Search - Fiona Apple :: When the Pawn

Perfect

Cabir Davis | 10/26/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What was already a perfect album (I rate 'When the pawn' the finest album of 1999) is made better by the release of this Import CD.Understandably, the only reason to get this is because of Fiona's cover of The Beatles' classic 'Across the Universe'. This song has long been regarded an uncoverable piece because the original was so pristine and incomparable, but Fiona takes it and makes it all her own. To me, this version sounds far better than the original.The other track here, 'Never is a promise', which gave birth to a website of its' own, has been heard before, and isn't really groundbreaking - but when listened to in the album's entirety, it makes perfect sense! It blends in beautifully, and is quite an achievement.A definite must-have piece for any serious Fiona collector. Highly recommended."

"Pawn" becomes a queen

E. A Solinas | MD USA | 11/04/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Fiona Apple returns in rare form in "When the Pawn..." (plus about ninety more words), her sophomore album -- and one of the rare ones that actually improves on the first. Her passionate bluesy-jazzy sound is blended with her strong, sensitive vocals and one soul-baring song after another.



"Hell don't know my fury." You said it, Fiona. Anger and melancholy permeate her songs, including the rage of "Limp" ("But no matter what I try/You'll beat me with your bitter lies") and the restrained quality of piano-bombast "The Way Things Are." Even the musically gentle "I Know" has a deep sadness, starting to move past some of the bitterness and anger coming before it, and early on Apple seems to apologize for her romantic shortcomings. There are also two additional tracks: the powerful Beatles cover "Across the Universe," from the movie "Pleasantville," and the haunting ballad "Never is a Promise," which doesn't immediately blend in, but works wonderfully and subtlely.



Female singer-songwriters are a dime a dozen today, but few of them do much more than set basic pop songs to acoustic guitar and piano. But Fiona Apple forges ahead with a noncomformist attitude and strong songs. In a nutshell, she comes across as an excellent musician, with all the power you'd expect from such a singer. And every song is a winner, gut-wrenching and beautiful in its intensity.



Musically, it has almost as much impact as her writing does. The music is often led by Apple's piano -- not tinkly piano, but dark, fast melodies that match her songs in rhythm and intensity. Percussion booms in songs like "Limp," as if giving vent to Apple's feelings. And cropping up from time to time are odd gurgles and squiggles, as well as some well-blended horn arrangements in the background.



Apple's voice is strong and assured, but it also has that rare quality of expressing vast amounts of emotion. Without, I might add, sounding overwrought. Which, since the mood is that of an Angry Young Woman, is a hard thing to pull off, but Apple's richly poetic lyrics ("And you can use my skin/to bury secrets in") make her songs seem intensely personal.



"When the Pawn..." is an almost exhausting experience -- just try listening to the whole thing without getting your heart rate up. From rotten lovers to personal pain, Fiona Apple explores the bitter side of love... and despite its bitterness, it's a gem."

One of the best albums I have ever heard

Dr. M. Silvert | London, UK United Kingdom | 09/06/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I could endlessly play this album. Absolutely fantastic, words can not describe how good it is."