i have to disagree. i think her second album grew incredibly stronger musically. while flatlining on lyrics, i still believe that the second album was better.

I don't know if you've ever had the misfortune of having your heart broken, but I guess that's what you need to have experienced to fully appreciate When the Pawn... I think it was beautifully written. At first, I only really liked a few tracks, but every once in a while, I'd play some of the others, and one by one, I realized the beauty in each of them. I am eagerly awaiting this 3rd album, and am starting to get angry about the pushbacks. Anyway, do listen to Pawn again, and consider all of the magician symbolism. Maybe you have to be a woman to understand...

I don't know if you've ever had the misfortune of having your heart broken, but I guess that's what you need to have experienced to fully appreciate When the Pawn... I think it was beautifully written. At first, I only really liked a few tracks, but every once in a while, I'd play some of the others, and one by one, I realized the beauty in each of them. I am eagerly awaiting this 3rd album, and am starting to get angry about the pushbacks. Anyway, do listen to Pawn again, and consider all of the magician symbolism. Maybe you have to be a woman to understand...

I am also looking forward to the new album. However I like the second one (Pawn) much more than the first (Tidal). It's mainly due to Jon Brion's increased presence I think, but I find it to be a much more mature album. Let's hope this third one is even better. (and it gets released).

heck no, her second album is the best by far. She has good songs in the first album, but the guy who mentioned job brion's increased presence is right. She benefitted so much from having more than a simple piano.

On the new record front, GODDANG!!!!!!! Please, sony, just release the damn thing. Pick a single, and i guarantee people will buy the whole album, me included. She shouldn't have her music shelved, and I think that's ridiculous

I am so pissed about this whole scenario! I can't beleive they might have Fiona's music shelved! She is such an amazing writter, her lyrics are so deep and so personal but you can just relate so well, both albums are awesome and Im sure the 3rd will be just as great!

for serious, WTP came out when i was a freshman in high school, now im done with my first year of college! im losing patience with sony. im surprised that a copy hasn't surfaced on the internet. but if one does, im still going to buy the album if it ever comes out. jon brion is brilliant and i am confidant that his work on the new fiona album will be nothing short of genious.

Oh DEAR. :-(

How silly can execs be? Just trust your artist and her fans!...

(Blog in Italian)

yeah, totally, brion's work is irreufatble, and , so far, so has hers. I really hope they jut dont think its a summer album, and release it early fall.

sophomore slump? get real. the first was (emphasis) better, though the second is much more musically rich and better thought-out. maybe you should study up on music arrangement, but she does all her own, and the second album is a feat of engineering and songwriting and i want a third like fat kids want cake. like legless nam vets want their leg back. that's it.

it's obvious that "when the Pawn...."
is much better than the first album!

Because of artistic nearsightedness like this, the music world will soon see a new kind of celebrity in emerge. A person has yet to become famous completely from the internet, but, with music companies the way they are, musicians with a fan base are going to bypass them. That would be nice--if we were actually getting the product the artist intended.

I can't believe this. If they shelve it I'll be pissed. I too think her 2nd album truly showed her talent...particularly her writing. You could tell it was from the heart.

i loved her first album, but i think i love the second one more. Now i have been waiting for about 4 years (since i heard she was working on a new one) for the third album to become my favorite. i think we've all been waiting so patiently for something we want so badly....what a waste to have it sit there! I think the suspension's been building long enough...i'm exhausted from waiting

hola.
so when did you say her 3rd discs is gonna hit us ?
eep.
love life

fiona apple is an incredibly brillant artist and i am outraged that epic keeps pushing the release date back and back. i have been anxiously awaiting a new album ever since "when the pawn..." was added to my cd collection. i have been a huge fan of hers ever since "tidal" came out and while i think her first cd is a classic and a tad better than the second i will love her music no matter what. she has been such an ispiration to me in really being able to relate to an artists lyrics and i think her arrangements are so moving and haunting at the same time. her first cd was released almost 10 years ago and im still listening to it all the time! thats when you know a great artists when you hear one. release the third one goddammit! i need my fiona fix.!

oh by the way i read in MTV magazine in the beginning of the summer that her new cd may be released this september and its called "extraordinary machine."
here's hoping...

keep your eyes peeled for a copy of her new one to surface on the net. that will happen eventually i'm sure. sony is lying about the single problem. they are delaying the record for other reasons that they won't share with us. something with her contract...money i'd bet is at the root of this, not the song to plug. they put these recordings in front of large numbers of qualified people long before it comes out. most of the time, the potential singles are known before they press record. in other words, get real. fiona and jon know what the hold up is. wish they could say. if they do say what's going on, it might never see the light of day.

this is the stupidest thing i ever heard, its ok to have no talent artists like the simpsons sisters who cant even sing!! but a true talent like fiona apple gets shelved the music industry is indeed a big joke!!!

