Fiona Apple, Extraordinary Machine

OK, we all know the story by now that the Fiona Apple Extraordinary Machine album got leaked on the internet and it wasn't supposed to. Blah blah, yada yada. The album was technically unfinished or unpolished or something, but despite this mishap I loved the album. Well, let me restate that: I loved some aspects of the album.

I popped the album in, and I was immediately engrossed in Track One "Extraordinary Machine" because of its Fiona quirkiness and usual theater like style. The beginning plucking sounds and bouncy vocals match up perfectly with the lyrics, which are also eccentric. "I certainly haven't been shopping for any new shoes" is an unusual, yet typical way for Fiona to start off.

I basically fell asleep after this song, since the rest of the album sounded so similar to "When the Pawn", until I abruptly awoke when the last track - "Waltz (Better than Fine)" came on. "Waltz (Better than Fine)" is basically, a waltz - a tune you can dance to in timing. No, the song did not provoke me to stand up and dance, but it was an unprecedented sound for Fiona. Lyrically, Apple shines again for example; "Everyone else's goal's to get big headed. Why should I follow that beat being that I'm better than fine". The usual bitterness is expected from Fiona, but it elicits feelings of comfort, like eating ice cream when you are lonely or depressed.

Overall, the album is definitely worth a listen, but only the first song can really take the crown for "most unique".