Fiona Apple – Fetch The Bolt Cutters / Epic Audio CD 2020 / 19439774432
UPC 194397744323
Fetch the Bolt Cutters is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Fiona Apple. It was released on April 17, 2020, Apple's first release since The Idler Wheel... in 2012. The album was recorded from 2015 to 2020, largely at Apple's home in Venice Beach. It was produced and performed by Apple alongside Amy Aileen Wood, Sebastian Steinberg and Davíd Garza; recording consisted of long, often improvised takes with unconventional percussive sounds. GarageBand was used for much of this recording, and Apple credited the album's unedited vocals and long takes to her lack of expertise with the program.
Rooted in experimentation, the album largely features unconventional percussion. While conventional instruments, such as pianos and drum sets, do appear, the album also features prominent use of non-musical found objects as percussion. Apple described the result as "percussion orchestras". These industrial-like rhythms are contrasted against traditional melodies, and the upbeat songs often subvert traditional pop structures.
The album explores freedom from oppression; Apple identified its core message as: "Fetch the fucking bolt cutters and get yourself out of the situation you're in". The title, a quote from TV series The Fall, reflects this idea. The album also discusses Apple's complex relationships with other women and other personal experiences, including bullying and sexual assault. It has nevertheless been referred to as Apple's most humorous album.
Fetch the Bolt Cutters was released during the COVID-19 pandemic, and many critics found its exploration of confinement timely. It received significant critical acclaim, and was described as an instant classic and Apple's best work to date. The album was awarded Best Alternative Music Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, with "Shameika" winning Best Rock Performance. The album debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200 and number one on the US Top Alternative Albums and Top Rock Albums, with 44,000 equivalent album units. It also charted in the top 15 in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Label: Epic – 19439774432
Genre: Rock, Pop, Folk, World, & Country
Style: Experimental, Art Rock, Alternative Rock, Indie Pop
Tracklist:
1
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I Want You To Love Me
Bass, Drums – Sebastian Steinberg
Drums – Amy Aileen Wood
Engineer – Amy Aileen Wood, John Would
Mixed By – Dave Way
Vocals, Piano, Electronic Drums [Casio Drums] – Fiona Apple
Written-By – Fiona Apple
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3:58
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| 2 |
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Shameika
Bass, Percussion, Handclaps [Claps] – Sebastian Steinberg
Drums, Percussion, Handclaps [Claps] – Amy Aileen Wood
Effects [Special Effects] – Bobb Bruno
Engineer – Amy Aileen Wood, John Would
Mixed By – Tchad Blake
Percussion, Handclaps [Claps] – Davíd Garza
Vocals, Piano, Percussion, Handclaps [Claps], Backing Vocals – Fiona Apple
Written-By – Fiona Apple
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4:09
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| 3 |
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FTBC
Backing Vocals – Cara Delevingne
Bass – Sebastian Steinberg
Drums – Amy Aileen Wood
Engineer – Amy Aileen Wood, Fiona Apple
Mixed By – Tchad Blake
Noises [Backing Barks] – Alfie (36), Leo (170), Maddie (8), Mercy (48)
Vocals, Drums, Mellotron, Percussion, Instruments [Metal Butterfly], Backing Vocals – Fiona Apple
Written-By – Fiona Apple
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4:59
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| 4 |
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Under The Table
Bass – Sebastian Steinberg
Drums, Percussion – Amy Aileen Wood
Electric Piano [Wurly], Organ, Piano, Vibraphone [Vibes] – John Would
Engineer – Amy Aileen Wood, John Would
Mellotron – Davíd Garza
Mixed By – Tchad Blake
Vocals, Piano, Backing Vocals, Percussion – Fiona Apple
Written-By – Fiona Apple
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3:21
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| 5 |
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Relay
Bass, Percussion – Sebastian Steinberg
Drums, Percussion – Amy Aileen Wood
Effects [Special Effects] – Bobb Bruno