I'm glad I'm not the only one getting irritated. When the Pawn was the best CD I've bought in years! Sony is losing all credibility. I wish the whole thing would leak...but moreso I wish they would just release it. Think of how this must make Fiona feel. She was reluctant to do a 3rd CD anyway from what I've read. This can't be helping her love the music industry. Maybe she should sign with Righteous Babe. The top exec over there would release the album I'm sure. Meanwhile, I am impatiently waiting.

I agree 137% with everyones comments. I have been waiting forever for a 3rd album and wish we were waiting on a 4th. Thank you Fiona Apple for everything you write.

i check back here almost daily and i would love to talk to someone who's posted a comment. if someone wants to chat my screename is ngbabyangel and im on AIM. hope i here from someone.

I cant wait to hear the third albulm too.........feels like we have been waiting forever.......

Although i have now heard her first song "extradary machine" - quite different

SONY--don't make me sic michael jackson
on your kids~!

i WILL BUY her album

now am i speaking your language?

I love her music, period.

"Extraordinary Machines"-
you can tell by the title it's gonna
be a good one

Fiona is a genius,
I don't care if her songs don't get
played on teh radio that much...

She's more interesting than any other
female performer

quit dickin' us around and give us
what we want, NOW

i agree with each of you.fiona is one of the few gifted musicians,especially in comparison to who's performing now.she's an immense genius who paints exactly what she wants with every note and lyric.a true artistic goddess.

Get that album off the shelves! I am calling Epic myself tomorrow to complain. Fiona is an artist and who gives a flying fuck if they can't decide which song to release as a single....that's a seriously stupid reason not to release a long-awaited album to the public...

yea, its about time.
We need Fiona. the suspense is killing her fans. Fuck the single, give us that record. Epic's image is crumbling due to ridiculous decisions like this.
thanks jackasses

WHEN THE PAWN IS A BEAUTIFUL ALBUM. An upgrade from the first. Although "Never Is a Promise", and "Shadowboxer" are undeniably masterpieces of torture and beauty, the second approaches different sides of her musical capabilites. It has what the first album offered and thensome. I'm sorry dude you're delusional.

HEY ANYONE WANT TO WRITE TO SONY AND PROTEST THIS. THEY WANT TO MAKWE HER POP STATUS. SHE NEEDS A NEW CONTRACT. ANYWAY I HAVE CONNECTIONS. FOLLOW ME.

I have also been wanting to write to Sony, i can't wait any longer for this album to be realeased. Her fans KNOW it's going to be an amazing album, who cares about the masses!?!?!?!?!?! They listen to garbage anyway and would not understand how much of a genius Fiona Apple is. Where can i send a letter??? I really would love to be involved, i'm a huge fan.

The first album was golden. The second album was INCREDIBLE. I question the sanity/intelligence of anyone who did not love that album. What a gem! Been waiting for the third one for way too long! If critics bash something, that usually means it's good!

Remember Boston? They took too long & missed their era.

I love her music, but if Fiona wanted to, she'd cooperate to get the album out. Elektra dumped half The Doors 3rd effort to include remakes of early demo tracks because the original material was weak. "Hello, I Love You" was one such replacement, and it hit #1 on Billboard. Aerosmith was sent back into the studio to redo an entire album. Hendrix wanted to roam into jazz fusion and the label kept him in check, and all three non-posthumous albums regularly make Top 100 album lists. From the Fiona tracks I've heard, I can't argue -- let's get something everyone can enjoy.

Do you think her third album can lose money? Ask Van Halen, once they dumped Roth and Hagar for what's-his-name for a less than 100K printing with NO radio play ... after a run of multi-platinum efforts. Van Halen 3 (not their third, BTW) took down an empire that survived far more than sound problems in concert halls.

There are plenty of reasons Sony might not want to light money on fire. If Fiona would agree to a re-contract and maybe an internet release, she could get the album out and retire. Maybe they figure she'll mature and get hungry. Many artists have retired again and again and again. If EM sits in limbo, this album will be as irrelevant as Boston's 4th effort.

If you don't know who Boston are, and you can't name any songs, you've proved my point.

I, too, am completely saddened by the fact that Sony won't release this album, for whatever reason! It's true: She's a stellar artist (I cover about 5 of her songs), but here's the catch: that does not mean she has to compromise her artistic integrity as the last post indicates. Yes, she probably signed a horrible record deal. She's getting screwed, I'd bet. It truly sucks. It would be a true loss to the public if this album doesn't get released (like Patty Griffin's Silver Bell) - but if Fiona stands tall, she might come through all of this with her dignity intact. She was RIGHT to condemn the industry: it's in a total state of insanity. I only need say one name: Ashlee Simpson. So, in fear of an industry that's full of those and has no room for artists unless they sell their souls to a record exec. who only wants to make money on them ANYWAY, I say, as much as it pains me, I'd rather not hear Fiona's album if it means she retains rights/integrity in the face of a truly sad music industry these days.
SUPPORT INDIE ARTISTS!! WE ARE THE WAVE OF YOUR MUSICAL FUTURE!

