Fiona Apple

After taking an extended break, the fiercely talented Fiona Apple returns with her most surprising work yet. The title track opens things up in a surprisingly lighthearted, showtune-y way before the vibes get heavier and the mood grows darker. The creative, baroque orchestrations from albums past are still present, giving further distinction to an already singular artist.

Few albums will be released this year with a more tortured back story than Fiona Apple's
Extraordinary Machine. The singer-pianist's third album was finished in May 2003 with
producer Jon Brion but rejected by Apple's Sony Music bosses (according to Brion)
because it lacked potential hit singles. Fans petitioned for its release, and earlier this year
eleven songs from the Brion sessions were leaked online. At the same time, Appl... More >

Instead of delivering the music a sharp-tongued breakup record by an empowered young female would imply--if not folk-rock plain and simple, then emotional piano-woman pop--Apple adapts Broadway show tune to confessional mode. Although Mike Elizondo adds momentum, Jon Brion's colors still predominate, and the melodic and structural contours are all Apple's. Ira Gershwin she's not; Betty Comden she's not either. But she wouldn't be half as inspiring if they were what she was aiming for. (Grade - A-)