Track Listing

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

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20730 in Music
• Released on: 1999-11-09
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced

Amazon.co.uk Review
In contrast to many of her faux-eccentric contemporaries, this wolf in waif's clothing seems to be genuinely astray in the straight world. Moreover, Fiona Apple is a real talent. When The Pawn picks up where her eye-opening debut, Tidal, left off. With Jon Brion back in the producer's seat, the twosome concoct a heady, keyboard-heavy soundscape that perfectly complements the singer's assertive, dangerously sexy Nina Simone-meets-Chrissie Hynde delivery. Unforeseen embellishments colour the arrangements, including the sinister carnival interlude in "On the Bound", the George Harrison-like guitar in "Mistake" and the drum solo in "Limp". All Brion's enhancements are in service of Apple, who comes through with preternaturally confident expressions of insecure sentiments ("Change my mind, I can't decide, there's too many variations to consider") and cold-eyed accounts of recrimination and self-recrimination. Cohesive, gutsy, and finely honed, When The Pawn pummels any notions of a sophomore slump. A character, yes, but what an artist, too! --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews

When the pawn becomes a queen
Fiona Apple returns in rare form in "When the Pawn..." (plus about ninety more words), her sophomore album -- and one of the rare ones that actually improves on the first. Her passionate bluesy-jazzy sound is blended with her strong, sensitive vocals and one soul-baring song after another.

"Hell don't know my fury." You said it, Fiona. Anger and melancholy permeate her songs, including the rage of "Limp" ("But no matter what I try/You'll beat me with your bitter lies") and the restrained quality of piano-bombast "The Way Things Are." Even the musically gentle "I Know" has a deep sadness, starting to move past some of the bitterness and anger coming before it, and early on Apple seems to apologize for her romantic shortcomings.

Female singer-songwriters are a dime a dozen today, but few of them do much more than set basic pop songs to acoustic guitar and piano. But Fiona Apple forges ahead with a noncomformist attitude and strong songs. In a nutshell, she comes across as an excellent musician, with all the power you'd expect from such a singer. And every song is a winner, gut-wrenching and beautiful in its intensity.

Musically, it has almost as much impact as her writing does. The music is often led by Apple's piano -- not tinkly piano, but dark, fast melodies that match her songs in rhythm and intensity. Percussion booms in songs like "Limp," as if giving vent to Apple's feelings. And cropping up from time to time are odd gurgles and squiggles, as well as some well-blended horn arrangements in the background.

Apple's voice is strong and assured, but it also has that rare quality of expressing vast amounts of emotion. Without, I might add, sounding overwrought. Which, since the mood is that of an Angry Young Woman, is a hard thing to pull off, but Apple's richly poetic lyrics ("And you can use my skin/to bury secrets in") make her songs seem intensely personal.

"When the Pawn..." is an almost exhausting experience -- just try listening to the whole thing without getting your heart rate up. From rotten lovers to personal pain, Fiona Apple explores the bitter side of love... and despite its bitterness, it's a gem.

Its well worth a listen.
Being a Tori Amos fan I thought I ought to check out Fiona Apple's music, as the two seem to go hand in hand. I was getting sick of angst ridden women such as Tori and Alanis, so I was just expecting another angry female with an 'I hate men' attitude. But I was wrong. This album has totally restored my faith in the role of women in popular music. This is a brilliant album by a very talented individual. 'On the Bound' and 'Limp' are definitely worth a listen, paying attention to the piano and the harmony on 'Limp', its sounds cool.

Oh oh oh oh THIS IS Amazing.....
I used to put this record on and sometimes i "fell asleep" into the album as original and fantastic it is. I don't think there are adjectives that translate my pleasure of listenning this album when for example compared to fiona's latest one. I think this is a pure diamond that she made. Amazing album for me, it creates so incredible fealings that i can't even describe, it's almost orgasmic..... Tracks like "Fast as you can" or "On the Bound" humm amazing......
Sorry for reapeating myself but i love it!