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Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine Audio CD

A fair review of the Fiona Apple "Extraordinary Machine" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Fiona Apple reviews here, or go back to the Fiona Apple tabs.

Fiona Apple Band: Fiona Apple
Title: Extraordinary Machine
Rating:
Release Date: 2005-10-28
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Extraordinary Machine 2: Get Him Back 3: O' Sailor 4: Better Version of Me 5: Tymps (The Sick in the Head Song) 6: Parting Gift 7: Window 8: Oh Well 9: Please Please Please 10: Red Red Red 11: Not About Love 12: Waltz (Better Than Fine)

Not At First, But Definitely Now
I have been in love with her melodies and inspiring lyrics. I've grown up to Fiona Apple's sounds.
When I first purchased "Extraordinary Machine" I nearly wrote it off as "trying too hard to adjust". But, with my love of Fiona's music, I put it in the cd player again. . . and again. . . and again. Now I am at the point where I can sing along with her.
This album is like her first, in that it has beautiful lyrics and interesting mixes of instruments- but it has more music, more sound, more instruments, and more "pop". Without knowing it was Ms Fiona, I may have described it as a bit "hip hop. " The beats are a bit odd, and her mix of her lovely vocals is almost quirky, but so amazing.
Give it another listen. You'll love it.


Now, I understand why there were problems getting this released...
Tidal is by far her best work; and, I bought this CD in hopes that she was back in full force. I've tried to like this album, but it is just painful to listen to. Unfortunately, the lyrics were very flat and uninspiring. The piano was the only saving grace for this CD. If I could give it a half star, I would.


Not her best, but still great.
The thing is that after 'When the Pawn. I don't know what happened during the record of this, but there's something missing. . . ', that was a masterpiece, I was expecting a great follow up.

The album lacks the power of her previous ones. Maybe Jon Brion's absence as the producer, I don't know. The highlights are the more direct songs like 'Window', 'Please Please Please' and 'Get Him Back'.

I hope she teams up with Brion again for a return to the glorious times!

.


Extraordinary Talent, Heavy on Dissonance
This combination alone singles her out as a rare talent. Fiona Apple writes uniquely and uses her phrasing skill to squeeze even more artistic juice from her work. She seems to be at her best when least encumbered by the addition of musical gimmicks like looping of instruments or clapping that appear on several tracks. The use of two different producers is evident in that the first song, Extraordinary Machine, and the last song, Waltz (Better Than Fine)were produced by Jon Brion using a straight-forward, ensemble instrumentation approach. These two songs showcase Apple's artistic skill without getting in her way. The rest of the CD is not as successful in this endeavor, but the production of Mike Elizando and Brian Kehew is not without merit. In this collection of songs, Apple expresses her many frustrations and observations about relationships. The music is often dissonant and choppy to match her emotions. It is here that the producers brought a strong attitude to the music and attempted to give weight to Apple's dissonance with a little hip hop production technique.

Given the subject matter and Fiona Apple's approach to it, this CD is not easy listening by any stretch of the imagination. It is, however, an emotionally effective expression by a gifted artist.


I certainly haven't been shopping for any new shoes.
A quite impressive album, though it falls a hair short of achieving the brilliance of 'When The Pawn. Fiona returns, and she is on fire. . . ' I prefer this over 'Tidal' which in itself is pretty spectacular as well. .


You can see a complete list of all Fiona Apple discography, or go back to the Fiona Apple tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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