Short stories.
Fiona Apple is first and foremost a writer. Yes, she usually transforms her stories into lyrics, rhyming couplets, and all that. But make no mistake, if she was born without the ability to sing and play instruments, she’d still write stories.
Fetch the Bolt Cutters is finally out and unfortunately, all the east-coast elites think that Apple’s album is the second coming of Christ. She deserves better than that. East-coast elites love singer/songwriters like Dylan, Ani DiFranco, and Lou Reed. Their fawning over any of these four writers, that they deserve to be heard above the rest, is the usual drivel that drives most of us away from them.
Thankfully, Apple’s stories stand on their own merit.
Spoiler Alert: As you’d expect, this critique reveals the song.
Plot
Relay
When reading any good book, some parts resonate and others don’t. In Relay, the whole story simply works.
I resent you presenting your life like a fucking propaganda brochure
And I see that you keep trying to bait me
And I’d love to get up in your face
But I know if I hate you for hating me, I will have entered the endless race
Unlike the other songs on her album, this one just jumped out as a clear statement about the state of east- and west-coast elites. The boys and girls who, in their public persona, can do no wrong. Even after they’ve raped someone or sacrificed countless lives, Relay is about the Teflon class.
But does it work as a song, from a music and singing perspective?
I get that this is a concept album. But like so many concept albums, this one is intended for the writer, not so much the listener. The few concept albums I enjoy, from a music perspective, have one thing in common: a co-producer or co-conspirator. A David Gilmour to Roger Waters.
I’m a fan of Ani DiFranco, a writer who reminds me of Apple. But when DiFranco decides to not work with a co-producer the results are similar to Fetch the Bolt Cutters.
Maybe her point was to just make music for herself and whether people like it or not was immaterial to her.
Fetch the Bolt Cutters
To answer the second question: does this album work from a singing perspective: if you’re expecting an artist like Apple to not grow vocally when compared to something they recorded in a prior year, let alone eight years ago, then this album isn’t for you.
I’m with the other camp. The sound and expressiveness of her vocals have improved and grown with her. It’s that simple.
Directing
Apple is in the driver’s seat.
Sparkly Stuff
It sounds like where it was recorded: in her house. There are interesting pieces of equipment used in innovative ways instead of the usual traditional and electronic instruments. But this album is intentionally not polished to a sheen.
For the audiophiles out there, this is a great album to play on a pair of Magnepans. You’ll feel like you’re right in the space where Apple recorded each song. Her songs won’t need the thumping bass or dynamic response of 30.7s, instead, the 0.7 will do just fine. In other words, no need to stream this album over to the room dedicated to your Wilson Audio WAMM Master Chronosonics.
Ending
Is hope part of Apple’s story on this album? I’m not sure if she even knows the answer to that question. It’s definitely an angry story. But out of anger sometimes comes hope. We’ll have to wait and see what she has in store for us next.
The important question for you: are you prepared to read Apple’s book several times? Yes, it’s one of those books. The type that requires effort from the listener.
For me, that’s a good thing.
Real Cole Johnston Score
4 Stars out of 5. Good storytelling.
Photo by Toa Heftiba