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When The Pawn...
Fiona Apple
Retail Price (not our price): $11.98
Release Date: 1999-11-09
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's Best of 1999
When the Pawn Hits fulfills the promise of Fiona Apple's debut, Tidal, a strong statement given that her first outing was one of 1996's most exciting collections. Dark and emotionally dense, Apple's sophomore effort is awash in alluring and witty undercurrents that belie its creator's youth. --Steven Stolder

2) Amazon.com
Fiona Apple, what a character. Between the softcore video, the awards show rebuke, and now for her second album concocting history's most ludicrous title (the full thing runs 90 words long), Apple is earning a rep as a world-class oddball. Which may be the case. In contrast to many of her faux eccentric contemporaries, however, this wolf in waif's clothing seems to be genuinely astray in the straight world. And Apple is the real thing in another way--as a talent. When the Pawn Hits picks up where her eye-opening debut, Tidal, left off. With Jon Brion back in the producer's seat, the twosome concoct a heady, keyboard-heavy soundscape that perfectly complements the singer's assertive, dangerously sexy Nina Simone-meets-Chrissie Hynde delivery. Unforeseen embellishments color the arrangements, including the sinister carnival interlude in "On the Bound," the George Harrison-like guitar in "Mistake," and the drum solo (when's the last time you heard one of those on a pop album?) in "Limp." All Brion's enhancements are in service of Apple, who comes through with preternaturally confident expressions of insecure sentiments ("Change my mind, I can't decide, there's too many variations to consider") and cold-eyed accounts of recrimination and self-recrimination. Cohesive, gutsy, and finely honed, When the Pawn Hits pummels any notions of a sophomore slump for 1996's most promising newcomer. A character, yes, but what an artist, too! --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5

1) I Had to Buy a Second One   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
This is the second time that I've purchased this album...I bought it the day that it was released back in 1999, and I finally wore that copy out a few weeks ago. While I love everything Fiona Apple puts out, this remains both my favorite CD of hers and of all time. This is one of those rare albums where every single song is amazing, and you can listen to it without having to touch your "skip track" button. While "Fast As You Can" was the biggest hit as a single, songs like "A Mistake" and "To Your Love" can only be described as Beatles-esque. "The Way Things Are," "Get Gone," and "I'll Know" are some of the (if not the) most insightful and thoughtful songs about being in an unsatisfying relationship that I've ever heard. Fiona weaves charming plays-on-words effortlessly into beautiful and vivid storytelling, all set to truly unique musical arrangements.

2) Apple Sauce   [Rating: 3 out of 5]
Have not heard much from Ms Apple except for radio play. Ordered three compact disks at once. Have been working my way thru them. Neither good or bad. Interesting production.

3) The Best Apple CD   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
I feel that this is the best of the three Fiona CDs. This is probably my most listened and most coveted CD, not just by Apple, but in general. She is an amazing singer/songwriter and this album is a display of that. You WILL NOT be disappointed by this purchase.

4) Getting extraordinary   [Rating: 4 out of 5]
Disclaimer: I heard this one after Apple's 3rd, and latest, album - so, loving the cabaret touches added to Extraordinary Machine (and sharper songwriting), I was a bit let down by When The Pawn.The formula is firmly in place, and it's a good one - PlasticOno piano, bitter recriminations, unpredictable metaphors, walloping beats, spooky Chamberlain and retro colors (usually on the coda). It's an intoxicating sound."On The Bound" offers classic aggressive Apple and "Get Gone" gets downright nasty, but my fave is "Paper Bag," with its vulnerable stance and super-startling hook, "Hunger hurts but starving works when it costs too much to love."Her influence throughout pop music since the mid-90's is leviathan.

5) a modern classic   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
the best record i've heard in the past few years... awesome production... fiona at her best, great songs, great arrangements, great sound...it puts her right there with my most favored classics... a modern day "abbey road".. can't stop listening to it... absolute masterpiece.a step up form the debut album... it actualy made me by all three fiona records...