Gasp! She's back!
After a seemingly eternal break (which in actuality was six years), Fiona Apple has finally returned with her release Extraordinary Machine, an album that had garnered much controversy before it was even released. The original version of the CD was finished around a year or so ago and was produced by Jon Brion (who has worked with her on most of her previous projects). However, her record label, Epic, found that the album was completely unmarketable and thus shelved it. It would turn out that Fiona herself was admittedly unhappy with the final result of the album, and after her fans pressed for the records release, Fiona returned to the studio to retool the album this time with producer Mike Elizondo (who has previously worked with Eminem, 50 Cent, Gwen Stefani and others). The completed final version of that album is what has finally been released as of a couple weeks ago; having only two holdovers from the Jon Brion produced version, the title track and "Waltz (Better Than Fine)." Outside of those two tracks, Jon Brion's dark and edgy orchestral-led productions are all but gone, replaced with a much cleaner and less opaque instrumentals. Which album is better is certainly going to depend on your point of view, but even as a dedicated Fiona Apple fan, it seems that the Jon Brion version was essentially too dense for it's own good, but I think a retooling with the original producer Jon Brion would've been slightly more beneficial than trying to take the songs and refocusing them with a new producer. I say this only because there are moments where the production doesn't really seem to fit Fiona Apple's style, such as the percussive happy "Tymps (The Sick in the Head Song)." There are really solid moments on this cd though, such as the track "Get Him Back," which far exceeds the original version, and lyrically Fiona Apple hasn't lost a step, from her playful musings on the aforementioned opening title track, and the solemn and passionate "Parting Gift." While overall this isn't a bad album by any means, it appears to be missing something, as this album doesn't have the consistently engaging musicianship that her previous albums featured. So, die-hard Fiona fans be warned, although given it's been half a dozen years since she's done anything at all, you'll probably just be satisfied that she's released an album at all.
★★★★
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