Fetch The Bolt Cutters

Geez people really turned on this album didn’t they. Music still seems good to me. Weird that the current top review here knocks the lyrics for “every other word being fuck this and fuck that” when there’s… a single f-bomb across the entire album? Lots of projection going on when it comes to the content of the album; you’re telling on yourself, bro.

This is what the first month of the Covid Pandemic felt like. And it's such a fucking banger. Quite simply, it's a masterpiece. The album was released about two weeks after the pandemic started, and I'd spend days just listening to this over and over again. Fiona Apple had, of course, recorded the album months previously, yet she somehow found a way to capture exactly how everyone felt when it was released. Just everything about the album, including the cover photo featuring an insane close-up of Fiona giving it a claustrophobic feel. And the title that's an immediate call to action, suggesting a way out of your current predicament. Two years after it's release, every song from top to bottom remains a killer. My favorite song seems to change with each listen, but I have a special spot in my heart for "Newspaper", which only gets better with every repeat listen. This is Fiona Apple firmly distancing herself from every female recording artist who debuted in the '90's and basically left them in the dust. She out-Exiled Liz Phair, jagged right through Alanis, and firmly put the Fiona Apple who blasted onto the scene with "Tidal" in her rearview mirror. She's going to be elected to the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame with relatively ease. When she first hit the music scene, Fiona Apple won an MTV Video award and proceeded to tell the audience that "this world was bullshit". And people lost their ever loving shit. How dare this skinny little waif act so unappreciative and vulgar! Fiona Apple was right about the world back then, and she's still right now.

Fiona is going to go down as a national treasure in the US. I felt so strong and powerful after listening to this album that I had to revisit her earlier stuff to see if the same feeling applied. Of course, it did. Her artistic choices are so apparent in this album that her genius really shows. Loved listening to this (over and over). It deserves the Grammy's that it won and she deserved not to have to go to the show!

Ok so here we have a 52min (sigh) slab of angry gen X girl quirkiness.... only it's not 1995 anymore. Apple is almost 10 years older than me and all I can think is how immature this is. Every second word was fuck, every second lyric was something like "no, I won't shut up!" etc etc. Are men/the system/record labels/whatever really holding you down in 2020? When you can make an album of this nonsense, using garageband for the music and MS paint for the cover (ie. on a budget of whatever the electricity bill was) and then it charts worldwide? There's no way I can take this sort of shit seriously. And its Wikipedia entry is baffling - all it does is quote over-the-top gushing reviews. Who on earth could care that much about this artsy nonsense? My guess is these ridiculous reviews were written by either people who care more for her status as feminist icon than her music, or guys who had a crush on her in the late 90s. Didn't anyone in the music press think it was overly long, pretentious crap? This amateur reviewer does. 1 point because she clearly DID put some effort in (even if I don't like the result), and another because she can really sing when she gives it a crack. 2/5.

More garbage. I'm sure she can sing, but she doesn't. She talks. The production quality is embarrassing on this. Sounds like an edge junior high kid produced it, using spare OS midi sounds from Windows 98. It's chaotic in a bad a way, soup-pot of random sound-effects shaken around while trudging through a swamp. Just about a complete lack of musicianship. This feels like something parents would bring up at a wedding to embarrass their kids. "Remember when you were 13 and you thought you'd made a hit record? *everyone groans*, let's just have a listen to this masterpiece. Okay okay, that's enough."

Perfect Metacritic score rating. nuff said.

Percussion is really cool. Chill music, easy listening

Terrible and annoying vocals over an uncreative and boring instrumental. Dreadful sound quality as well and mixed very poorly. Possibly the worst album I've ever listened to

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.

I'm not really sure how an album from 2020 is even on this list, since there's not really any way to put an album from last year into its historical context. On the other hand, this is a really cool album. It's easy to see why it struck a chord with people who were locked down and scared during the early stages of the pandemic. It's cool, weird, and well executed 4/5

7/10. Didn't like it nearly as much as Tidal. Had some strong songs, especially towards the end of the album, but other parts of it just kind of annoyed me, and the middle dragged on a bit.