Engineer – Amy Aileen Wood, Fiona Apple, John Would
Mixed By – Dave Way
Noises [Collar Jangles], Noises [Thrashing] – Little (18), Mercy (48)
Percussion, Guitar – Davíd Garza
Vocals, Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Fiona Apple
Written-By – Fiona Apple
Written-By [Sample From "My Kettle, My Cats"] – Sebastian Steinberg
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4:49
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| 6 |
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Rack Of His
Bass – Sebastian Steinberg
Drums – Amy Aileen Wood
Engineer – Amy Aileen Wood, Fiona Apple
Guitar – Davíd Garza*
Mixed By – Dave Way
Vocals, Drums, Mellotron, Percussion – Fiona Apple
Written-By – Fiona Apple
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3:42
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| 7 |
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Newspaper
Backing Vocals – Maude Maggart, Winifred Ada Lucky
Bass – Sebastian Steinberg
Drums – Amy Aileen Wood
Engineer – Amy Aileen Wood, Dave Way, Fiona Apple
Guitar – Davíd Garza
Mixed By – Tchad Blake
Vocals, Electronic Drums, Drums, Timpani, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Fiona Apple
Written-By – Fiona Apple
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5:33
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| 8 |
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Ladies
Backing Vocals – Maude Maggart
Bass, Guitarrón – Sebastian Steinberg
Drums – Amy Aileen Wood
Engineer – Amy Aileen Wood, John Would
Lyrics By – Fiona Apple
Mixed By – John Would
Music By – Davíd Garza, Sebastian Steinberg
Piano – John Would
Vibraphone [Vibes], Mellotron, Backing Vocals, Percussion – Davíd Garza*
Vocals, Electric Piano [Wurlitzer], Backing Vocals – Fiona Apple
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5:25
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| 9 |
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Heavy Balloon
Bass, Guitar, Percussion – Sebastian Steinberg
Drums, Percussion – Amy Aileen Wood
Engineer – Amy Aileen Wood, Dave Way, Fiona Apple, John Would
Mixed By – Dave Way
Percussion, Backing Vocals, Vibraphone [Vibes] – Davíd Garza
Vocals, Electronic Drums [Casio], Percussion, Drums, Bells, Backing Vocals – Fiona Apple
Written-By – Fiona Apple
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3:26
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| 10 |
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Cosmonauts
Autoharp [Electric Autoharp], Bass, 12-String Acoustic Guitar, Slide Guitar – Sebastian Steinberg
Drums, Loops, Percussion – Amy Aileen Wood
Electric Guitar, Electric Piano [Wurlitzer], Piano – Davíd Garza
Engineer – Amy Aileen Wood, Fiona Apple, John Would
Mixed By – Tchad Blake
Piano – John Would
Vocals, Percussion, Piano, Backing Vocals – Fiona Apple
Written-By – Fiona Apple
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3:59
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| 11 |
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For Her
Engineer – Fiona Apple
Mixed By – Tchad Blake
Vocals, Drums, Backing Vocals – Fiona Apple
Written-By – Fiona Apple
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2:44
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| 12 |
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Drumset
Bass, Electric Piano [Lighter On Wurlitzer], Harp [Harp Thing], Backing Vocals – Sebastian Steinberg
Drums – Amy Aileen Wood
Engineer – John Would
Mixed By – Tchad Blake
Organ, Backing Vocals, Percussion – Davíd Garza
Vocals, Instruments [Chair], Backing Vocals, Mellotron – Fiona Apple
Written-By – Fiona Apple
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2:40
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| 13 |
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On I Go
Bass, Noises [Stomps], Noises [Breathing], Autoharp [Electric Autoharp], Instruments [Water Tower] – Sebastian Steinberg
Drums, Percussion, Instruments [Water Tower] – Amy Aileen Wood
Engineer – Amy Aileen Wood, Fiona Apple, John Would
Mixed By – Tchad Blake
Noises [Soft Shoe Stomp] – Spencer Maggart
Percussion, Instruments [Water Tower] – Davíd Garza
Vocals, Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Fiona Apple
Written-By – Fiona Apple
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- Artwork – Davíd Garza
- Mastered By – Bob Ludwig
- Producer – Amy Aileen Wood, Fiona Apple
- Producer [With] – Davíd Garza, Sebastian Steinberg
