Fiona Apple - Tidal

Tidal is the debut album by Fiona Apple, a New York singer-songwriter-pianist who was 18 years old at the time of its 1996 release. Apple is obviously talented--she has a dark, smoky alto and a knack for an arresting turn of phrase--but she's still several years away from realizing her potential. For every fresh lyric she writes ("Daddy longlegs, I feel that I'm finally growing weary of waiting to be consumed by you"), she provides two examples of embarrassingly precious schoolgirl poetry ("Adagio breezes fill my skin with sudden red," from the same song, "The First Taste"). She also has yet to refine her moody piano chords into actual melodies, though "Shadowboxer" comes close. --Geoffrey Himes Amazon.com

The Apple of my iPod.

With her rich alto voice, talents on the piano, and poetic lyrics, Apple's 1996 debut album, Tidal, remains her best album yet, in my opinion. Rich in hit singles ("Shadowboxer," "Slow Like Honey," "Sleep to Dream," "The First Taste," "Criminal," and "Never Is a Promise"), the album also resulted in a Tidal-wave of controversary following Apple's fiery comments at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards and 1998 Grammy Awards ceremonies. "Gotta love that Sullen Girl," I thought to myself at the time, and my opinion hasn't changed. There's not a bad Apple in the bunch of album tracks on Tidal:

1. Sleep To Dream
2. Sullen Girl
3. Shadowboxer
4. Criminal
5. Slow Like Honey
6. The First Taste
7. Never Is A Promise
8. The Child Is Gone
9. Pale September
10. Carrion

G. Merritt
February 12, 2008

Apple Sauce

Have not heard much from Ms Apple except for radio play. Ordered three compact disks at once. Have been working my way thru them. Neither good or bad. Interesting production. January 12, 2008

Somberzzzz... .

Two great songs criminal and sleep to dream are great. the rest is somber and a little bit to coffee house for my taste. Great price and worth the money. January 3, 2008

Evocative

The lyrics to this music could easily be some of the best modern poetry of popular music. I really like some of the lines; for example, "he goes along just as a waterlily . . . gentle on the surface of his thoughts his body floats." Most of the lyrics possess this excellent poetic craftsmanship. They contain an inner meaning beyond their surface repose.

I also like the uneasy, moodiness of the music. It's lulling at times, but has a discordant air to it, mostly precipitated by minor keys -- which creates an off-balance accompaniment to the double-edged lyrics.

I am not sure why I decided to review this cd now -- but I have been listening to this music again recently, and was impressed by the fact that I still like it.

Last but not least, this cd wouldn't have been as impressive without the fine arrangements and musicians who helped Apple create this wonderful cd. The solo pianist on "Criminal" for example, doing that little cadenza-like arrangement at the end of the song, and the musicians on "First Taste" (which sort of reminds me of a Goblinesque work from a Dario Argento film for some reason), really bring Apple's ideas to life here. November 26, 2007

A Must Have

Fiona Apple is by far one of the most amazing artists of our time. Her 3 CD discography is needed in every music collection. July 5, 2007

More reviews at Amazon.com ...