Album Review: Fetch The Bolt Cutters by Fiona Apple

Release Date: April 17 2020

The Elephant In the room for this record is the 10/10 pitchfork gave it. Spoiler alert! I don’t think it’s a 10. However I do really like it. I loved the unusual vocal melodies. I loved the intense and abrasive voice she has. She sounded like Pavement, Liz Phair and Amy Winehouse all at the same time. I loved a lot of the really dynamic lines she uses to describe the struggles in her life, (“Under The Table”, “Rack of His”). Fiona mainly tackles love and relationships and her frustration with previous partners. You can hear the emotional strain in her voice and her desperation to find love. This album is really experimental, a lot of sounds you wouldn’t hear on some of her last album. Unorthodox percussion, dogs barking, long sung notes, various banging noises on different surfaces. I thought that aspect just made the listening experience more interesting. The more conventional instruments were good to, the piano on a couple of the songs was extremely enjoyable. Overall I think this album was great, the lyric writing was clever, direct and unashamed. The vocals were emotional, unique and suited the subject of the songs. The Instrumentation demanded attention but didn’t take any away from the lyrics. I’m excited for her next album, but if she follows her current album release pattern, we should be expecting the next one in 2030.

Favourite Songs: I Want You To Love Me, Shameika, Under The Table, Rack of His, Ladies, Cosmonauts

Score: 8.7/10

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