As I listened to Fiona Apple’s unreleased album Extraordinary Machine, I pictured Fiona, face heavily painted, alternately banging on trashcan lids, playing an accordion and the armpit fart, while a monkey scampered about her feet, dressed in a marching band suit, playing an organ grinder.
It’s Fiona gone vaudeville. Or a western saloon.
Extraordinary Machine was reportedly shelved by Fiona’s record label Sony since late 2003 because it had been deemed ‘uncommercial.’ I guess when they were thinking ‘surefire hit,’ they were thinking Mariah Carey’s Charmbracelet. I think this proves that you can’t predict what the public will like, because the only thing different about Charmbracelet and any of its predecessors is Mariah’s increasingly trampy outfits.
A fan, desperate to get Extraordinary Machine released, started the Free Fiona campaign, hoping to pressure Sony to release it. It’s an uphill battle of biblical proportions, like the David vs Liza Minnelli-Gest divorce proceedings.
Fortunately, the whole album was leaked to the internet in March, purportedly by Fiona’s camp. Fans had been buzzing about how amazing it was.
Like everyone else, I started trying to find sources where I could download it, but Sony had shut down many sites which had provided it. It was just by luck that I happened on a fellow Blogcritic who had posted a high quality rip of the album for a very short time.
I wasn’t really sure what to think about the album. The only other time I’ve heard anything like this was when Barbra Streisand sang "The World Is a Concerto/Make Your Own Kind of Music," accompanied by an orchestra made up of strings, horns and household appliances. Barbra, in a long satin white gown with long sleeves and a bouffant, sang her heart out while typewriters, vacuum cleaners and blenders all clacked and whirred along. Yes, it was that gay. Throw a Pucci apron on her and she’s your average domestic goddess.
Many of the fan-created CD cover artwork had been very literal: robotic Fiona, Franken-Fiona, Fiona-and-a-rotisserie-oven (appliances again). But no, the album isn’t electronica or Nine Inch Nails; it’s more like Fiona meets Tin Pan Alley, emphasis on the tin pans.
Article comments
1 - Mark Saleski
i think it's a great album...the record company is out of their 'effin mind.
2 - Mark Saleski
i think it's a great album...the record company is out of their 'effin mind.
3 - Mark Saleski
i think it's a great album...the record company is out of their 'effin mind.
4 - Mark Saleski
i think this is a great album.
the record label is out of their 'effin mind.
5 - Marc
No Milk, glad you were able to pick up the album. Thanks for a well articulated review from the other side. My recommendation is to give it another listen. I hated it @ first listen too. But after 3 or 4 spins, I couldn't stop playing it. I think it's her best album.
6 - No MIlk
Fiona is crazy, but I love her. I DO think that the album got better as I listened to it more. I have been listening to it since I downloaded it from you, Marc. It's a very good album, but it's not as listenable as "When The Pawn..." I think that everybody to give a good listen, expecting to hate it at first.
Thanks, Marc.
Eric, did you publish this? I had it in draft mode because I was still editing it. Anyway, too late now.
7 - chelseagirl
Interesting to hear, but I am realy surprised at your reaction.
Do you not think that "OH, Sailor" and "Oh, Well" are very like the old, torchy Fiona from "Tidal"? But mor emature, more accomplished lyricaly.
Yeah, true there are chimes and discordant sounds but I think they support the lyrics.
Also, from what they said in interviews in 2002 or so, Jon and Fiona made these instrumental arrangements together this time. It wasn't a case of Jon overdubbing after she was done (as with When the Pawn). in fact the vocals to the title track were performed in studio in front of the orchestra.
8 - Oldtown
Fiona Rocks! This album is weird but so am I!
9 - DJRadiohead
I would love to hear the album. I really liked both of her other discs. I wish Sony would just drop her if they don't want to deal with her weirder tendencies. Let her go indie and release the record.
10 - ajulian
Your review should have covered more of her songs. There's something about "Waltz." It is an enjoyable album. Moody. Cool.
11 - No Milk
yeah, "Waltz" reminded me of a western saloon with fiona in marabou feathers playing honky tonk piano. i didn't review each song because i'm not one to dissect every single thing about an album. i approach it in a wholistic point of view and call out features as i see them.
however, i do enjoy reviews where people do a blow-by-blow of the songs and how they interpret them. maybe you can write one? :)
12 - Haus
Fiona Rocks. Gotta get this CD!
13 - fionappleisthebest
yeah, i'm just uber glad that it got out there. the stuff execs try to pass off as 'music' is such crap nowadays, such a sickening system. No Milk: i really enjoyed reading your take and agreed with parts. i definitely think it takes a couple listens to appreciate the work(especially, i found for "window"). i wonder what kind of contract she's under concerning the number of albums she's held to create. there's no room for anything that can't instantly be categorized when some kid hears it on the radio. people are hungry for change, hungry for better music - more than your average ditty. fiona brings it.