Oh yeah...I'm checking in with my friend at Sony, too...if I can, I'll let ya'll know what's goin' on...

Fiona Apple's new album "Extraordinary Machine" has been shelved by SONY because they say it doesn't have a single. Fionahaswings.com along with Yahoo! Group LOVE RIDDEN have come together to unite Fiona fans to help get her record released. If you are a fan of Fiona Apple or just a music fan who hates being told what you should listen to by corporate giants visit www.fionahaswings.com for information on helping the cause.

SONY THIS SHELVING OF APPLE'S CD IS LIKE BENCHING SHAQ B/C YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT NUMBER TO GIVE HIM ... COME ONE ALREADY!

Fan from Egypt (f/25/egypt)
I have been Fiona's fan from the day I heard "Criminal" for the first time. don't know whether it was the music, her captivating voice, or those intricate, complex lyrics that just said it all about a woman's feelings
but unlike many artists who disappear and you simply forget about their music and look at those old CDs as part of the paraphernalia of your adolescence...
I kept on thinking "where the heck is Fiona?" and now I discovered "Extraordinary Machine" and heard it
:-) ...it was like meeting an old friend you haven't seen for ages...God I miss her music...
Can't wait for the album to release!!!
so please whoever can do something...do it for christ's sake!

I am so damn mad. What the hell ? I want Fiona's love , I need her CD. I don't know what to do. She is amazing, the world is unfair, piece of shit.

I'm with the others here, When the Pawn is WAY better than Tidal. It just sucks me in and takes me on a wild ride all the way through. Every time I listen to it I find something new to marvel at.

I think that Fiona Apple is a tremendous talent. Both of her albums were great! It is unfortunate that SONY/EPIC cannot make a decision to release her third... Binding the artist - not good!

A. Fiona is a ridiculous talent. I am a hip hop JUNKIE who loves Fiona's style. My point I guess is that her music crosses barriers. They probably are begging her to go pop. More dancing, more boy(girl)band appeal....
B. The second was just as good if not better than the first. Last song on second is a masterpiece. Probably my 3rd favorite song of all time. Let her out. Release it as is so WE teh fans can be the judge of whom we love. The execs don't care about her music. Let us have it please....

Apple is definately incredible, but unfortunately her work's not commercially viable. I work in the music industry and I know even though most of my marketing managers hold her work in high esteem NONE of them would want to take on the daunting task of getting her noticed. And it sounds as though that's where the most recent hold up is.

Can't wait to get the album myself though! When you work with commercial noise everyday Apple's work's a real treat!

ALL the Extraordinary Machine tracks are now floating around the internet. Good luck in finding them. I have the album in CD quality, thanks to yousendit and hardcore Fiona fans. In case you're wondering, it's a wonderful album-- experimental and very lively.

Oh if Sony will release the album, I hope you buy it.

As for the this post, I disagree with what the writer said about WTP. I actually like When The Pawn.. better.

i went crazy again today.

give me the third album and be quick about it.

My perspective might be skewed because I am a musician and songwriter myself (and hence tend to unduly prize difficulty), but I feel certain that When the Pawn is one of the top 5 singer/songwriter albums of the past decade, and one could never have predicted that Apple was capable of it based upon Tidal, a roundly prosaic debut.

when i first heard extraordinary machine and better version of me, i went ehhhh and didn't wonder why they shelved it. now that ive heard it pretty much as a whole, i cant believe they did.

yes, it's a little different. yes, it almost sounds a little soundtracky in parts. but, it's really, really good. fiona has NEVER had the best voice. it comes through in a few parts, like the high notes of better version of me. the lyrics and the music beat just about everything recently released, though. "get him back" i could see being turned into a single.

i dont agree that fiona has to compromise the whole album to get them that "hit." however, i think she should recognize that the industry is often a game, and if you dont play, you sit on the bench. but who knos, maybe she made an effort to rerecord and they still didnt accept it.

And then people wonder why fans flock to the Internet for music...
My brother told me the other day about the new album and I went online immediately with my credit card in hand ready to purchase it...until I found out it's not even available yet. Release it!!! Fiona fans everywhere will buy it just as we have before. Of course her music is not 'mainstream'! Her voice, her lyrics and her passionate pianism are unique and beautiful -- which is what makes her so appealing to musical nonconformists who can apprecaite her style. Okay, so we're not the majority that love Jessica and Ashley -but there are many of us who will buy her cd! We already know we probably won't hear a single on the radio because Fiona is incapable of delivering cookie-cutter sound like most of the other junk played repeatedly throughout the day -- she is above Top-40 (I'd say damn near legendary!) -- that's why we buy her albums...get it?