I love Fiona Apple, and whilst this isn't my favourite album, it was amazing to have some new music from her after quite a period since the last one.

A real masterpiece. She doesn't release albums often but when she does they hit hard. My favorite is probably "Fetch the Bolt Cutters" but no duds on this one. The lyrics are raw and honest, the instrumentation is spare and rich. This album was built to last.

I love every minute of it. It sounds so chaotic but in a good way. Added it to my album collection. Perfect for a gathering with friends.

Like a work of art.

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.

I Want You To Love Me is the perfect song to open this album, I was halfway in love right from the start. Despite the obvious way she uses instruments and background noises, for me what caught my ear the most was the lyrics of the songs. Alot of very personal and emotional lyrics went into this album and I loved it! Standout songs: I Want You To Love Me, Under The Table, Heavy Balloon, For Her

Hat Potential. Nervt aber kolossal. Sie bevorzugt einen erzählenden Songwriting-Stil, leider interessieren ihre Petitessen mich nicht im geringsten.

This would be a great instrumental album. Some really cool percussion sounds. Unfortunately, Fiona gets in the way and ruins it with a horrible tone and asinine lyrics.

Fiona sings: “Kick me under the table I won’t shut up I won’t shut up” I wish she would…

Not good

Is this a joke? she's surely making this up as she goes along. Is it supposed to be art? Avant garde? Rubbish.

Well... that sucked.

Un disco que me tardé en apreciar, pero al que de repente regreso, sobre todo por algunas canciones, sobre todo las de la segunda mitad. Y pues sí, lo disfruto y me pone de buen ánimo. Sigo pensando que aunque es buen disco, todo el ruido del 2020 estaba sobredimensionado. 9/10

Me encantó,la agresividad en el piano, a en la voz y hasta en varias letras es de cierta manera muy punk sin ser punk. Además esas percusiones rudisismas a ratos que se escucha como si solo le estuvieras dando von todo a un bote de basura, muy a la slipknot.

When this album came across the generator, I hadn't listened to it in a while. I was initially excited but then worry crept in. What if this album wasn't as good as I remember? Was the hype and adoration overblown? Is this album a victim of the pandemic, where the uncertainty of everything in our lives and the abrupt upending of plans have tainted our views of various aspects of media? Well, despite all of those factors creeping in, this album remains an excellent viewpoint of Fiona Apple and what she means to us. Songs that were seen as been somewhat grating in retrospect (Shameika, Ladies, Heavy Balloon) hit even harder than before and songs that weren't given space to be remembered suddenly galloped with an intensity and fervor that sticks after it ends (Newspaper, Cosmonauts, Drumset). Is the album as good as I remember? Yes. Was the hype and adulation overblown? Yes, but it was deserved. Is it a victim of the early pandemic? For me, not anymore.

This is probably one of my favorite releases from 2020. I wasn’t really super familiar with Fiona Apple before this, but wow this album is amazing. It’s aggressive, poppy, and sonically really diverse but also almost sounds “homegrown” low-fi. Really great stuff.

A masterpiece and easily one of the best albums of the last few years

IF I COULD GIVE THIS ALBUM 1000 STARS I WOULD. This is one of my all time favourite albums. I do not need to be told to fetch the boltcutters for they are already a part of me. Every single song slaps so hard. She is truly an icon.

Just brilliant chaotic energy and relentless bops. Will always remind me of lockdown

OOOOOOOOOOOOH FUCK YES I adore this album so much, I would give it a 6 if I could, I just love the emotion and the energy of it. An absolute lifesaver during the first Covid lockdown, captured the frustration and weirdness down to a T, but also the excitement of new things coming!

I was surprised to find another Fiona Apple album appear on this list… and a very recent one that I’ve never heard of. I guess I’ve been a bit out of the loop lately as far as the latest acclaimed albums. This was a really interesting and fun album to listen to! It has a rough, arts and crafty feel that is reflected in the cover art, but is built and performed with a very high level of skill even if it is what seems like clanging and banging against a wall or the barking dogs. The lyrics are filled with clever observations and descriptions that I instantly fell in love with. This really seems like the perfect thing to emerge amidst the chaos of the pandemic. The jaunty feel of the album juxtaposes with its serious and at times seriously dark subjects. A genuinely quirky and unique album that I found to be very special!

