REACTING to Fiona Apple's THE IDLER WHEEL

[@Evanmnm]

Fiona Apple’s The Idler Wheel is an absolute wonder, thanks for the recommendation to David over on www.patreon.com/Evanmnm

[@leaving_]

Fiona's best album and a tremendous achievement for music in general. Loved this reaction as always Evan!!

[@Evanmnm]

Thank you!!! I appreciate the support, I can see why it’s so loved!

[@leaving_]

Also - note on some points you made: On Valentine, I take the 'Pantomime' line to be a metaphor for the idea that she was so entirely devoted to this person that she expressed her love entirely through her actions - a point of active effort that he couldn't even pay attention to. And Jonathan, the backing sound you prodded over whether it was synth work or the like - it's actually a recording within a factory! I cannot remember what factory exactly but there are home recordings and the like scattered across the album all throughout! Hope this helps!!

[@Evanmnm]

Ohhh the pantomime line makes a lot more sense now and the album being recorded in non traditional settings like a factory would make sense as to a lot of the sounds heard in the backgrounds of many songs, I appreciate the added context, that only makes it all the more special :D

[@sunhitsthesky421]

It was a bottle factory. Here is a video of Fiona talking about. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmazZ5hupMeCras&ab_channel=FionaAppleRocks%5BFANACCOUNT%5D

[@Wungolioth]

I think what's so sad about that definition of Pantomime is that it's correct, but so erudite as to be unrelatable and frankly, just lazy in it's unhelpfulness. A pantomime is simply describing a concept through gesture, like when playing Charades, describing something or acting something out without using words.

[@hehehehehhe3867]

the chanting-like experimental song at the end is a segue into her next and most recent album (fetch the bolt cutters). you should definitely check it out next!

[@Evanmnm]

Amazing album too! I’ve skipped around her discography quite a lot. Thanks for the insight!!

[@cedricklunar7863]

also w werewolf during the end of the song where she repeats /nothing wrong when a song ends in a minor key/ THE BACKGROUND IS OF CHILDREN (MINORS) PLAYING AND LAUGHING. she is such a freaking genius

[@liteflightify]

Fiona ‘Fetch The Bolt Cutters’ and ‘The Idler Wheel…’ are two of the very best albums of the last twenty years. Fetch The Bolt Cutters is arguably her magnum opus. Fiona hasn’t made another album as pop polished as When The Pawn… and I doubt she will.

[@Evanmnm]

All three are damn near perfect albums too for completely different reasons! The fact she can have such a varying sound throughout her career like that while still staying extremely qualitive is a huge feat

[@liteflightify]

⁠@@Evanmnm Extraordinary Machine is also really good. But it’s more a transitional album. Still has some of the pop polish but hints towards the more experimental and raw percussion of her latter two albums. While ‘Fetch’ is like the crazier, more punk, more extroverted, more outward looking cousin of ‘The Idler Wheel…’. But yes, that trio of albums are fantastic and her best. Charley Drayton did the drums on this album and he also co-produced the album with Fiona. That line in “Valentine” just means that she showed her love in her actions rather than verbally.

[@Evanmnm]

@@liteflightify that added context helps a ton! I ended up doing some research into Charley Drayton later after first hearing this album as his drumming ability blew me away on this album and to realize he's been the drummer on many songs I've already heard before added to that suspense!

[@Evanmnm]

@@liteflightify Extraordinary Machine is also now the only album from Fiona Apple I am yet to hear but I might come around to it to finally seal off my journey through her discography and see how it ties into the rest of her work! Guess I'll have to see how your description applies in the music of that one :D

[@liteflightify]

@@EvanmnmAlso, “Hot Knife” is a freakin masterpiece, possibly the best song of Fiona’s career.

[@syntheticsilkwood2206]

This is my favorite album by her!

[@Evanmnm]

It’s an incredible one for sure! I had every song stuck in my head for like a week later 😅

[@sidhedanu]

I'm really enjoying this reaction, & I'm only as far as the pantomime question. Someone else addressed it, but an important point is that mimes do not speak. They tell stories through facial expressions and movement, sometimes using props. That definition you found was pretty shitty. To me this is saying she never voiced her love while showing it. Some other Fiona songs I recommend not found on albums: Dull Tool (reminds me of my ex husband), on a movie soundtrack Container & a cover of Whole of the Moon from a TV series Anything she's done with The Watkins Family Hour, shouted out in the song Largo - notably, a Tiny Desk Concert Singing I Want You, an Elvis Costello song, who accompanied her on guitar. Her most epic performance, imo. He covered I Know at the same event. She's also done some old songs like I Walk a Little Faster. Since you enjoy Fiona so much, I think you'd also enjoy Tori Amos. She has been playing piano since age 2 & attended the Peabody Conservatory from ages 5-11, when her scholarship was terminated for "musical insubordination". She didn't like to read sheet music & wanted to play rock music. Anyway, she's brilliant & has written hundreds of songs with a wide variety of sounds, & she has a unique way with metaphors (she calls it receiving songs from the Muses and filtering them through her own experiences). I recommend starting with Little Earthquakes, but don't neglect looking for the b-sides as they're usually better than the album songs, they just didn't fit or were too quirky for the executives. My personal favorite is Cooling. Oh yeah, and one of the greatest drummers ever, Matt Chamberlain, has played for both of them. Can't say if he played on this album or not.

[@Evanmnm]

Wow this is all so well put together, tysm for the insight on all this you’re amazing!! It’s always nice learning more about the creation process of the artists I love! Fiona Apple is amazing!

[@sidhedanu]

I just love to write, lol. Enjoy :)

[@Evanmnm]

@sidhedanu I appreciate it always! Thank you!!

[@mmumambientsounds-timers]

September 1977 I was born, September 1977 she was born. Across the world, twenty years later, I stumbled upon her, ever since, I feel connected by our age, her music, her anxiety, self esteem, morality, darkness, humour, OCD, politics… At this point I have to admit, despite other musicians having a profound effect, (Chris Cornell, Jeff Buckley, Tom Waits, Andy Sturmer, Thom Yorke, Joanna Newsom) none compare, she dips in and out of the eye, but she’s under my skin, I’d have to surgically remove her to ever forget. I know this may sound ridiculous but it’s my truth, I don’t obsess (too much) I don’t wish to meet her as I am an introvert and I believe she is too. Also, I have no love for owning a dog, I’ll leave that responsibility to others, I’d hate for Fiona to think I was sick for that. I’ve never put these thoughts down, communicated them, (especially to my loving wife, who obviously is way more important to me) but this is a relationship all of my own, a life journey

[@christopherwalsh3945]

I had a hard time with this album at first but I couldn’t put it down. With some time and revisits I love it. Her 5 albums are all great. They are all their own sets of work.

[@Evanmnm]

Fiona Apple is a wonder to music, she’s had such an impact on my music taste and life already, I can only imagine what she has had for others! Glad her music has resonated with you too!!

[@bulletfastspeed]

Largo is one of my favs on the album, def the better closer imo.

[@kamanuvidiluis3952]

Is your microphone a reference to No Love Deep Web?

[@Evanmnm]

Lol I wish I could say yes but I’ll never be able to unsee it now 😭