Personally, I love Fiona Apple but I agree with singer from Smashing Pumpkins who said years ago that it is impossible to compete with the Britney Spears' of the world (even though I don't mind looking at the Spears or Aguileras personally).

I am sure Apple's album incredibly brilliant but cannot compete if MTV and radio stations do not play it.

That begs the question should she even compete with the Britney's of the world. I can't speak for Fiona of course, but I think she really has no interest in it. I see her being more along the lines of an Aimee Mann. She needs to get out from under the thumb of Sony/Epic to create her own label to distribute to her fans. The royalty costs are a lot higher and she wouldn't have to deal with crap like this. The major labels are slowly killing music. Artists need to move away from this model.

BTW, the new Fiona is brilliant. It's quirky, clever and like an eccentric Disney movie on PCP. I've got the full write up on my site if anyone is interested.

I loved Fiona's first album and I still prefer it to her second, but When The Pawn is still a damn fine record. In fact, I could go along with the argument that musically, it's a stronger album than her first one. I just slightly prefer the slow and haunting sound of the first.

Anyway, from what I've listened to, the third album is very good. It's a departure to some degree and it's certainly more experimental, but it's still damn good. I have the whole thing downloaded in good quality--I just need to listen to it more.

Sony should just release it. This not being able to find a single excuse is a bunch of crap. Guh. This is the kind of crap that gets people pissed off at labels and why I would love to see the music industry completely restructured. The system in place now needs to come tumbling down.

I'm thinking now perhaps I should give this disc a good couple listens and then put up a review.

I prefer the first album as well, Never is a Promise is my favorite.

Where did you hear the new album? Mark, I'll check our your site today.

A little while back I loaded up Salon's front page and their music column had a link to a zip file of the album and urged everyone to go grab it before it disappeared. So I obliged. Nice, quality 192k mp3s of the whole album. I'm very pleased to have it. Now if they'd just release the damn thing, I'd be happy to officially buy a copy.

Oh and by the by, I think Better Version of Me would work fine as a single. I'm sure it wouldn't be a huge hit, but I'm sure it could get some radio play. Fuck Sony.

Richard,
I got the album off the newsgroups several weeks ago. It sounds like finished CD quality. I'm sure you can find a copy on your favorite file-sharing network or do some searching on Google. Sites that are hosting it are popping up and getting shut down daily it seems. It's a bit hypocritical (don't know if that is exactly the right word) of Sony to not release it, but to draw up cease and desist orders on people hosting it on their sites on the web. Just release it, make money off of it then shut all the people down you want. We are just fans who want to hear the music - preferring to buy it but must have it in any form available.

Don't worry my dear Fiona, now a days to make money is more important than to make a masterpiece for the big "Dinosaurus" of the record labels. Your music is wonderful, your voice amazing and your lyrics are out of this planet to make us dream. Edit by your own to give light to your new son.

Well, being the person that I am, I have been following the fiasco for over a year now. I'm unsure as to whether we are any closer to hearing a released copy of the shelved Extraordinary Machine, but I do know that she has been recording the music video for her new single 'Parting Gift'. I do hope that the title is just that and not a way of say goodbye to the music industry. This new single is not on the original shelved disc. The new album, that is supposedly being produced by Brian Kehew should make it's entrance later this year. I have heard rumours of a dualdisc, which is of course music on one side and DVD on the other side. Not sure what's on the DVD side, but there is speculation that it's live footage from recent performances at Largo. So fingers crossed there is going to be something released before 2006.

Oh and to say that When The Pawn was disappointing is surely just lack of understanding. Fiona Apple is the most profound singer/songwriter ever, and you must keep listening, in order to 'get' it. When you get it, you will know. Good things take time.

when i first listened to "fast as you can" from fiona's second album i thought it was the best song and i had to have the CD. when i listened to it i thought it was the best CD ever. i just now started listening to her first and its great but i will always love "when the pawn" the best. i am so happy shes coming out finally with another album, and i hope i love it just as much as her other two, but im pissed that it took so long for it to come out.

Fiona is a doll.....thats all i gotta say about that

i loved When the Pawn alot more than the First...and it's such a fecking shame sony treats her like this...morons

she's wonder...give us the 3rd album

I think it's insane to believe that the second album was a "disappointment" if you're a fan of Fiona's first album (or any of them). That album was incredibally awesome (and still is of course). Every single Fiona Apple album gets a passing grade from me.

She is just an overall fantastic musician who is INCREDIBALLY underrated in the presence of wanna-be 'sex bomb' products I mean "musicians" (yeah right) such as Rihanna, Britney Spears, Ciara, and the like. But hey we all know what sells. And it isn't some waifish sullen white girl. :(