Fiona Apple has been releasing albums since 1996, and tends to wait 4 or 5 years between releasing another. Her music tends to be largely piano based, with minimalist percussion and her strong, biting vocals and lyrics.
While things certainly haven't changed much on "The Idler Wheel...", it doesn't change the fact that Fiona Apple sounds like her and only her, and this is a very good thing. Her song arrangements sound very similar to themselves, with odd timing and bouncy piano melodies, but I can't really compare it to any other artist.
That each track sounds a bit similar can make listening to this album get a bit tiring, though. With the exception of several really good lyrical moments, you won't find many surprises after hearing the first track. This is also her most stripped down sounding record, which may cut down on repeat listens looking for sections you might have overlooked, as they're probably just not there.
Despite that, there are some great songs on this albums. Opener "Every Single Night" is a joy to listen to, getting so minimalist at times that there's hardly any music at all. That sounds like it could be a negative thing, but it sets it apart and makes it sound different than most listening experiences you might be used to having.
"Jonathan" has a very dark, bitter sound to it, which is pretty interesting considering the lyrics in this track are probably some of the most positive Fiona really sings on this record. "Left Alone" also carries this dark sound, but pulls it along with some upbeat percussion and Fiona really letting loose for the first time up to that point in the record with her vocals.
"Anything We Want" is a really fun track with some percussion that sounds like someone is banging on beer mugs. "Hot Knife," the closing track, is also pretty interesting, with a low rumbling drum part and Fiona's multi-tracked vocals keeping you interested.
On the more negative side of things, the piano melody in "Valentine" isn't very interesting (or good, for that matter). "Werewolf" has some of my favorite lyrics on the album, but the songs melody sounds a bit silly and makes it hard for me to keep from skipping it. "Periphery" also suffers from sounding a little on the goofy side, like something you'd hear clowns dancing to in a circus.
"The Idler Wheel..." had a good probability of being a good record from the start, as all Fiona really had to do was keep doing what she's always done, and that's exactly what she did. It's ten mostly short tracks of odd timing and interesting piano melodies with a strong female vocalist and lyricist. I really enjoyed it as a whole, and get a certified "recommended" from me.
Rating: 84%
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