# Fiona Apple, Fetch the Bolt Cutters **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 20, 2020, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiona-apple-fetch-the-bolt-cutters/852190 "2020-04-20T14:11:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiona-apple-fetch-the-bolt-cutters/852190/1 "2020-04-20T14:11:30Z")
Anyone listen to this yet? Pitchfork gave it a rare 10. Some of the songs haven’t grown on me yet, but I really like a few of them. It sounds like nothing else out there right now. I don’t if some of the songs can even be played live. It sounds very improvised and written on the spot. The overall feeling of the album is very claustrophobic. Perfect album for the times. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiona-apple-fetch-the-bolt-cutters/852190/2 "2020-04-20T18:07:14Z")
I’ve never listened to much from her and checked it out now. No real strong reaction one way or another for me. It was nice to not listen to some overproduced pophit-dot-neuralnet output, but it was hard for me to settle in on it. I’m not sure I’d recognize a track if I heard one again next week. I’ve no idea why I like any particular music or not. ---
**Author:** ![road\_lobo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d78d45/32.png) [@road\_lobo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/road_lobo)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiona-apple-fetch-the-bolt-cutters/852190/3 "2020-04-20T18:46:59Z")
How can it not be played live? It’s jazz, pop, and “eccentric” vocalist. Drum kit, piano, double bass, organ. I like some of the music, but the lyrics/singing/rapping/scat really compel me to press stop. ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiona-apple-fetch-the-bolt-cutters/852190/4 "2020-04-20T18:59:51Z")
It’s growing on me in a way reminiscent of how my favorite albums tend to. It’s challenging and then slowly reveals a made sense. Plus, she’s really pissed off and that often informs good art. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiona-apple-fetch-the-bolt-cutters/852190/5 "2020-04-20T21:59:53Z")
> [@road\_lobo](#): > > How can it not be played live? It’s jazz, pop, and “eccentric” vocalist. > > Drum kit, piano, double bass, organ. > > I like some of the music, but the lyrics/singing/rapping/scat really compel me to press stop. A lot of the percussion is using random objects around her house. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiona-apple-fetch-the-bolt-cutters/852190/6 "2020-04-20T22:19:41Z")
Didn’t even know she put anything out. I heard something from her a few years ago and was impressed at how good she is/still is. I always liked her music and saw her in concert back in the 90’s. Seems like she’s still go it, which is good considering IIRC, she took a break for 10 or 15 years. ---
**Author:** ![Driver8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiona-apple-fetch-the-bolt-cutters/852190/7 "2020-04-21T00:02:47Z")
> [@Purd\_Werfect](#): > > It’s growing on me in a way reminiscent of how my favorite albums tend to. It’s challenging and then slowly reveals a made sense. Plus, she’s really pissed off and that often informs good art. This really resonated with me. I’ve never thought about it this way before but that totally matches my experience. Both with this specific album and the albums I’ve fell in love with in the past. So too early to tell for this one in particular, but it has gone down a promising road so far. I can’t quite understand or get into everything on the album, but I keep coming back to specific songs. If history is my guide that set of songs will change and expand and eventually encompass most if not all of the album. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiona-apple-fetch-the-bolt-cutters/852190/8 "2020-04-21T00:35:08Z")
I listened to the title track and thought it was quirky, kind of interesting, and moved on. An hour later it was still playing in my head, and now I’ve listened to the whole album multiple times and keep finding different songs that grab me. It defies description - I can’t say I love it, yet I can’t stop listening to it. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiona-apple-fetch-the-bolt-cutters/852190/9 "2020-04-21T00:56:18Z")
Obviously it will be album of the year. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiona-apple-fetch-the-bolt-cutters/852190/10 "2020-04-21T12:03:54Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > I listened to the title track and thought it was quirky, kind of interesting, and moved on. An hour later it was still playing in my head, and now I’ve listened to the whole album multiple times and keep finding different songs that grab me. It defies description - I can’t say I love it, yet I can’t stop listening to it. Yeah every time I listen to it, I hear new things. She is really one of a kind. And I absolutely love the line “Fetch the bolt cutters, I’ve been in here too long.” ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiona-apple-fetch-the-bolt-cutters/852190/11 "2020-04-21T20:16:39Z")
> [@Driver8](#): > > So too early to tell for this one in particular, but it has gone down a promising road so far. I can’t quite understand or get into everything on the album, but I keep coming back to specific songs. If history is my guide that set of songs will change and expand and eventually encompass most if not all of the album. Yeah, that’s how this one is going for me. It’s like building a relationship. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2020, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiona-apple-fetch-the-bolt-cutters/852190/12 "2020-04-21T21:57:28Z")
I can’t get past the minimalist production. It’s a step above a bootleg in audio quality. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiona-apple-fetch-the-bolt-cutters/852190/13 "2020-04-22T02:32:30Z")
I listened to it once through. I wasn’t really too moved, but I feel I had super high expectations. One thing that I really really didn’t like was the repetitiveness of lines. It’s one thing to do it on one or two songs, but every song was a loop of lyrics. It’s what bothers me most about modern rap, too. But, I’m giving it a second listen so it didn’t completely turn me off. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiona-apple-fetch-the-bolt-cutters/852190/14 "2020-04-22T02:47:33Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > I listened to the title track and thought it was quirky, kind of interesting, and moved on. An hour later it was still playing in my head, and now I’ve listened to the whole album multiple times and keep finding different songs that grab me. It defies description - I can’t say I love it, yet I can’t stop listening to it. This is about the same as my story, although now after easily a dozen listens, I’m totally hooked. All in. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiona-apple-fetch-the-bolt-cutters/852190/15 "2020-04-22T15:04:44Z")
Those of you that like this album, what are your favorite songs? Mine change every time I listen, but right now Shameika is the standout track for me. The song perfectly captures that middle school vibe and how some fleeting moment meant so much to you and stayed with you for your whole life, for better or worse. I also really like Heavy Balloon. It reminds me of the theme to The Affair that her fans will know she wrote. It could easily be about Allison. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiona-apple-fetch-the-bolt-cutters/852190/16 "2020-04-22T16:34:06Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > Those of you that like this album, what are your favorite songs? Mine change every time I listen, but right now Shameika is the standout track for me. The song perfectly captures that middle school vibe and how some fleeting moment meant so much to you and stayed with you for your whole life, for better or worse. > > I also really like Heavy Balloon. It reminds me of the theme to The Affair that her fans will know she wrote. It could easily be about Allison. I love Shameika as well. She talks in an interview about how she’s pretty sure Shameika has no idea who she is, and how a teacher found a picture of her and she looked somehow way nicer than she remembered. Interview reposted at Genius: > **[Fiona Apple – Shameika](https://genius.com/Fiona-apple-shameika-lyrics)** > > “Shameika” is the second song off Fiona Apple’s fifth album, Fetch the Bolt Cutters. > > The March 2020 New Yorker profile of Fiona Apple explains the inspiration behind this song: ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiona-apple-fetch-the-bolt-cutters/852190/17 "2020-04-22T18:58:28Z")
Not for me. ---
**Author:** ![Driver8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiona-apple-fetch-the-bolt-cutters/852190/18 "2020-04-22T22:56:59Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > Those of you that like this album, what are your favorite songs? My answer will change by the day (if not the hour). “Under the Table” was probably my “gateway drug” to this album, it felt maybe more conventionally melodic and accessible. But I’m finding I’m listening to “Rack of His” and “Heavy Balloon” quite a bit now. But most of the songs have grabbed me in some form now. There’s usually some sort of opening: like a specific refrain that I can’t get out my head that introduces me to the rest of the song.