# So what do \*you\* think of Fiona Apple's album? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 19, 2005, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-think-of-fiona-apples-album/300046 "2005-04-19T13:57:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-think-of-fiona-apples-album/300046/1 "2005-04-19T13:57:06Z")
I was reading [this _Slate_ article](http://slate.msn.com/id/2116932/) on Fiona Apple’s unreleased album, _Extraordinary Machine_, which was leaked onto the net sometime ago. The album was recorded almost two years ago but her label, Epic, has refused to release it, evidently feeling it isn’t commercial enough. The _Slate_ critic concurs: > [@](#): > > _ **From Slate:** > By turns whimsical and solemn, it’s full of topsy-turvy cabaret tunes, banging piano parts, and smart, sometimes clunky lyrics. The producer, Jon Brion, ornaments the songs with quirky, cinematic arrangements reminiscent of his soundtrack work on I Heart Huckabees and Punch-Drunk Love. In other words, Extraordinary Machine is just the sort of adventurous, critic-pleasing album that’s nearly impossible to sell to a mainstream audience._ For those of you who have heard the tracks, do you concur with this? I’ve never been a big Apple fan — she’s always struck me as a terrible narcissist — but this record won me over, and I think it could sell respectably, certainly enough to justify its release. I think either “Red Red Red” or “Get Him Back” would make a good lead-off single, with “Window” providing a solid follow-up. And the title song is terrific—maybe not a typical pop single, I admit, but still a really good song. Anyway, has anyone else heard these tracks? ---
**Author:** ![pokey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ebca7d/32.png) [@pokey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pokey)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-think-of-fiona-apples-album/300046/2 "2005-04-19T14:06:31Z")
I heard some of them, but you know it’s very hard to decide what you think only hearing something once. My impression was that it’s pretty much what I would have expected and it would grow on me. I like Fiona Apple, narcissism and all. I secretly think she’s refreshingly teen angsty. She appeals to my inner precocious 14-year old. I wish I could remember more about the songs. I just remember the bangy piano and that some lyrics were a bit embarassing. I’ve found her lyrics are often embarassing though. I do think the whole story of the CD not being released is weird and depressing though. Shocking. ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-think-of-fiona-apples-album/300046/3 "2005-04-19T15:17:07Z")
I listened through it once after reading about it on [Salon.com](http://Salon.com) - and hated it. Really couldn’t get in to any of it at all. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2005, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-think-of-fiona-apples-album/300046/4 "2005-04-19T16:25:06Z")
I really like the first song – which I don’t remember the name of and might not even be the first song in other people’s copies. I can’t find a track listing to get a hint either. ---
**Author:** ![threeorange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@threeorange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threeorange)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-think-of-fiona-apples-album/300046/5 "2005-04-20T09:56:48Z")
Where can the new album be heard? ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2005, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-think-of-fiona-apples-album/300046/6 "2005-04-20T23:42:29Z")
“Not About Love” is the song I like. **threeorange** : I don’t know where you can get the album, that can be mentioned here. ---
**Author:** ![threeorange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@threeorange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threeorange)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-think-of-fiona-apples-album/300046/7 "2005-04-21T09:52:36Z")
> [@SmackFu](#): > > “Not About Love” is the song I like. > > **threeorange** : I don’t know where you can get the album, that can be mentioned here. Thanx, I don’t want to get anyone in trouble. I’ll look around and see what I find. ---
**Author:** ![threeorange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@threeorange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threeorange)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2005, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-think-of-fiona-apples-album/300046/8 "2005-04-24T14:47:14Z")
I came across a copy of the album. 😉 I’ve always liked her songwriting, and she doesn’t disappoint here. Some of the songs seem a little unfinished, like demos, and the sound quality is a little off on some of them, but I’m sure the fininshed product would have been spectacular. Is there any way to get Sony to release this? ---
**Author:** ![slai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@slai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slai)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2005, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-you-think-of-fiona-apples-album/300046/9 "2005-04-24T17:43:18Z")
I really like it. I am big fan of her other two as well. Extraordinary Machine is fun to sing to. I’ve had it on repeat for a couple of weeks now.