that incredibly sexy video for 'Criminal' played endlessly on MTV's TRL every afternoon. If Tidal has a downfall it's that the back half of the album doesn't quite stand up to the energy of the front half. This a record made for headphones. The production is so vibrant with it's strings and instruments, that's it's easy to not see (or hear) what's right in front of you. Seriously...for those saying this sounds the same, go back and intently listen. You'll be rewarded.

Enjoyed it more than I thought I would, soulful.

I really liked this! Lovely, dreamy, emotional. "Crminal", "Slow Like Honey" and "Shadowboxer" are highlights. Four stars

Not the kinda stuff i usually listen to but the highs Were really high. Slower songs didn't really hit as hard since its not my cup of tea.

"Criminal" and "Shadowboxer" are fantastic. The rest of this, for me, is forgettable.

I enjoyed this enough to rate it higher than 3 but something was missing for me and I can’t quite put my finger on it. Shadowboxer is a really great record!

Pretty good album. not sure why she wasn't more popular 4/5

shrek orange

OH HELL YEAH. Love Fiona Apple. Oh wow, her voice is capable of being so so buttery, or so so gritty, and you can tell she’s truly a master of control. (Also a master of songwriting). Her lyrics are very poetic and the style of the songs suits it—jazzier than I expected, perhaps, and much more akin to Norah Jones than you’d think. I do love the variation between the songs. Each one is its own unique being, and most are marvelous. In perhaps a rare occurrence, I prefer the second side and find it to be overall stronger. The last two or three songs are just fantastic, somehow even more so than the rest of the album (a feat that seems near impossible!!).

I was in my early 20s when this album came out, but somehow it flew under my radar. I remember the video for Criminal but that's about it. Anyway, this was a pleasant surprise. Fiona is definitely a talented singer and songwriter. Pretty amazing she was 18 when recording these songs. 3.5/5 Album 57/1001

Fiona Apple has been on my list so this was fun to finally check out! "Slow Like Honey," "Criminal," "The First Taste," and "Carrion" were my highlights. This was a great top to bottom atmosphere with unique instrumentations.

Solid album. Better than what I remembered 30 years ago.

Really really good if you are in a melancholy mood

Really nice. Buttery singing. Smooth. A little jazzy piano. Very satisfying. A little haunting.

Moody. Have listened twice. Very good

Apple's debut album starts with a dark tone, very intriguing, and that's the mood for the album. It's brooding and introspective. It's full of self loathing and spite at ex-lovers. Makes sense with some of the events that occurred prior to her recording this album, and you can tell Apple is pouring some of those thoughts and feelings into her work. She is a great pianist. Her vocals are not perfect, often raspy and rough, but that's what makes each track intriguing and I like that. There's also some really cool synth under some of the tracks (e.g. "Criminal") and nice guitar parts on others ("Carrion") and I'm all about that. I want to sit in a dark bar and have a whiskey and listen to "Slow Like Honey." "The First Taste" is very exotic and a nice departure from the previous mood. There are a few songs that are forgettable on the second half of the album. Highlights for me were: "Sullen Girl," "Slow Like Honey," "The First Taste," and "Carrion." I actually really liked this album. It's dark and gritty and would be great to put on when you're kinda down on the world but want something approachable and smokey and smooth to seethe along with. Pretty strong 4/5 for me. If the album hadn't let up a little down the homestretch and had veered a tad away from being a bit one dimensional, I'd be really tempted to put it at a 5.

Fiona Apple kind of passed me by until I listened to Fetch the Bolt Cutters a lot during the covid lockdown (it was released in 2020, but it also suited my mood). I've been meaning to go back and listen to her earlier stuff so it was good to get this one - it's less distinctive than Bolt Cutters but it's still a great debut. I should have got on the Apple train a lot earlier.

Love this album! Still stands up after nearly 30 years.

Fiona Apple - Tidal Probably a light to medium 4, already a fan of hers and I like all of this but I could go for a couple more tunes as good as Carrion to make me surer of my rating (Idler Wheel and When the Prawn are both more consistent albums for me). ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Minus pop main Streamlinie, plus Jazzy!

Oh, she sang _that_ song (Criminal). Incredible voice. Both the rock-ish and somehow the jazz tracks sound quintessentially 90s, but in a good way. Favorite track: Pale September

Good at what she does.

Very Joni Mitchell, but a good listen.

Would listen again. I loved some of these songs so much - sleep to Dream is just one of the best, and criminal and shadowboxer are great too. Overall, there are some parts that drag for me, but Fiona has such a cool voice. I give it a strong 4. Fave songs are the singles and carrion.

Enjoyed it. Surprised I had never come across it.

Partially listened before Fav tracks: Sleep to Dream, Criminal, Shadowboxer

Good voice!

Great album! Takes me back to my youth. 4/5