Fiona Apple - When The Pawn...

I Had to Buy a Second One

This is the second time that I've purchased this album...I bought it the day that it was released back in 1999, and I finally wore that copy out a few weeks ago. While I love everything Fiona Apple puts out, this remains both my favorite CD of hers and of all time. This is one of those rare albums where every single song is amazing, and you can listen to it without having to touch your "skip track" button. While "Fast As You Can" was the biggest hit as a single, songs like "A Mistake" and "To Your Love" can only be described as Beatles-esque. "The Way Things Are," "Get Gone," and "I'll Know" are some of the (if not the) most insightful and thoughtful songs about being in an unsatisfying relationship that I've ever heard. Fiona weaves charming plays-on-words effortlessly into beautiful and vivid storytelling, all set to truly unique musical arrangements. February 8, 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

The Best Apple CD

I feel that this is the best of the three Fiona CDs. This is probably my most listened and most coveted CD, not just by Apple, but in general. She is an amazing singer/songwriter and this album is a display of that. You WILL NOT be disappointed by this purchase. July 5, 2007

Getting extraordinary

Disclaimer: I heard this one after Apple's 3rd, and latest, album - so, loving the cabaret touches added to Extraordinary Machine (and sharper songwriting), I was a bit let down by When The Pawn.

The formula is firmly in place, and it's a good one - PlasticOno piano, bitter recriminations, unpredictable metaphors, walloping beats, spooky Chamberlain and retro colors (usually on the coda). It's an intoxicating sound.

"On The Bound" offers classic aggressive Apple and "Get Gone" gets downright nasty, but my fave is "Paper Bag," with its vulnerable stance and super-startling hook, "Hunger hurts but starving works when it costs too much to love."

Her influence throughout pop music since the mid-90's is leviathan.
April 19, 2007

a modern classic

the best record i've heard in the past few years... awesome production... fiona at her best, great songs, great arrangements, great sound...
it puts her right there with my most favored classics... a modern day "abbey road".. can't stop listening to it... absolute masterpiece.a step up form the debut album... it actualy made me by all three fiona records... January 20, 2007

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