Did Fiona Apple Just Release a Perfect Album?
Switched on Pop28 Apr 2020

Did Fiona Apple Just Release a Perfect Album?

Since 1996, Fiona Apple has only ever had one hit, “Criminal.” Nonetheless, every album she’s released has been nominated for a Grammy. Her newest work, Fetch The Bolt Cutters, has received near universal acclaim. Apple’s songs are simultaneously idiosyncratic and relatable, tackling unusual themes for pop songs: middle school bullies, uncomfortable dinner conversation, toxic masculinity and female friendship. Apple accompanies her idiosyncratic lyrics with homemade percussion and only minimal piano. The final product is on the borderline between crafted composition and impromptu improvisation. It is this duality which makes the work relatable and timeless. Her two song suite “I Want You To Love Me” and “Shameika” have connections to Beethoven, Yeats, and Patti Smith, which we break down in the first half. And listeners call in during the second half to share what moved them about the album. Songs Discussed Fiona Apple - Fast As You Can, Criminal, Under The Table, I Want You To Want Me, Shameika, Fetch The Bolt Cutters, Ladies, Heavy Balloon Beethoven - Moonlight Sonata Patti Smith - Gloria: In Excelsis Deo Van Morrison - Gloria Support explainer journalism — all things pop included — by making a contribution to Vox today: Visit bit.ly/givepodcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Avsnitt(525)

Country music is Mexican (Fuerza Regida and Grupo Frontera)

Country music is Mexican (Fuerza Regida and Grupo Frontera)

More often than not, country music is seen as an "American" genre – meaning that the music is seen as strictly from the United States. In some ways, that's true; but the genre's iconography, sound, an...

26 Juni 202532min

The Ballad of Lainey Wilson and Jessie Murph

The Ballad of Lainey Wilson and Jessie Murph

There's often an unspoken (and deeply misogynistic) rule on country music radio: never play two female artists back to back. In this episode of Switched On Pop's country week, we aim to do just that. ...

25 Juni 202528min

The hick hop renaissance (BigXthaPlug and Bailey Zimmerman)

The hick hop renaissance (BigXthaPlug and Bailey Zimmerman)

One of the biggest country hits of the year has been "All The Way," by Texas rapper BigXthaPlug and country rocker Bailey Zimmerman, which peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is a perfectl...

24 Juni 202535min

Is Morgan Wallen the problem with country music?

Is Morgan Wallen the problem with country music?

Country music stands at a crossroads between tradition and evolution, and no artist embodies this tension better than Morgan Wallen. His song "I'm the Problem" opens with beautiful bluegrass guitar be...

23 Juni 202535min

"Manchild" and other songs about male incompetence

"Manchild" and other songs about male incompetence

Looking for relationship advice? Skip the self-help books and turn to Sabrina Carpenter's latest single "Manchild" instead. This deep dive into the art of musical insults reveals how pop's newest sens...

17 Juni 202529min

Frankly, Sinatra still matters (with Seth MacFarlane)

Frankly, Sinatra still matters (with Seth MacFarlane)

What if the Chairman of the Board's biggest contribution to music wasn't his voice, but the blueprint he created for modern pop stardom? Frank Sinatra didn't just sing songs: he invented the concept a...

10 Juni 202548min

Is the future of pop...heavy metal?!

Is the future of pop...heavy metal?!

The UK outfit Sleep Token has done what we once thought impossible: Found commercial success playing heavy metal music in 2025 AD. Their fourth studio album, Even in Arcadia, went to number one on th...

3 Juni 202545min

Charli XCX threw this party 4 us

Charli XCX threw this party 4 us

Five years ago, Charli XCX released the track "party 4 u," a melancholic ode to throwing a function for that one specific person. Now, in 2025, the song has gotten a renewed life – motivated by a fool...

27 Maj 202538min

Populärt inom Nöje

mellan-himmel-och-jord-med-jlc
filip-fredrik-svarar
mardromsgasten
badfluence
dialogiskt
chilla-med-de-vet-du
mannen-utan-spar
fem-i-topp
schulman-show
rss-p3-musikdokumentar
gott-snack-med-fredrik-soderholm
hemma-hos-strage
skandal
karatefylla
rss-rockpodden
sexet
podme-bio-4
rss-bl-metal-podcast
hundaren-motgangspodden-av-tomas-andersson-wij
hollywood-love-stories-3