Complicated, funny, intimate, weird. I love it.

I didn't know anything about this album. The beginning of the first track really drew me in and the album kept my attention until the end. Some awesome piano and intriguing melodies for my ears! Now, occasionally, including in the end of the first track, it all became too intense or dissonant for me. Fortunately, these moments were isolated enough to not completely distort my listening experience...but this won't be one to add to my music-to-work-by list.

This was brand new to me and it made me go "wow" so many times as I first listened to it: her distinctive voice, the percussion, the piano, the dogs, and the really really interesting lyrics. Wow wow wow. A few times I had to rewind and listen again since it begged constant careful listening. Just blew me away, and what an exciting feeling that was!

Very good. Jazz like in some sections, experimental in others. Fun listen.

There are two directions musicians can go in the modern era: Experiment, or solidify tradition. Fiona manages to do both in this awesome album.

I absolutely see why this got so much hype a few years ago. It is hard to make something that is so artsy while also sounding genuine, but this album seems to have come from the heart more than the mind. The fun rhythms, stripped and raw production, great vocals, catchy melodies; it was all here for me, and I LOVE it. I already know this will be on regular rotation for me.

ooh

I thought I had listened to all of Fiona's records. Apparently I hadn't. And I'm glad I was introduced to this one.

FIONA YOU BEAUTY I LOVE YOU

One of this decades early seminal pieces. Speaking of pieces Apple gives us slices of her throughout this. One to listen to in the early part of this decade.

Oh man this was KICKASS! The lyrics are so emotionally vulnerable and heartfelt. Felt those words to my core. The title track will be my new mantra. I'm in love.

Simply incredible

amei. ela sempre canta o que eu n tava esperando ouvir

I could have never imagined to like somthing so recent this much

5/5 ladies ladies

Perhaps THE lockdown art

Upea levy.

Amazing stuff. Meant to listen to this when it hit and was getting widespread critical acclaim. This doesn’t sound like anything else. Has the charm of a homemade album (done in GarageBand) but has the precision and intent most studio albums can’t match.

I was shocked by how good this album is. What incredible writing. I saw her open for Page/Plant at the Gorge in George, WA. I found her to be an extremely talented musician but was really taken with the songs themselves. Never really listened to her after that. But this! Wow. Amazing song writing, amazing musicianship, amazing poetry. I will go back and listen to her older stuff again.

That was a clinic on neo-percussion. I loved the raw joy and pathos exemplified in most every track, flecked by subtle humour. There’s so much to listen to - I need to listen again and I’ve already listened 3x.

I love this record. I generally like her stuff, but this had a great edge to already great songs.

i love her sm

TE AMO FIONA APPLE

Only got halfway through the album would like to revisit later pretty good so far.I really like the modern sound.It’s folky but kinda catchy.The weird drums are really cool.I love her voice it’s so expressive and the lyrics are pretty heartfelt.

Scrolling through the reviews, people giving this 1 star seem to be mostly bell ends, or under this mad self-hate craze they've got running riot in the states. Or maybe they want all their music to have 'perfect' production with all the edges knocked off and unadventurous. Which is a valid choice for some. Sure it's not for you, nothing is for everyone, 1 star should be reserved for the truly bad, 2 stars for me when I just don't like something but can see why others would. That said I can understand why this album would be polarising. Newspaper, For Her, the title track. But if an album is polarising opinion, that can be a sign of something truly special. I remember the reaction when it came out, universal praise, Pitchfork's fabled full 100 score, that kind of thing and wondered if people were going overboard. I think they probably were, but just a little, this is a great album. I think I prefer the idler wheel, and I was never a fan of her 90s stuff, so I'm far happier when she's experimental. Regardless, I'm obviously going to add a star and give this a 5 just to undo one of those 1s that should be a 2. Faves - Fetch the Boltcutters, I Want You to Love Me, Rack of His, Cosmonauts

