Customer Reviews

When the Pawn

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If I could give this album 10 stars I would. I wore this thing out when I first got it and still listen to it quite often. There isn't one song that I ever skip or don't like.

The thing that makes this album stand out for me is the writing. Her lyrics are so intelligent, but not so much that they take away from the likeability of the songs. It is refreshing that an artist takes the time to phrase things in a unique way instead of settling for the first thing that comes to them. Just a couple examples "My pretty mouth will frame the phrases that will disprove your faith in man", and "It's true, I do imbue my blue unto myself, I make it bitter" Nobody that I know of writes the way Fiona does. There may be others, but I haven't heard them.

While it is frustrating that there is so much time between her releases, I can live with it because she doesn't write for others, for fame, or even for her way of life. When she writes, it's because she has stuff to say. I, for one, am always ready to hear what that is.

Fiona Apple sounds great as usual. I bought the import because of the cover of The Beatles, "Across the Universe." She is amazing.

In many reviews, I see that we compare Apple's first CD to this one. We always come to the conclusion that her first is better because none of the songs on When the Pawn compared to Criminal.

And after much deliberation, I've decided that that theory is false. When the Pawn seems completely like the song Criminal, blended with the hauntingness of Shadowboxer, and with a deeper toned Fiona. The odd random little noises that make Criminal awesome appear over the entire album and her lyrics all seem so sexy in this naughty unsung way. Her piano demands attention in a way that we never heard in Tidal and her voice, husky and deep, seems to have forgotten the self-conciousness that clouded her first album and instead, speaks bravely and unabashedly. Something that, while listening to the CD, I can imagine myself doing though I might never do so.

This was a good album it took a few spins to really get into it but if you give a chance you'll like it...but it does have a different vibe than the 1st... but still a good "used" purchase.

Apple has a great voice and talent and proves that on "When the Pawn". This is a record you can listen to from start to finish and not be bored. Is it better than "Tidal"? No, but it isn't because of lack of trying on Apple's part. There doesn't seem to be any songs that stand out for me on "When the Pawn". It doesn't mean the songs are bad, but their not as memorable as the songs like "Criminal" from "Tidal". Get this record if you are an Apple fan, she doesn't disappoint.