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intereact!Fiona Apple
Retail Price (not our price): $18.97
Release Date: 2005-10-04
Manufacturer: Sony
Format: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Track List
Now here, for your listening pleasure, the tracks...
| Disc 1 |
Editorial Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
1) Amazon.com
Fiona Apple, brooding, brainy belter and capital-A artist of near forbidding depth, begins her much gossiped-over third CD on a lark. The title track, one of two songs produced by Jon Brion before the label dispute that prompted hip-hop producer Mike Elizondo (50 Cent, Eminem) to step in, sounds like a Judy Garland number slathered with irony or something Rufus Wainwright might have had a hand in--strings soar, beats bump around skittishly, and notes require a ladder. But playful as it is, by the time the chorus kicks in it's clear why the world has missed Fiona Apple so much. Young female artists who have stepped into the spotlight since she fled it six years ago-- Nellie McKay and Joss Stone spring to mind for their cleverness and heat, respectively--seem slight in comparison. With every track ticked off, in fact, Extraordinary Machine moves listeners a little closer to what might be a correct assumption: that everything they've dipped into since 1999's When the Pawn ... was filler. Fans will feel it especially on "O'Sailor," a gimlet-eyed lament, and "Tymps," a tight piano track with a tip of the hat to hip-hop. It's "Window," though, with its lyric about "a filthy pane of glass" fogging up a clear view, that sums up the experience of this CD best. "I had to break the window," Apple sings, smoky-voiced as ever. "It just had to be." With Extraordinary Machine, she shatters already sky-high expectations. -Tammy La Gorce
Customer Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5
1) Cheesy noodling in the studio. [Rating: 1 out of 5]
I can't call this music but I guess it is. F. Apple shows ANYBODY with a computer these days can pump out some basic songs, getting them out there is the hard part. F. Apple's fame is the mystery. There are no songs on this album. Just noodlings. Not even clever or original noodlings. This album was released in the 21st century but sounds like half the bad pop you can find in any used CD bin at the local record store. The nineties never died, it appears.An embarrassing reminder of how low music has fallen over the years...2) If you don't like this album, you're beyond help! [Rating: 5 out of 5]
All other reviewers have sung the worthy praises of "Extraordinary Machine," so I have little else to add other than they're right! The title song is an absolute BLAST to listen to; don't try to over analyze this song at first, just listen to the masterful lyrics (painful and humorous), the unconventional-to-say-the-least sounds of the instrumental arrangement, and bathe in the wonder that is great music, radio be damned!! Also, the last half of "Not about love" is not to be missed: a virtuoso performance lyrically, vocally, and at the keys as the tempo picks up full-throttle, using the same theme from the opening of the song, but at about 5 times the speed. One of the best musicians currently producing music. Just one problem....we need more!!!3) Not Extraordinary, But Very Good [Rating: 4 out of 5]
This album was my first exposure to Fiona Apple, so I don't have her earlier albums to compare to. That's good, as each album and each review should stand on it's own. Fiona has an incredible voice, powerful, but not overpowering. Some describe it as "smoky". Instead, I would say rich and unique. Perhaps a little dreamy at times too. I can't say I am thrilled with any of the songs here, but I did like the title song, which is a little different than anything I've heard before and quite different than the other songs on the album too. The music doesn't drown out Fiona's voice, so you can tell what she is singing; it's very well-produced. One fault I find with many modern albums is that the music just overwhelms the artist. That's not the case here. After listening, I can't say that I hunger for more of Apple's songs, but it will be interesting to see what she comes up with next. This album certainly showcases her incredible talent. Not quite a 5-star album, but a solid 4.4) Unique album showing extraordinary talent [Rating: 4 out of 5]
Fiona Apple's 2005 offering Extraordinary Machine remains one of the most challenging and strikingly original pop music albums to emerge in the 2000's. Unpredictable, yet pretty melodies and dangerously intelligent lyrics make the record not the kind you play when you chill, but rather when you want to spend your "listening energy" on something potent. Anytime is plays, it assures of the genius lurking within this artist. Music once reminds of a Broadway show, other time sounds like a composition from 300 years ago played by modern instruments. However, the album never leaves much the realm of pop, which makes it rather -- if not completely and for all listeners -- accessible.5) Fiona Apple Is Under Rated [Rating: 5 out of 5]
Fiona Apple's newest album Extraordinary Machine seamlessly combines different music styles, and artfully presents them in her own unique creation. This album should be appreciated for several reasons: Technique, Artistry & Vision. Technically Fiona is obviously a well trained and fluent musician. Artistically her use of multi-instrumental accompaniments and tempos, as well as complex lyrics and a showcase of vocal individuality has set her apart. As a visionary, Fiona's music has proven to be the expression of her mind's eye. Keep an open mind and you will find the technical, artistic and visionary expertise of this artist. This album shows an artist whose work should be taken at face value, which in this case, is worth a lot more than it's retail value. Buy this album.