Kick me under the table all you want, I won't shut up about this album. It's sprawling, adventurous, playful, and expertly produced, with a domestic feeling that's miles away from the all-too-neat sounds of mainstream pop these days. It's experimental yet extremely catchy at the same time (See "Cosmonaut"'s chorus for one example of such "catchiness"). The lyrics are very "topical" most of the time but they're never on the nose, an asset that is mirrored in the performances themselves. Fiona Apple is a virtuoso on the piano and an incredible singer. But she also left many supposed "flaws" apparent during the recording process, along with off-kilter moments that make the whole thing sound sincere and very endearing. My only (minor) complaint is that the album is maybe *a little* too long. A more reasonable amount of self-editing, like taking out a couple of songs out of the record's tracklisting, would have created an even stronger *whole* overall (that's where Pitchfork's perfect 10 grade might be somewhat exaggerated imho). But as I've already suggested at the start of this paragraph, this is only a "minor" complaint. My own assessment can be summed up through a 4.5/5 grade here, rounded up to 5 for the usual purposes of this app. It's not often than a *recent* record in this list actually deserves all the praise. Shameika said Fiona had "potential", after all. Damn was she right about that! Number of albums left to review or just listen to: less than 700, I've temporarily lost count here Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens:  approximately a half so far (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: a quarter Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): the last quarter

It feels almost sacrilegious to rate something so new so highly, especially after refusing several classics of that honor. But the immediacy of this album warrants it. A stunning listen from the get-go, but an album that has also grown on repeated listens. Beautifully written and composed. I don't think I could tire of this one.

Already my favourite album of the 2020s

OH MY GOD yesterday I decided to start listening to Fiona Apple because why not? I heard her album Extraordinary Machine which buh-lew my fucking mind after I heard it, I was telling my friend about how much I loved it and he said I should listen to her new album Fetch The Bolt Cutters this morning, I generated my new album and somehow I got this I probably have another 700 albums left on this thing and the fact I got this out of any possible album is just fucking crazy anyway, I really can’t put into words how amazing both of the albums I’ve heard from her are they’re just so amazing in literally every field of musicianship this album is too good to rate

The percussion and piano on this album are constantly interesting and make the album a 5/5 for me. Favorite Tracks: Under the Table, Shameika, Heavy Balloon.

Duh

This is the second Fiona Apple album that I've gotten on this list, and just like 'Tidal,' I really enjoyed this album as well. I had just gotten PJ Harvey's 'Rid of Me' on the previous day, and I felt like it was a beautiful coincidence to get 'Fetch the Bolt Cutters' immediately afterwards. I love that the lyrics had a theme of detachment to them, but each song still felt like it addressed that detachment in a different way. Fiona Apple's vocals are always so raw, yet she conveys so much emotion through her singing. I loved the instrumentation on this album was brilliant as well. I've heard "Criminal" so many times throughout my life, that I always think of Fiona Apple as a pianist, but she really breaks away from that here with all of the different percussion she was using. The three track run of "Newspaper," "Ladies," and "Heavy Balloon" might be one of my favorite trio of consecutive songs ever, and I really thought the last half of the album was incredibly strong.

omg loved!

Fiona Apple has been angry all her life — and why shouldn’t she? as a woman whose mind and body have been exploited in an industry that’s constructed a wild game without informing her of the rules — but never has her anger sounded so assuredly stubborn and liberating as it does on her grand masterpiece, Fetch The Bolt Cutters. this is music unrestrained by the very constructs expected from music itself, and — in extension — from women. it is messy and wackily edited, and it is deliriously free. every word is a searing swiss blade; every surface is a percussive instrument Apple strikes right after her words do; and no subject is safe from her ruminations. in one fell swoop, Apple begs for love and affection (“I Want You to Love Me”), and then critiques an ex for sexually assaulting her (“For Her”). it is a brutal listen, one in which Apple sets the world around her ablaze — the sly, toxic men; the nasty high school bullies; the clout-chasing wannabes — and then holds out her hand for solidarity to the others who manage to survive the forest fire. on songs like “Newspaper” and “Ladies”, she seeks to protect the women who have been equally maltreated by men; she sings high praises to the one person in school who defended her on “Shameika”, while showing off the person she’s become in the face of mean girls. in its rawness, Fetch the Bolt Cutters truly soars. Apple had come far from the days of Tidal, where a girl and her piano made a way with her words. here, Apple spews those words with venom, and you can hear in her voice, the veins lifting on her temples and neck; you can hear the tears in her eyes and blood dripping down her nose. she flips the piano and stomps on it to make a beat. only Fiona Apple could’ve made this album, and goodness, what a phenomena it turned out to be.

