Fiona Apple: When the Pawn

Fiona Apple is a girl who gets people excited. Some people adore her, others despise her, and still others just think she's hot. But regardless of your stance on this 22-year-old singer/songwriter, you have to admit she's got guts. When her debut, Tidal, appeared out of nowhere, she suddenly became nationally recognized as the 18-year-old waif with a voice huskier than most men and an affinity for writhing around naked in a bathtub. She accidentally stumbled upon the cruel world of celebrity blunders when she delivered her infamous "This world is bullshit" speech at the 1997 MTV Music Video Awards, and after suffering endless criticism from the press, she finally faded out of the public eye.

That is, of course, until her stunning When the Pawn shook up the boy-band infested music industry of late 1999. When the Pawn is more than worthy of its ambitious title, chock-full of the funky jazz Apple does so well and rich with gorgeous orchestration. In "Fast As You Can," the quirky first single which has gotten substantial radio play, she warns her significant other (perhaps Paul Thomas Anderson) that she is crazy; appropriately, the song jumps unexpectedly from a skittery dance beat to a heartfelt waltz. "Limp" makes use of an organic-sounding electronic drum track that accompanies her throaty voice and minimalist piano, getting a rock jumpstart at the end of every verse and then instantly dying away to nothing again. This schizophrenic pace, however, is by no means present throughout the whole album. In "Paper Bag," Apple sings a playful tune about unrequited hunger for a boy who is "a hopeless to be had," complete with a retro horn arrangement and the most clever lyrics heard all year. But the star of When the Pawn is "Love Ridden," a lush piano ballad reinforced by a juicy string arrangement and beautifully poetic lyrics set to an equally gorgeous melody.

Fiona Apple is not a little girl anymore, but she has got more guts than ever. When the Pawn mocks the notion of the sophomore slump and crowns Apple as an artist who is here to stay. In an era of corporately produced bubble-gum stars, it's a relief to see an artist using her talent to show the world how songwriting should be done. (Sony/Epic)

—Chuck Colman

Back to A&E...