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Track Listings
| 1. Every Single Night |
| 2. Daredevil |
| 3. Valentine |
| 4. Jonathan |
| 5. Left Alone |
| 6. Werewolf |
| 7. Periphery |
| 8. Regret |
| 9. Anything We Want |
| 10. Hot Knife |
Product Description
Product Description
The album's full title is 'The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do'.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Kenneth
Format:Audio CD
You gotta love Fiona apple! She's still uncomfortably honest, unapologetically confessional, continually in crisis and producing albums with the title length of a William Blake poem. She'll never change and thank goodness for that, because most importantly she's still able to make brilliant music out of all this neuroses. The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do is her stellar fourth studio album, that now easily secures her a place along side PJ Harvey, Cat Power and Bjork as one of the greatest female singer songwriters of the last twenty years. There's always been an undercurrent of darkness to Fiona's music in the past, but her enraged vocals and bleak minor chords are no longer in the periphery here, instead they're obtrusively planted right at the centre.
"Every single night" Whimsically guttural singing and playfully angst ridden lyrics shouldn't be too unfamiliar to Fiona Apple diehards but they may be a little suprised to find the sweet melodious instrumentation that normally accompanies them absent. A sparsely played piano, minimal glockenspiel and an aggresive vocal harmony is about all you can hear for the entirity of this song and as an opener it isn't a red herring for the rest of the album either. Most of these songs have a pared down dissonant quality to them and don't really lend themselves to being featured on commercial radio stations unlike her previous output (Extraordinary Machine especially). The ecclecticism that Fiona's quite renowned for is still to be found on this album though, it's just a little difficult to spot at first, with the angry singing and morose piano chords seemingly dominating every song.... Read more ›
"Every single night" Whimsically guttural singing and playfully angst ridden lyrics shouldn't be too unfamiliar to Fiona Apple diehards but they may be a little suprised to find the sweet melodious instrumentation that normally accompanies them absent. A sparsely played piano, minimal glockenspiel and an aggresive vocal harmony is about all you can hear for the entirity of this song and as an opener it isn't a red herring for the rest of the album either. Most of these songs have a pared down dissonant quality to them and don't really lend themselves to being featured on commercial radio stations unlike her previous output (Extraordinary Machine especially). The ecclecticism that Fiona's quite renowned for is still to be found on this album though, it's just a little difficult to spot at first, with the angry singing and morose piano chords seemingly dominating every song.... Read more ›
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Big Twink
Format:Audio CD
This Lp seems to divide opinion. I must admit that I hadn't heard a lot of Fiona Apple prior to hearing this, so I had no preconceived opinions. Once I heard the first two tracks I knew I had to buy it, it's easily in my top three albums of the year and probably my favourite. It's jazzy, sparse, groovy, intense and uncompromising on every level, but that doesn't mean it's hard work. I was surprised how quickly the grooves and melodies got under my skin, and the lyrics are some of the best you'll ever hear. A magnificient, tour de force of an album.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Jonathan C
Format:Audio CD
Fourth album from Fiona Apple is probably her most "difficult" sonically. If you are a long-standing Fiona fan then you will still appreciate one of the most gifted and intelligent artists in the world at work.
Album starts strongly with "Every Single Night" and "Valentine" but struggles to be as immediate later on, although ironically my favourite song here is track 6 ("Werewolf"). The album is a more sparse affair than some of Fiona Apple's previous efforts, focussing more on vocals, piano and light on percussion. To me it needs more of a "lighter" touch in places, (guitar or strings) to give contrast to the brutally and typically honest but downbeat subject matter of her lyrics. Album closer "Hot Knife" is upbeat though.
This is a VERY minor criticism as this is still an album you MUST own if you are a Fiona fan. However if you are new to her music and curious as to what the rest of us are so excited about, go for "Tidal" instead.
Album starts strongly with "Every Single Night" and "Valentine" but struggles to be as immediate later on, although ironically my favourite song here is track 6 ("Werewolf"). The album is a more sparse affair than some of Fiona Apple's previous efforts, focussing more on vocals, piano and light on percussion. To me it needs more of a "lighter" touch in places, (guitar or strings) to give contrast to the brutally and typically honest but downbeat subject matter of her lyrics. Album closer "Hot Knife" is upbeat though.