Oh, the absolute masterpeice! The first album we've tested on our B&W stereosystem. So many sounds in perfectly organized harmony! Fiona scares me with her talent

I Want You To Love Me- Could’ve done without the last part, but other than that pretty catchy 👍 Shameika- Funny how small moments can become defining moments in your life..👍 Fetch the bolt cutters- this is a bit too on the nose for me and isnt that sonically interesting. nice doggos tho Under the table- wish I could speak out a bit more 👍 Relay- I like this song a lot, but not really sure about the repeated line, i feel like it doesn’t mean much really Rack of his- I think the metaphor is really clever here, enjoyed this song overall 👍 Newspaper- I like the harmonies, but again a bit literal for me again and not a strong melody Ladies- A more chill song following the last one, a little meandering for me and i would say slightly condescending Heavy Balloon- So good, i love the vocals on this one 👍 Cosmonauts- One of the instantly catchier tracks 👍 For Her- Bit too chaotic for me Drumset- Quite repetitive, feels like a bit of throwaway On I Go- very percussion heavy, pretty good ending to the album 👍 I heard about the acclaim for this album back when it was released but never checked it out. It feels very 2020, but still holds up and I really appreciate it 5/5

I was blown away but this album. Very original songs and such a raw vocal performance

This album was likely the best of 2020. Recorded mostly at Fiona Apple’s home in Los Angeles, it has a raw organic quality to it. The use of found sounds lends an almost dada like ramshackle foundation from which the music can find its basis. This produces a set of sounds that seem to appear spontaneously without the trappings of a studio production.

A really interesting album. Love the live percussion, love the understated passion. My lockdown album of choice.

Fiona Apple makes good records. This is one is endlessly unique -- challenging and catchy at the same time.

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.

First time listening to Fiona apple.

Artig

Oh, a more recent album! Probably my 3rd favorite from Fiona after "The Idler Wheel" and "Extraordinary Machine"

Vegetable cutters

This is a well-thought-through piece of artistry - it's not all in 4/4, there are interesting, unusual rhythmic accents and structures - not one I connected with, at first, but it grew more on a second listen. "you can kick me under that table all you want but I won't shut up, won't shut up" is a great line. This is the 37th LP offered to me by the random selector from the 1001 LPs on the list, and the first that has made me think "yep, this needs a third go round".

7.5/10 F.t.: Heavy balloon

Great record! Shameika, Relay are particularly good in showcasing her odd phrasing and her fascinating way of turning a phrase, often with a real bite. Overall I still prefer Idler Wheel……

Tatsächlich aus der Masse des songwriterinnen Nachwuchses nicht beliebig ausgewählt

wasn’t a big fan at first but really liked it towards the end

I loved Fiona Apple in the nineties and I didn’t expect this album to be a Tidal 2. I expected it to be more grown up. I loved the humorous irony in the lyrics and in particular the hilarious lyrics on ‘Rack of His’. I think it definitely warrants another listen as I get the feeling that like Tidal, there’s always something new to discover. It’s called ‘Fetch the Boltcutters’ - a pithy command of ever I heard one and once she’s unleashed, Fiona doesn’t hold back and I love that!!

Interesting rhythms. Kinda jazzy, avant guard. Very catchy tunes. Lyrics are quite poetic. Nice album. Great use of repetition.

verrassend!

