The Apples of my eye, these extraordinary machines.

"If you don't have a song to sing
You're ok
You know how to get along humming
If you don't have a date
Celebrate
Go out and sit on a lawn
And do nothing
-Cause it's just what you must do and
Nobody does it anymore."

Waltz (Better Than Fine)



Paper Bag, from her second album When The Pawn... introduced me to the world of Fiona Apple. I became a fan since. I should be ashamed though, for not being part of the FreeFiona campaign, a world-wide crusade to release her latest album Extraordinary Machine. I didn't even purchase an apple, or a sticker of an apple to be sent to Sony/Epic, Apple's evil profit-from-thrash-hip-hop-making corporate record company.

So this is how the story goes: The earlier version of Extraordinary Machine, which she co-produced with Jon Brion (who composed the beautiful, haunting music of the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and When The Pawn... "In short, if Willy Wonka made records, they'd sound like Jon Brion.") was shelved by Sony for being radio-unfriendly (read: not profit making). It leaked on the internet last year and immediately her fans got into action. The news spread and there she was, in her mum's Manhattan apartment, watching TV in her bathrobe with no day job. Her manager called. She cried. The rest, they say, is history. And now you get her gawddamned album.

I've read articles about Apple; about her childhood rape, her rise to popstardom with her magnetic angst-filled energy popular with the mass (think Alanis, pre-Ryan Reynolds, or post-Jagged Little Pill, for that matter.) back in the early 90s, to her infamous 'this world is bullshit!' speech at the '97 MTV VMA, to her many outbursts during her gigs, her breakdowns during photoshoots - you'd think she needs therapy and perhaps some Vicodin. She probably had. But I say do not let her misery-influenced history bound you to her music and beautiful poetry. Do not just be enthralled by her unique, husky voice - they all come together in such a beautiful collaboration.

Nonetheless, Extraordinary Machine showcases Apple in all her holy prowess. Only two tracks originally from the earlier version produced by Jon Brion made it here, the title track and the closing one (Waltz - Better Than Fine). Both are classic Jon-Brions, the hypnotic orchestra arrangement that clearly defines the 20s' and complete with Apple's weary vocals, she sound wise beyond her years. The other tracks fare pretty well, too. Re-arranged by Mike Elizondo, whose claim to fame would be working on Eminem and 50 cent's albums (!), there is a hint of hip-hoppop without compromising the Fiona Apple sound. Her honest words, the beautiful poetry, continue to be part of her ingenuity.



I wonder if the bloody corporate purgatory will ever release the original version of Extraordinary which I was surprised didn't come along with this version (instead, a DVD of her videos and performances are packed into this dual disc set; check out her infamous nervousness she try to hide during an unplugged session of the title track.). But I guess it makes it all the more mysterious, in some sense, the appeal sorta heightens.

Meanwhile, moving on to another Apple.





I finally purchased my Ipod!

It is an extraordinary machine no doubt, a pop phenomenon that I am proud to say I am a part of. I simply cannot live without it, not since the day the muthafucker who stole it and probably sold it to some Ahbeng in Malaysia who probably has EuRoDaNceBeStHITSfOrEvEr1999 in it. On repeat. I've been burning holes in my pocket every month by buying more Cds than ever. Not that this little baby didn't exactly burn a small hole, I will be starving on cornflakes and shalt cease to have a social life from now on till the next pay day.

I would have loved to review it but I shall leave it to the experts. I can only complain about the rather useless video function (which requires me to PURCHASE a software to transfer them to the Ipod. Bloody Steve Jobs. But thank God for BT. ;p)and the battery that didn't really live up to my expectations. I wonder if it is just my Ipod.

[earwax]: Fiona Apple - Waltz (Better than fine)