This is a VERY minor criticism as this is still an album you MUST own if you are a Fiona fan. However if you are new to her music and curious as to what the rest of us are so excited about, go for "Tidal" instead.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By JOHN
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am a big fan of Ms Apple, but I find this c.d. is self indulgent and more importantly not very tuneful, such a disappointment. She has been away for quite a while and perhaps should have stayed away longer and thought more about her "comeback". Sorry Fiona you should try harder.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By B. Almeida
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I had the standard edition of the album a month before the deluxe edition arrived. It is needless to say that this album is one of the best to be released this year, and I doubt there will be any other which can top this record. The lyrics are all very touching and relatable, whilst powerful and in-your-face. I cannot choose a favorite, they are all really good and go great together. I ordered the deluxe album because I am addicted to notebooks, and this idea of the design being done by Fiona herself, with handwritten lyrics and drawings, seemed very intimate and interesting. The two photographs that come together add an extra layer to this maximum experience of expression. The DVD that comes together is really good too, too bad there are only 5 live songs. It should have come with the music video of the single too. And Largo, the extra track of the iTunes edition, could have been included in the CD. Only small flaws to this beautifully crafted concept.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Fiona Apple is one of those artists who you remain instantly drawn towards as you are never too sure what she will do next. Her debut album "Tidal", released back in 1996, was very beautifully written with intelligent lyrics and well constructed melodies. Since then, her recordings have been much looser and more experimental but her new release "The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Screw..." takes Fiona's creativity to a totally new level of chaos.
The opener and lead single "Every Single Night" is a hypnotic and delicate song with subtle arrangements, clever vocals and a simple yet addictive chorus, quite similar to "Extraordinary Machine" from her previous album. The fantastic "Daredevil" is much darker, even macabre in places, and suits Fiona like a glove as she is able to portray her angst through this track. "Valentine" is much more subdued in comparison but retains Fiona's quirkiness and originality. "Jonathan", a chaotic Jazz influenced track with abrupt changes in melody and chords, is another brilliant composition. The manic "Left Alone" speeds up and slows down as soon as you adjust to each pace, so it still remains slightly misunderstood for me, but "Werewolf" and "Periphery" are more accessible and have well constructed melodies and a playful feel to them. "Periphery" has a very interesting melody combined with a rhythmic fast paced piano and lots of intermitent percussion sounds, making it another standout creation. "Regret" is quite angry and Fiona deliberately shouts her way through the track at various intervals, adding to the disturbing melody and arrangements of the song - again, I am not sure about this one. "Anything We Want" has a very infectious chorus and intimate lyrics which make it another highlight.... Read more ›
The opener and lead single "Every Single Night" is a hypnotic and delicate song with subtle arrangements, clever vocals and a simple yet addictive chorus, quite similar to "Extraordinary Machine" from her previous album. The fantastic "Daredevil" is much darker, even macabre in places, and suits Fiona like a glove as she is able to portray her angst through this track. "Valentine" is much more subdued in comparison but retains Fiona's quirkiness and originality. "Jonathan", a chaotic Jazz influenced track with abrupt changes in melody and chords, is another brilliant composition. The manic "Left Alone" speeds up and slows down as soon as you adjust to each pace, so it still remains slightly misunderstood for me, but "Werewolf" and "Periphery" are more accessible and have well constructed melodies and a playful feel to them. "Periphery" has a very interesting melody combined with a rhythmic fast paced piano and lots of intermitent percussion sounds, making it another standout creation. "Regret" is quite angry and Fiona deliberately shouts her way through the track at various intervals, adding to the disturbing melody and arrangements of the song - again, I am not sure about this one. "Anything We Want" has a very infectious chorus and intimate lyrics which make it another highlight.... Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
What's gone wrong?
I've been a fan of Apple's for a very long time - "Tidal" and "When the Pawn ..." are, to me, seminal works; incredibly strong writing, beautifully and sensitively produced. Read more
Published 20 days ago by E. W. Collier
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great album
To be honest, I didn't know any of Fiona Apple's music until the release of this album last year. I was working with a friend who was a big fan and they told me to check her out. Read more
Published 22 days ago by EJF
5.0 out of 5 stars
...with knobs on.
Fiona Apple - not a name I was too familiar with, but she has to be one of the coolest people on the planet. Read more
Published 1 month ago by P. Carrol
1.0 out of 5 stars
A masterclass in pretentious guff
It is pretentious, self-aggrandizing, vainglorious; I feel a tinge of sadness writing this harshly, but it begs to be said that this is not an album of anything remotely presenting... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Matt
5.0 out of 5 stars
good service
Product received within the stated time and it was in good sturdy packaging. was as described and my wife loved it!
Published 5 months ago by blondestrawboy
1.0 out of 5 stars
I guess she just fell in love and forgot the music
I am a huge Fiona A. fan, but I am so not convinced by this album. It's like she fell in love with someone and HAD to include him in the production, and the result is good for his... Read more
Published 9 months ago by smsdk
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing
Not only is this album OUTSTANDING just like the previous 2 but the packaging and presentation if this box set is beautiful & got a great deal with this seller. Read more
Published 10 months ago by iPad Fan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fiona Apple...A musical genius.
The music sounds average. Nothing catchy like When the Pawn or even Criminal has. None of the songs make any sense. Read more
Published 10 months ago by AS
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