Extraordinary Machine

Amazon.com
Fiona Apple, brooding, brainy belter and capital-A artist of near forbidding depth, begins her much gossiped-over third CD on a lark. The title track, one of two songs produced by Jon Brion before the label dispute that prompted hip-hop producer Mike Elizondo (50 Cent, Eminem) to step in, sounds like a Judy Garland number slathered with irony or something Rufus Wainwright might have had a hand in--strings soar, beats bump around skittishly, and notes require a ladder. But playful as it is, by the time the chorus kicks in it's clear why the world has missed Fiona Apple so much. Young female artists who have stepped into the spotlight since she fled it six years ago-- Nellie McKay and Joss Stone spring to mind for their cleverness and heat, respectively--seem slight in comparison. With every track ticked off, in fact, Extraordinary Machine moves listeners a little closer to what might be a correct assumption: that everything they've dipped into since 1999's When the Pawn ... was filler. Fans will feel it especially on "O'Sailor," a gimlet-eyed lament, and "Tymps," a tight piano track with a tip of the hat to hip-hop. It's "Window," though, with its lyric about "a filthy pane of glass" fogging up a clear view, that sums up the experience of this CD best. "I had to break the window," Apple sings, smoky-voiced as ever. "It just had to be." With Extraordinary Machine, she shatters already sky-high expectations. -Tammy La Gorce

Extraordinary Machine,Fiona Apple,Sony,Adult Alternative Pop/Rock,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop,Singer/Songwriter,United States of America

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Extraordinary Machine

Average customer rating: I hate to say it but... Her Best. Amazing CD Beautiful Music Fabulous!

Extraordinary Machine Fiona Apple Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: When The Pawn... You Could Have It So Much Better Tidal Wildflower Confessions on a Dance Floor ASIN: B000B0WOEO Release Date: 2005-10-04

Tracks:

1. Extraordinary Machine
2. Get Him Back
3. O' Sailor
4. Better Version Of Me
5. Tymps (The Sick In The Head Song)
6. Parting Gift
7. Window
8. Oh Well
9. Please Please Please
10. Red Red Red
11. Not About Love
12. Waltz (Better Than Fine)

Amazon.com

Fiona Apple, brooding, brainy belter and capital-A artist of near forbidding depth, begins her much gossiped-over third CD on a lark. The title track, one of two songs produced by Jon Brion before the label dispute that prompted hip-hop producer Mike Elizondo (50 Cent, Eminem) to step in, sounds like a Judy Garland number slathered with irony or something Rufus Wainwright might have had a hand in--strings soar, beats bump around skittishly, and notes require a ladder. But playful as it is, by the time the chorus kicks in it's clear why the world has missed Fiona Apple so much. Young female artists who have stepped into the spotlight since she fled it six years ago-- Nellie McKay and Joss Stone spring to mind for their cleverness and heat, respectively--seem slight in comparison. With every track ticked off, in fact, Extraordinary Machine moves listeners a little closer to what might be a correct assumption: that everything they've dipped into since 1999's When the Pawn ... was filler. Fans will feel it especially on "O'Sailor," a gimlet-eyed lament, and "Tymps," a tight piano track with a tip of the hat to hip-hop. It's "Window," though, with its lyric about "a filthy pane of glass" fogging up a clear view, that sums up the experience of this CD best. "I had to break the window," Apple sings, smoky-voiced as ever. "It just had to be." With Extraordinary Machine, she shatters already sky-high expectations. -Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews:

I hate to say it but..........2007-07-13

...this album kills me! After several heartfelt attempts to like it, I eventually had to retire it to the depths of my CD cabinet. The fact that I truely find it to be impossible to listen to is devasting because I have so enjoyed Fiona for many years. The songs on this album are terribly depressing and musically I just don't find this work to be pretty or inspiring. I'm sorry Fiona, and I will always love you, but this album just didn't cut it for me.

