When the Pawn Hits the Conflicts He Thinks Like a King...

by Fiona Apple

Overview

Fiona Apple may have been grouped in with the other female singer/songwriters who dominated the pop charts in 1996 and 1997, but she stood out by virtue of her grand ambitions and considerable musical sophistication. Even though her 1996 debut Tidal occasionally was hampered by naivete, it showcased a gifted young artist in the process of finding her voice. Even so, the artistic leap between Tidal and its long-awaited 1999 sequel When the Pawn Hits... is startling. It's evident that not only have Apple's ambitions grown, so has her confidence -- few artists would open themselves up to the ridicule that comes with having a 90-word poem function as the full title, but that captures the fearless feeling of the record. Apple doesn't break from the jazzy pop of Tidal on Pawn, choosing instead to refine her sound and then expand its horizons. Although there are echoes of everything from Nina Simone to Aimee Mann on the record, it's not easy to spot specific influences, because this is truly an individual work. As a songwriter, she balances her words and melodies skillfully, no longer sounding self-conscious as she crafts highly personal, slightly cryptic songs that never sound precocious or insular. With producer Jon Brion, she created the ideal arrangements for these idiosyncratic songs, finding a multi-layered sound that's simultaneously elegant and carnival-esque. As a result, Pawn is immediately grabbing, and instead of fading upon further plays, it reveals more with each listen, whether it's a lyrical turn of phrase or an unexpected twist in the arrangement; what's more, Apple has made it as rich emotionally as it is musically. That's quite a feat for any album, but it's doubly impressive since it is only the second effort by a musician who is only 22 years old. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	11/09/1999
Label:	Bmg / Sony Music
UPC:	0886978870629

Tracks

1. On The Bound
2. To Your Love
3. Limp
4. Love Ridden
5. Paper Bag
6. A Mistake
7. Fast As You Can
8. The Way Things Are
9. Get Gone
10. I Know

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Fiona Apple   Primary Artist,Vocals,Piano
Jon Brion   Guest Artist,Multi Instruments
Butch   Guest Artist
Mike Breaux   Woodwind
Berj Garabedian   Violin
Robert Becker   Viola
Susan Chatman   Violin
Paula Hochhalter   Cello
Suzie Katayama   Cello
Peter Kent   Violin
Maria Newman   Viola
Greg Cohen   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Charlie Bisharat   Violin
Jim Keltner   Drums
Butch Norton   Drums,Percussion
Paula Hochalter   Cello
Denyse Buffman   Viola
Eve Butler   Violin
John Noreyko   Horn
Gerardo Hilera   Violin
Scott Haupert   Viola
Michele Richards   Violin
Jean Marinelli   Horn
Edmund Stein   Violin
Paul Loredo   Horn
Patrick Warren   Keyboards,Wurlitzer,Chamberlin,Synthesizer,Piano (Electric)
Larry Corbett   Cello
Armen Garabedian   Violin
Brian Leonard   Violin
Matt Chamberlain   Drums,Percussion
Mike Elizondo   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Denyse Buffum   Viola
John Wittenberg   Violin
Robert Peterson   Violin
Daniel Smith   Cello
Tom Biller   Guitar,Synthesizer
Wendell Kelly   Horn

Technical Credits

John Bainbridge   Orchestration,Arranger
Mike Breaux   Musician
Fiona Apple   Composer,Cover Art Concept,Design
Greg Collins   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
John Tyree   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Rob Brill   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Rich Costey   Mixing,Engineer,Programming,Mixing Engineer
Steve Mixdorf   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Eddy Scheyer   Mastering
Tom Banghart   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Bryan Jackson   Assistant Engineer
Valerie Pack   Production Coordination
Randy Brion   Arranger
Paul McCartney   Composer
John Lennon   Composer
Jon Brion   Mixing,Producer,Mixing Engineer