Album: Fetch the Bolt Cutters

Introduction
"Fetch the Bolt Cutters" is the 5th studio album by American singer-songwriter Fiona Apple, launched on April 17, 2020, through Epic Records. It received vital acclaim upon its release, with numerous applauding its raw and unfiltered sound, in addition to its lyrical material. The album was produced by Apple herself, along with Amy Aileen Wood, Sebastian Steinberg, and Davíd Garza, and features a mix of art-pop, speculative music, and alternative rock.

Recording and Production
"Fetch the Bolt Cutters" was tape-recorded mostly at Apple's home in Venice Beach, California, in between 2015 and 2020. The album was produced using unconventional instruments and methods, such as tapping on home items for percussive sounds, utilizing chants and claps as backing vocals, and accentuating the piano, which has actually been a constant throughout Apple's career. It likewise contains field recordings and samples, including pets barking and sounds from the singer's environment.

The production of the album was greatly affected by Apple's desire to create a lo-fi and intimate sound, straying from the polished noise of her previous works. She took motivation from the rawness and absence of refinement found in the music of artists such as PJ Harvey and Tom Waits.

Lyrical Themes and Songwriting
Lyrically, "Fetch the Bolt Cutters" is about breaking free from confinements, whether societal, emotional, or self-imposed, and accepting one's vulnerability and empowerment. Apple's songwriting is candid and vulnerable throughout the album, with styles such as feminism, self-reliance, self-acceptance, and getting rid of previous injuries.

The album opens with "I Want You To Love Me", which is a plea for love and acknowledgment of death. The title track, "Fetch the Bolt Cutters", functions as a statement for the entire album-- a call to leave from whatever is holding one back, no matter how tough or agonizing it may be. "Shameika" tells the story of a schoolmate who provided Apple a tough-love reality check, and "Under the Table" is a defiant anthem about declining to acquiesce societal norms.

Critical Reception
"Fetch the Bolt Cutters" was met widespread crucial honor, with many praising its sporadic and unconventional production, in addition to the emotional and lyrical honesty present in Apple's songwriting. The album has a score of 98 out of 100 on Metacritic, based on reviews from 19 critics, suggesting "universal honor".

Numerous critics have hailed the album as a work of art and one of the very best albums of 2020. Publications such as Pitchfork, The Guardian, and Rolling Stone have actually all provided perfect ratings to "Fetch the Bolt Cutters".

Business Performance and Accolades
"Fetch the Bolt Cutters" debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 chart, making it Apple's 3rd top-10 album in the United States. It was also successful in other countries, peaking at number 6 in Canada, number 11 in Australia, and number 33 in the United Kingdom.

The album has actually been chosen for various year-end awards, including Album of the Year by the Grammy Awards. It also appeared in various year-end lists, with publications such as Pitchfork, Stereogum, and The Guardian naming it the best album of 2020.

In conclusion, Fiona Apple's "Fetch the Bolt Cutters" is an ingenious and revolutionary album that stunned critics and listeners alike with its rawness and emotional intensity. The album's themes of freedom and self-empowerment resonate with a wide range of listeners, proving that even in the face of misfortune, one can still find strength and guts within themselves.