Fetch the Bolt Cutters. Apparently, it refers to freeing oneself from oppression. And I think that it's also a statement for us listeners to try something that us outside our comfy zones. And that's how an industrial rock percussion driven pop album is made... just a couple of years ago. Tbh, however, it's not something that I would listen to casually. It's an experimental album, and it's the best experimental album that I have ever heard so far. I love how it is lo-fi (a so-called "bedroom pop" which basically means that it's recorded inside their home) yet it sounds sophisticated. It's chaotic, it's cathartic, and as the hype-induced critics put it: it's human. Overall, it's enjoyable. Love the chaotic mess of angst, humor, and heartbreak. Perhaps I'll enjoy it a lot if I were a teenager. Is it wrong if I assumed that this album, like any pop album, is made for teenagers? Perhaps.

I really liked the song Relay. The album really grows on you, and probably needs a few listens until you really get all she is trying to say.

The soundtrack of Covid, and BLM. Not because any of the songs related to those events but due its release date Fetch The Bolt Cutters was being played on repeat and my twitter feed was filled with people singing its praises. I didn't like it on first listen, finding it a bit over the top and somewhat pretentious. I gave it a few more listens because something about it did intrigue me. I ended up really enjoying the offbeat instrumentation and clever lyrics finding some of the songs were really catchy and others had a depth few artists can match. For me, this is the best work by Fiona Apple

".... I've been in here too long." Jako mi je drago da je ona došla. Kad je izašao album, pokupio je jako dobre, pozitivne kritike. Čak i više, hvaljen album, ovo ono, desetka od Fantana, to je bilo rare. Meni je bila 7,5 do 8 i to max. Al sam si rekao da ću njenu diskografiju proći jer sam samo dva albuma iz njenog kataloga poslušao, uključujući ovaj. Dakle, 8,5/10, nije mi za devetku još, ali nakon 2 godine ne slušanja ovog albuma, ipak se vidi pomak u tome da mi se više svidio. I volim to što je u par navrata imala pomagača, svoga psa na nekim pjesmama.

Avant garde, extraordinary, magnificent, never been done before. Al mi fali onaj replay faktor.

At its core, just flat-out interesting. Into the pretty large array of instruments used and Apple’s delivery is something you don’t hear often in everyday listening. A little too out there for me to revisit often, but certainly worth the listen. Best songs: *I Want You To Love Me*, Shameika, Under the Table, Cosmonauts

I just love Fiona Apple and how weird she has made her pop, and how she couldn't give half a shit about a Grammy or the industry.

1st song, chills. The lyrics 🥵. But one point off for chicken sounds at the end… I like the Lofi quarantine sounds in theory, I don’t like the way it actually sounds sometimes 😹 cosmonauts and ladies rocked my world Percussion on heavy balloon was 🤌🏻 Overall ended and I felt happy 90s angsty girl is almost always a win for me.

Whip smart, idiosyncratic, Fiona Apple has been making great records for sometime now and this is one of her best. Subject matter which gets under your skin, percussion and piano loops that get into your head and always that fierce, fiery, impassioned vocal driving the thing along. She might just be a genius.

Love the timbre of the drums and piano, the echo and emptiness and loneliness. It's really incredible. Very jazzy. I also love her voice, feels agressive, raw.

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.

Swag men varför inte sätta något av hennes äldra skivor son byggt upp sin status mera på listan? Svårt att säga om den här faktiskt kommer vara relevant om 10 år.

Heard fantastic things about this a couple of years ago, and while I didn't fall in love with it, was a very good listen. I prefer Tidal but I like the experimentation here, especially with the percussion. Also half of the songs are noteworthy too.

I've been a huge fan of Fiona ever since Extraordinary Machine, and I'm a big lover of "quirky female vocalist in the 2000s with like a ukulele or whatever" as a genre. Was very excited to check this new album out; surely one of the newest on this entire list. It's a bop! I loved Shameika, Ladies, and Under the Table, but the whole album reminded me that I should listen to more of her stuff. An Apple a day, you know...

7/10, very solid, very ambitious