Fetch the bolt cutters- Relentlessly fizzing with ideas, this bombastic album is quirky and flawed

Music Review- Fiona Apple- Fetch the bolt cutters (2020)

Fiona Apple explores her mind, her femininity and her relationships in this deeply personal Fetch the bolt cutters. It is a delightfully vulnerable album with enough energy to match the sharp bite of many of the lyrics. Every single track is fizzing with ideas and takes the listener on a journey that is worth the ticket even if some of the ideas fall flat. But, Apple's relentless voice and ballsy production will stop you in your tracks and force you to pay attention. And, with a handful of fantastic tracks and even more mesmerising experiences, you will be glad you listened.

Narratively the album works better than it sometimes sounds. Every decision is deliberate and if you think about it, you understand why some of the less ear pleasing decisions were made. And, for that reason it is a fantastically artistic album expressing Apple's deep and personal struggles, fears and desires. But, occasionally the musical choices run ahead of the songs and loose the enjoyment from listening. For that reason, I have more respect for some of the tracks than I enjoy them. When the narrative themes and the production unite it becomes this euphoric agony that lets you see deep into Apple's mind. And, then there are other tracks that don't necessarily hit the right notes. Undoubtedly, the positives out way the negatives and this album deserves boundless praise, but it is not a perfect album.

Because the album is filled to the brim with so many different ideas, the tracks all seem to delve into such a wide variety of themes and discussions that it lacks the thematic cohesion of some albums. Yes, the tracks are routed firmly on Apple and her experiences with relationships, women and fame and that makes her song writing fantastically blunt and vulnerable. But, there is no overarching statement or story, not to say every album needs one, only that there is so much going on in this album that having a break in between tracks helps understand the various themes discussed. Without taking time to explore each track, the albums unwavering rawness and wide scope can be a tad overbearing. The lack of cohesion is also seen on the songs themselves as occasionally the transitions between the different ideas are a tad clunky. But, that is also the albums strength as every song will peel back a new experience with every listen. So, it is most certainly worth having the album on repeat.

Fetch the bolt cutters is a unique and ballsy album that has a lot to love and explore for days.

Album Review: 8

Track By Track Breakdown:

I want you to love me- Opening with a piano melody reminiscent of starting a child story time programme, this track begins with a whimsical tone as Apple begins contemplating why she is releasing this album. The production and her vocals go on a journey as she goes through the many cascading thoughts, emotions, fears and desires of wanting people to love her work. It's her frustration and grit when she realises that none of this truly matters mixed with the desperate elongation of the chorus that creates this fantastic push and pull of emotions between logic and what she is actually feeling. And, when Apple truly unravels by the end into this crazed like dolphin laugh you are truly transported into her mind and her trepidation of putting herself out like this so vulnerably. The whimsical opening was just a veneer of confidence and a stark difference to the on-edge outro; the opening track is an incredible journey that positions the listener at the centre of Apple's world. (8)

Shameika- The production maintains the crazed tone of the end of the last track as the flurry of piano played manically over the verses feels like falling and stumbling through school corridors drunk and not caring. Shameika captures the uneasy feeling of high school and when looking back it is such a blur of random memories; it is a perfect encapsulation of high school hierarchy and how even the slightest approval from the cool kids can feel like the most important thing. The energy is infectious, so when everything stops on the chorus as Apple repeats the same line it's quite a come down, though narratively it makes sense, sonically it's a bit of a kill joy. Tonally, the song has a slight impression of Florence and the Machine's Lungs where drunk manic energy oozes on many of the tracks, but Apple has this raw anger that makes it distinctly her narrative. (7)

Fetch the bolt cutters- With production sounding like pots and pans, Apple talk sings on this titular track that it feels more like a raw poetry reading in her kitchen than a song. This is added upon by the sound of her dogs at the end, it gives it this raw just rolled out of bed and this is how I'm feeling feeling. Narrating how as a celebrity she has felt ingenuine interactions that ruin the fun of making music and how she no longer wants to be in the box that fame puts her in. It adds layers to the opening track as she is nervous to release this album as she's wanting to do it differently, do it her way unapologetically and the anxious breaths near the end are reminiscent of the first song. The stripped production just doesn't create the drama or tension that the previous tracks had in bucket loads and means the song doesn't blow you away. (5)

Under the table- The opening lyrics make you stand in attention with its creative and clever delivery and that attention becomes a rumbling tension that bubbles under this whole track. The glorious dichotomy between the undeniable frustration in Apple's voice and the cutsey piano riff over the chorus creates this tensions that provokes you to not take her seriously and feel her anger in full force as she is ready to rip anyone to pieces if they test her. The track has this unwavering sense of strength that perfectly captures the frustration of being told to shush like a naughty child. So, when the drum kicks in and drowns Apple's vocals in the last minute you take a nervous gulp that everything is about to explode, but sadly that never comes, if it did this would be phenomenal. But, as the most catchy track so far and its undeniable tension, it is certainly a stand out track without the explosive end. (8)

Relay- The army marching drums that open the track as she sings "Evil is a relay sport" is a provocative statement on seemingly the macho grip the patriarchy has on society and how nothing changes like a relay sport. The repetition works as it propounds this narrative of a never changing force holding back progress. When the song really becomes glorious though is in the verses where Apple explains how it is not the individuals fault as they have just been raised this way with no challenge, leading to the interpretation that this is a feminist anthem. The interlude where Apple apologises is an interesting change from the unapologetic frustration of the first half of the track and is the perfect transition to the soft and beautiful ending. The end gives the image of all this frustration constantly flying through her mind but she has to keep it locked up and maintain this sensible and beautiful image of femininity because of society's never changing limitations. It is amazing if even at times the transition from verse to chorus is a little clunky. (7)

