When the Pawn . . .
Fiona Apple was an overnight sensation in the late 1990s. It is hard to relate her to other artists. Whether you are describing her music or her human characteristics, her style is unique.
She started playing piano at age 8. By age 16, she moved to L.A. with her father and recorded a demo tape. The tape landed in the hands of Wallflowers manager Andy Slater who got her a record contract in 1996.
Her first album, "Tidal," sold three million copies, won her a Grammy and an MTV award. At the MTV Video Music Awards, she made her infamous "this world is bullshit" speech. She denounced the act of worshiping the famous and requited fan support by saying frankly to "go with yourself." You can find the video on Youtube.com if you don't remember it.
"When the Pawn . . .," released in 1999, is her second album. It displays her creative progression from her debut record release. Its title is a 90 word poem that landed in the Guinness Book of World Records for "Longest Album Title."
The album opens with a haunting piano riff in "On the Bound," preparing you for what's in store for the rest of the album. You might get worried at this point if you've never listened to Fiona Apple before. The voice might sound desperate and complaining. However, the atmosphere of the music draws you into what she's trying to figure out or explain and you find yourself listening to the words.
Her best, lyrically, comes in the center of the album with the song, "Paper Bag." She sings, "Hunger hurts, and I want him so bad, oh it kills 'Cause I know I'm a mess he don't want to clean up. I got to fold 'cause these hands are too shaky to hold. Hunger hurts, but starving works, when it costs too much to love."
Her lyrics are filled with angst over self doubt, shame, and confusion. Her description of others in her life makes you think they are feeling the same. If you can say anything about her writing it is that she is her best self evaluator. The songs represent her foibles and faults along with the confidence in how right she is about other lovers' weaknesses.
The record is chock-full of moody rhythms and persistent jazz infused rock. You can hear the accurate jazz melody of her voice in "Fast as You Can." In "The Way Things Are," her skill for writing a pop chorus with a dissonant verse is represented as well.
The record owes a lot to Jon Brion who produced it. He has worked with Rufus Wainwright, Kanye West, and David Byrne, among other artists. All in all, the album isn't boring. Listening to the words or not the music intrigues you. The lyrics are great if you read them and the melodies stay great even if you don't.