< Back to Index FIONA APPLE When The Pawn 1999 Fiona Apple When the Pawn hits the conflicts he thinks like a king What he knows throws the blows when he goes to the fight And he'll win the whole thing 'fore he enters the ring There's no body to batter when your mind is your might So when you go solo, you hold your own hand And remember that depth is the greatest of heights And if you know where you stand, then you know where to land And if you fall it won't matter, cuz you'll know that you're right (Clean Slate/Epic) Fiona Apple's Tidal was a perfect debut -- sufficiently polished and sophisticated in its songcraft and performances to override the temptation to dismiss her either as a pop tart or a nut. With that battle won -- and that achievement behind her – Apple and producer Jon Brion roughen up her sound on her sophomore outing. If the word "Tidal" is a pun on "title," the name of this album is a tidal in itself -- a cascade of words in retaliation against all the criticism Apple believes she had to endure. Of course, a 90-word album title is unlikely to convince anyone that you're not a flake. As usual with Apple, however, the music accomplishes that effectively – not that she's much in the mood to make apologies. "I've acquired quite a taste/For a well-made mistake," she sings, transforming her wild-child image into a point of pride. Brion girds Apple's elastic melodies with off-kilter beats, giving her music a more rhythmic feel than it has previously had, while the singer herself runs the spectrum of grim emotions: fear ("On the Bound"), anger ("Limp"), obsession ("Paper Bag"). When the Pawn … is not as immediately accessible as Tidal. It's a thornier, more challenging affair. But abandon any notions that Fiona Apple might be a flash in the pan – her fire is still burning hard. Exclusive Review from CDNOW Find music at Amazon.com! < Back to Index News I Health I Wellness I Exercise I Profiles I Business I Links I Women ROCK! Product Review I To the Point I Contact I Home Created by: Art Street Design Studio. © Concerning Women Communications, Inc. all rights reserved.