Rack of his- Apple narrates the feeling of being obsessed with a guy and feeling under appreciated. It is a slow burn track that doesn't have the fire or bite that other tracks do. The stand out moment on the song is her crazed yelp in the chorus where she is trying to convince her partner that they cannot see what they've always had in her, but the listener will find themselves just constantly waiting to return to her growl as the rest of the track is rather understated. Yes, the understated production and delivery creates a normality around the obsessive behaviour of the narrator that works narratively, but in an album filled with huge bombastic journeys this just feels a bit out of place. The mumbling outro where she is trying to convince herself that she is not obsessed is brilliantly unconvincing and is a bright end to the track. (4)

Newspaper- With the slightest of latin vibe to it, this big musical theatre number is a brilliantly tense conversation between Apple and her ex's new woman. It's got this sultry Chicago vibe to it that at any moment this could turn into a big showdown between the two women as Apple's undeniable rage aims to show the similarities between them, but is ultimately a cutting indictment of her ex's manipulative behaviour. Apple is scorned and attempts to show how men make women feel like enemies when they really don't have to be. It is epic and causes goosebumps on the back of your neck. Her voice round the four minute mark is so vulnerable and raw as she screams in agony. It perfectly captures the rage of seeing an ex move on and the egotistical demons in side of you thinking you know how it is going to end. If the intro and outro were a tad shorter, then this would be perfect. (9)

Ladies- Feeling like a start of a burlesque show, Apple invites all her ex's future ladies to watch her in pain and feast on the life she used to have. It is the perfect sister to Newspaper as the rage has disappeared and Apple comes to terms with her man moving on and aims to put an olive branch out to the future women as she doesn't blame them. She no longer wants to compare herself to them, but try and be there for them when it all goes to shit in a feeling of solidarity against her ex that treats women like toys. She has grown and knows that she wont get through to these women as they're just like her in the past, but she still wants to try. It is a painful come down from the bombastic Newspaper and is the necessary flip side to the rage. Like some other tracks on the album, I respect it more narratively then I necessarily enjoy sonically. (5)

Heavy Balloon- The chorus is fantastic, Apples's vocals and the haunting production work perfectly to make an uneasy track. But, what it means I have no idea. The verses describe a difficult life of struggling to find fun and everything being tainted by the heavier and darker sides to everyday experiences. When she growls in the chorus "I'm busting at the seams" you understand how she wants to release herself from these dark restrictions her mind imposes on her. Her references of strawberries and peas are meant to be child like references to hope, but they don't really pay off and leave you scratching your head without Apple's explanation in interviews. It is a decent slow burn rock song, but not a stand out track. (6)

Cosmonauts- Out growing your partner is a frustrating experience to come to terms with and Apple perfectly captures it here. She still has feelings for her partner, he still wants her to stay and she's unsure of the future because she's changed. It's a difficult internal battle with enough voice cracks and drama in the verses to hurt you in the feelings, but the chorus seems ripped out of a different track. The cutsey "you and I will be like a couple of cosmonauts" seems to be from the soundtrack of a child's space adventure programme; it technically captures the child like desire of perfect easy love where there is only one person for you, but soncially it is a stark and jarring difference to the shouty and dark verses. Again, it is another choice that I respect narratively but don't enjoy sonically. However, the verses are so delightfully gritty that it doesn't ruin the track. (7)

For her- Opening with a slow clap, this unapologetic and unwavering track holds no punches with its rage against people's unhelpful responses to rape allegations. The fast spunky opening verses act as answers to some common questions given to rape victims and hit you so fast like the bombardment of news reporters that interrogate poor rape victims. Then Apple silences all this unnecessary discourse surrounding the issue and puts it plainly "You raped me" and that is the only important narrative to be discussed in the situation. It is a very clear statement and a very powerful one. However, at only two minutes forty four it is a quick flurry of a statement that could have been more powerful with a little bit of development; I understand the point is that any development distracts from the painful core, but when some of the transitions are a tad clunky a bit more room to breath would have helped the song sonically. (6)

Drumset- Having your life turned upside down after a break up is difficult to come to terms with especially if it was a long term relationship where your partner moves in and brings their stuff with them, your house and life can feel empty after such a break up. "And the dialing of the phone (You took it all away, took it) Is no longer fun" is such a relatable line on how you go from excitably waiting for a call from your lover, to pensively waiting for them to call and want to come back. The line is easily the most interesting part of the track as the rest leans too much on Apple's desperate repetition of "You took it all away" and though the song length is short enough that the repetition doesn't out stay its welcome, it means the track is slightly under developed. (5)

On I go- The repetition of the same four lines in a cult like chant is mildly scary when matched with the bombastic and dark production. You feel that Apple is coming for you and will not stop the chase, so you have to keep an eye behind you at all times. It is unsettling and beautiful. Usually repetition holds back a track, but here Apple's varied vocals and the ever moving production make it feel like there is no repetition at all. Though her mistake in the middle is cute and raw, it looses the danger and ferocious energy of the track and it would be much stronger without it. It is a great song to run to, but the lack of lyrical substance makes it hard to talk about. (6)