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CRITIC REVIEWS
100
The Idler Wheel… is an innately private record, as Apple’s tend to be, but she has a way of drawing listeners in as she pushes them away, luring them, siren-like, into the maelstrom of her own reflection.
100
You have to give yourself over to The Idler Wheel in a way you probably haven’t done since you were a kid, before jobs and other adult responsibilities claimed the long hours you spent curled up by your stereo speakers. It isn’t easy listening. But it’s worth it.
90
Apple has quite cleverly developed musically in just the right way, creating something utterly distinct and different to her earlier work whilst still retaining all the characteristics that won fans over to begin with.
90
The Idler Wheel's spareness does lend it an insular loneliness, one that's divorced from the outside world while also being intimately in-tune with its basic realities.
90
The Idler Wheel succeeds in creating a singular world more daring than any of Apple’s previous records and one of the most daring pop records in recent history.
90
The sparse, even unprompted production only makes it richer, resulting in a fascinating unanimity of piano and voice that turns more involving with every clink, clatter, and clap.
84
Few vocalists can erase the distance between performer and listener as shrewdly as Apple can, and that toggle gives The Idler Wheel its strange power.
83
Since there’s so little to grab onto, The Idler Wheel might be better understood as an emotional statement rather than a musical one.
80
The tension created by the lyrics and music is wonderful and uneasy, ensuring that ‘The Idler…’ is endlessly fascinating and unlike anything else you’re likely to hear this year.
80
The Idler Wheel… is her most adult work yet, a record that’s underpinned by the fundamental grown-up characteristic of embracing one’s own ridiculous, stubborn dysfunction because, Hell, what other option is there?
60
Whipping Cords seems to require far too many listens to really reach that ‘viola!’ moment—sure to result in exhausted listeners who try desperately to love the record as much as they think they should
Fiona Apple is someone who's music i am not familiar with at all. i had very little to expect when coming into The Idler Wheel, other than general hope that i'd enjoy it. and wouldnt you know it, i do! i enjoy this album a lot! now this isnt normally the kind of music i listen to or review often, as usually singer-songwriter kinda folkier pop stuff just isnt my cup of tea. my ADHD attention span just cant fuckin pay attention long enough to appreciate a lot of slower, more ... read more
The Proper 100 Followers Milestone Review
300th Rating
“The way I feel about music is that there is no right and wrong. Only true and false.”
Fiona Apple McAfee-Maggart is indubitably one of the greatest singer-songwriters of the past three decades. Her enticing brand of art/baroque pop has produced some of the most essential records in the genre and her nigh-unparalleled artistic vision has pushed the genre ... read more
300th Rating
“The way I feel about music is that there is no right and wrong. Only true and false.”
Fiona Apple McAfee-Maggart is indubitably one of the greatest singer-songwriters of the past three decades. Her enticing brand of art/baroque pop has produced some of the most essential records in the genre and her nigh-unparalleled artistic vision has pushed the genre ... read more
When I think of musicians I admire the most, Fiona Apple immediately comes to mind. Since the age of seventeen, spanning four albums across twenty years, we've seen a young Fiona blossom into adulthood. Her music serving more as a continuation to each other as supposed to a the usual "follow up" in some aspects. Continuingly sharing and even admitting to her trauma, highs, lows, flaws and even just the petrifying thoughts that dwindle and keep her up late at night. So many artists ... read more
Don't let the stripped-down nature of this album fool you. There is so, so much going on throughout this record.
There are only a few pieces to this record. You have the light percussion, the sparse sounds that are lightly sprinkled throughout the production and the ever present piano played across tracks.
And then you have Apple's voice. The focus on the voice her inevitably leads to something powerful; this project is a perfect example of just how powerful a voice can be when used as an ... read more
There are only a few pieces to this record. You have the light percussion, the sparse sounds that are lightly sprinkled throughout the production and the ever present piano played across tracks.
And then you have Apple's voice. The focus on the voice her inevitably leads to something powerful; this project is a perfect example of just how powerful a voice can be when used as an ... read more
One of those albums that I loved first listen, an instant classic for me. Valentine is a bloody masterpiece
consequenceofsound.net
Fiona Apple Confirms Her New Album Is Finished 
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Year End Lists
| #1 | / | Pretty Much Amazing |
| #1 | / | Spinner |
| #1 | / | Stereogum |
| #1 | / | TIME |
| #2 | / | Consequence of Sound |
| #2 | / | Entertainment Weekly |
| #3 | / | AllMusic |
| #3 | / | Pazz & Jop |
| #3 | / | Pitchfork |
| #3 | / | PopMatters |
More Lists
Decade Lists
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MISC LISTS
| #6 | / | Drowned in Sound |
| #8 | / | Pitchfork Readers |
| #10 | / | Pitchfork (2010-2014) |
| #61 | / | FACT Magazine (2010-2014) |
| #100 | / | The Guardian (21st Century) |
More Lists
Track List
- Every Single Night
- Daredevil
- Valentine
- Jonathan
- Left Alone
- Werewolf
- Periphery
- Regret
- Anything We Want
- Hot Knife
Added on: April 2, 2012