Her Best........2007-06-28

If you loved Apple's first two albums, you may have a hard time liking this one. This one is very different from the others. It exists not on Apple's raw and simple singer-songwriter style that made her famous, but more of a bigger, vaster, more complex music ochestration. There is a shift, on this album. The focus moves away from her minor piano chords to synthesizers and handclaps and chimes and mandolins. The songs loose their classic verse-chorus-verse structure for something more like verse-bridge-chorus-verse-another bridge with crazy schizophrenic tempo changes ("Not About Love")and "hip-hop" beats ("Tymps [Sick in the head song]"). So brace yourself, it is a very big change. One that people are quick to write off as "trivial" or "sugary-pop", but they are just amateurs at Apple's work; the reason she is so amazing is that she can make music that seems too refined, too upbeat and shallow to be anything important. But then you listen to her voice and her lyrics and her chords and you realize that what apple is really doing is poking fun at her self. Deconstructing that seemingly airbrushed-rosy-cheeked image until you see that sharp shadowy figure of depth that lurks beneath that surface. This is what she does here, presenting a cleverly crafted marketing package that--on first listen--will sell copies. But, if you look close enough, you'll see that itching anguish that almost goes over your head. The woman is full of riddles.
And don't be fooled, fiona is still amazing.
Her voice takes on a solid, more mature tone in this album. Deep and rich and at times eerie.
And the lyrics are better than ever. She is witty, clever and concise; a goddess at rhyme who's lyrics possess a powerful sting in and of its simplicity; the kind that you have to read twice, three, four times to get. She is the sing-song Dorothy Parker of the 21st century. Brillant.
Highlight Lyrics inlude:
1. From "Window"---"I had to break the window/It just had to be/Better that i break the window/Then him, or her, or me."
2. From "Red Red Red"--"I don't understand about diamonds and why men buy them/Whats so impressive about a diamond?/Except the mining?
3. From "Parting Gift"--"Oh you silly, stupid past time of mine/You were always good for the rhyme.
4. From "Get Him Back"--"Wait till i get him back/He wont have a back to scratch.
This album is also perfectly balanced. A perfect combination of upbeat power songs ("Get Him Back, Tymps, Not About Love), gut-wrenching ballads (Oh Well, Red Red Red, and Parting Gift) along with some light fluety, fun tunes (Please Please Please, Waltz, Extraordinary Machine.)
In short, youd have to be a perfect fool not to buy this album. It is Fiona Apple's best yet. She has raised the bar yet again; vocally, lyrically, and melodically. This album goes from the margin to the center in terms of emotion, too. Screaming and growling and belting out whatever raw feelings that have been buried underneath, seeming to surface like a great big crashing wave that will completely smother you in its prescence.

Amazing CD.......2007-05-21

Great album. The music is amazing and so are the lyrics. I would easily consider this a must have. One of the best of 2005

Beautiful Music.......2007-05-14

This is such a beautiful CD in every way shape and form.
It is great to have her back and in such a wonderful way.
Very few words are needed to express the beauty of this effort.

Fabulous!.......2007-05-13

This is now one of my favorite albums of all time. Fiona does a brilliant job of songwriting in a variety of styles. She comes up with the catchiest melodies and hooks. Her lyrics are deep, well-written works of poetry that stand on their own.

Average customer rating: Fantastic, amused, Fiona... A sad sad decline a great follow-up to when the pawn... One of the best albums of all time A Highly Biased (but still arguably fair, right?) Review From an Avid Fan

Extraordinary Machine Fiona Apple Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Tidal When The Pawn... Somebody's Miracle Aerial You Could Have It So Much Better ASIN: B000B0WOF8 Release Date: 2005-10-04

Tracks:

1. Extraordinary Machine
2. Get Him Back
3. O' Sailor
4. Better Version Of Me
5. Tymps (The Sick In The Head Song)
6. Parting Gift
7. Window
8. Oh Well
9. Please Please Please
10. Red Red Red
11. Not About Love
12. Waltz (Better Than Fine)

