Fetch The Bolt Cutters
by Fiona Apple

Fetch the Bolt Cutters is not just an album showcasing Fiona Apple's deep engagement with such a pressing and timely subject as patriarchy and sexism. It also delivers a powerful message to the world during the 2020 pandemic: we must embrace her revolutionary, meticulously crafted ideas in her first studio album in eight years. Fetch is a contemporary masterpiece that demonstrates how music can be both aggressive and delicate, created entirely at home with barking dogs and clanging cans, reflecting the artist's raw musical sobriety.

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This album is packed full of unique experimentation that makes the 50 minute run time fly by as there is so much to get stuck into. The instrumentation is diverse and performed to a very high level on this album with all of them playing a vital role. Musically, it is multi-layered and full of depth which allows us to be able to revisit lots of times before you have discovered everything and by the time you get to that point the songs have infected you and you feel almost compelled to listen again. She does a fantastic job at mixing experimentation with catchiness making it stand out but also make you feel comfortable with the music. Her song writing is brilliant as well and has really progressed from her early albums. Overall, another genius and enjoyable album from Fiona Apple that is always a pleasure to revisit and get lost in.

From JoaoMoreira 01/01/2023 22:03 | #292401

Great ideas in this record with average results. And that duality of great tracking vs extreme compression never helped an album to keep your attention until the end.

Where experimental music can really shine is when the experimentation is done on top of traditional song structures. This record plays with rhythmic sounds (percussion and vocals) but does so in away that complements the other instrumentation, rather than being there primarily for show.

Add in Apple’s sardonic wit and you’re left with a gem.

This whole album is excellent, and just so unique for 2020.

From teague 10/05/2021 16:17 | #274704

Fiona Apple makes the album that everyone knew she could make all along. I love the experimental approach she took to her typical songwriting approach.

From zwiebel 07/29/2021 12:37 | #272029

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From sszwalbenest 04/15/2021 01:23 | #268548

Didn’t love this. The rhythms were interesting but the production style and vocals were a little rough for my taste. Also felt like the record insisted upon itself a little too much. Each song could have been 1-2 minutes shorter.

Surprised I never listened to Fiona Apple. Really liked this album. Knowing that this isn't even considered her best by many makes me excited to listen to more.