Amazon.com

Fiona Apple, brooding, brainy belter and capital-A artist of near forbidding depth, begins her much gossiped-over third CD on a lark. The title track, one of two songs produced by Jon Brion before the label dispute that prompted hip-hop producer Mike Elizondo (50 Cent, Eminem) to step in, sounds like a Judy Garland number slathered with irony or something Rufus Wainwright might have had a hand in--strings soar, beats bump around skittishly, and notes require a ladder. But playful as it is, by the time the chorus kicks in it's clear why the world has missed Fiona Apple so much. Young female artists who have stepped into the spotlight since she fled it six years ago-- Nellie McKay and Joss Stone spring to mind for their cleverness and heat, respectively--seem slight in comparison. With every track ticked off, in fact, Extraordinary Machine moves listeners a little closer to what might be a correct assumption: that everything they've dipped into since 1999's When the Pawn ... was filler. Fans will feel it especially on "O'Sailor," a gimlet-eyed lament, and "Tymps," a tight piano track with a tip of the hat to hip-hop. It's "Window," though, with its lyric about "a filthy pane of glass" fogging up a clear view, that sums up the experience of this CD best. "I had to break the window," Apple sings, smoky-voiced as ever. "It just had to be." With Extraordinary Machine, she shatters already sky-high expectations. -Tammy La Gorce

Album Description

CD AUDIO SIDE: Entire Album

DVD SIDE * Entire album in Enhanced LPCM Stereo * Brand-new videos for "Not About Love" and "Parting Gift" (live), never before released * Live performances of 5 songs filmed at the club Largo in Los Angeles, including "Fast As You Can" and "Paper Bag" * Behind-the-scenes footage

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic, amused, Fiona..........2007-03-20

Musically pretty. Fiona has been experimenting with her own music, creating new sensations and illusions; this is just a step further.

A sad sad decline.......2007-03-11

Well it was an obvious path to musical collapse, she should have stopped at Tidal. If I'd been dating her for the talent she showed on her first CD I would have broken up with her over this piece of haggis. The course of the last three CD's drew a trendline right from stardom into a melodic pit. The lyrics on Extraordinary Machine were not only not up to their namesake but worse than the melodies. The number of great reviews on this site only go to prove once again the masses prefer pablum in lieu of something complex and cognitive.

Her original Cd with it's collection of diminished and augmented chords set to deep overlays of texturing, blended with truly poetic lyrics has been replaced with a distilled musical joke. What on earth gave her the impetus to try to go 'artsy' by experimenting with music predating the second world war I'll never know. It's obvious her angst is no longer producing art, rather it is being replaced with contrived resolution and the equivalent of a musical epitaph.

Eat it up people, it's all about not having to think. It's the kind of tripe that happens when someone is trying to hard to think of how to outdo their first brush stroke of genius and is confronted with musical block. Judging by the news her father is ruining her life and creativity as so often is the case in todays less than feminine half of the culture.

a great follow-up to when the pawn... .......2007-01-20

excellent record...
just like a great wine goes well with great food, this is an excellent follow-up to when the pawn (to me her masterpiece) ... listen to her previous album before this one to get the whole picture... excellent, very weird record... fiona is getting even more radical.. and shows she really is one of the best artists of the decade...

One of the best albums of all time.......2007-01-19

Ms. Apple's talent for consistently brilliant songwriting is staggering. This is a must-have for anyone fascinated by the blurry line between intellectual exploration and raw emotional experience.

A Highly Biased (but still arguably fair, right?) Review From an Avid Fan.......2006-10-20

I was showing up at stores weeks before this album came out asking if it had come out yet. Yep. I was that annoying girl tapping you on the shoulder and asking, "Well, when should I come back do you think?"

I'm all about Fiona Apple.

And I'm all about this album.

This was also the first dual disc I bought. It was a serious act of restraint on my part to wait for the dual disc to be available to me. I was VERY curious about this new fangled technology and wanted all the Apple my sorry buck could buy.

I was amply rewarded for my patience. The DVD components are spectacular. This disc was in my DVD player for several months. I'd rotate it out when I was going to watch a movie, but as soon as the movie was up, Fiona would be back in her place. I keep the jewel case on top of my television whereas all the lowly mere *music* discs are relegated to the top of my stereo. Oh yes. It's good. REALLY good.

The music is brilliant and broody and as lyrically lovely as ever.

"And it doesn't seem fair
that your wicked words should work in
holding me down
No, it doesn't seem right
to take information;
Given at close range;
For the gag, and the bind, and
ammunition round"

She's haunting and vulnerable and strong and moving and sincere and how can you *not* love her for it?

On the DVD side she covers seven songs in a small ill-lit club including a kick-arse rendition of "Fast as You Can" featuring Chris Thile from Nickel Creek on mandolin. Beautiful. I found myself wanting those songs on the CD side as well because they were so well done.

To all Fiona fans: how can you NOT have this album? Buy it. Fast. As. You. Can.

Average customer rating:

Extraordinary Machine Fiona Apple Manufacturer: Sony / Bmg Import ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Tidal ASIN: B000BH2TNI Release Date: 2005-10-28

Tracks:

1. Extraordinary Machine
2. Get Him Back
3. O' Sailor
4. Better Version of Me
5. Tymps (The Sick in the Head Song)
6. Parting Gift
7. Window
8. Oh Well
9. Please Please Please
10. Red Red Red
11. Not About Love
12. Waltz (Better Than Fine)

Album Details

Critically Acclaimed Fiona Apple Returns with her First Studio Recording in Five Years. Fiona Apple Established Herself as a Visionary Singer/Songwriter at the Age of Nineteen with her Debut Album Tidal in 1996. This Stunning Album Went on to Earn her a Grammy Award in 1998 for "Best Female Rock Vocal Performance" Establishing her as an Uncompromising and Original Artist Gaining Intensely Loyal Fans all Over the World. CD/PAL Dvd - Live Performance Footage.

Average customer rating:

Extraordinary Machine Fiona Apple Manufacturer: Sbme Import ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Alternative Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B000B9EX94 Release Date: 2005-10-31

Tracks:

1. Extraordinary MacHine
2. Get Him Back
3. O' Sailor
4. Better Version of Me
5. Tymps (The Sick in the Head Song)
6. Parting Gift
7. Window
8. Oh Well
9. Please Please Please
10. Red Red Red
11. Not About Love
12. Waltz (Better Than Fine)
13. Paper Bag [Live]
14. Extraordinary MacHine [Live]

Album Description

Japanese pressing includes 2 live bonus tracks 'Paper Bag' & 'Extraordinary Machine'. Fiona Apple is ending her curiously long hiatus from the business of making music. A year after 11 tracks were leaked onto the Internet, drawing praise from critics and fans, Epic Records announced that Apple's Extraordinary Machine will be released. It's been six years since Apple's last album, When the Pawn... was released in 1999. Since then, the young Grammy-winning singer has been treated to a deluxe serving of the frustrations of modern music: It isn't always easy to make beautiful songs, and creative control is a nebulous concept at best. Last year, Apple and the multitalented producer Jon Brion came up with a wonderfully complex construction of Brion's vision and Apple's voice. But after months of silence from Apple and Epic parent Sony on a release date, all 11 songs popped up on the Internet. The Internet had proved to be the most extraordinary machine of all. Moreover, the album was very good. Tracks titled 'Oh Sailor' and 'Please, Please, Please' ooze the same sullen sultriness that made Apple's debut album, Tidal, triple-platinum. The album now has 12 songs, produced by Mike Elizondo. One is new, and nine are reworked versions of leaked tracks.

Album Details

Japanese Edition of the Singer/Songwriter's 2005 Third Album Includes Two Tracks Not Found in Other Territories: Live Versions of "Paper Bag" and "Extraordinary Machine".

Average customer rating:

Galvanized Manufacturer: Pdog ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music Jazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music ASIN: B000CA73LW Release Date: 2004-12-14

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