Fetch the Bolt Cutters
by Fiona Apple
  • Record Label: Epic
  • Release Date: Apr 17, 2020
User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 1396 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,131 out of 1396
  2. Mixed: 58 out of 1396
  3. Negative: 207 out of 1396
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  1. Carl234
    Aug 7, 2020
    10
    Loved every second of it. From writing, production, vocals, and dogs barking. Fiona did an amazing job
  2. Dave74
    Aug 7, 2020
    10
    Great music has layers. New meaning is discovered on different listens. New details that you notice compel you to re-listen time and again. Vocals and story telling emotionally invest you. Excellent compositions have your toes and finger tips dancing on reflex. This Album delivers on all fronts.

    Fetch the Bolt Cutters will pull you in with more accessible numbers like Cosmonauts and have    Great music has layers. New meaning is discovered on different listens. New details that you notice compel you to re-listen time and again. Vocals and story telling emotionally invest you. Excellent compositions have your toes and finger tips dancing on reflex. This Album delivers on all fronts.

    Fetch the Bolt Cutters will pull you in with more accessible numbers like Cosmonauts and have you come back for more for tracks like Heavy Balloon. The vocals are raw - emotive and strong. But unpolished and real. Musically it is intriguing, building on sounds from her last record. Composition wise Fiona Apple has delivered a fine wine. These tracks improve with age as they pull you into their intricacies. If you like your music polished and simple, it’s not the album for you. If you like your music to compel you, engross you and emotionally impact this is the album for you.    … Expand
  3. bushbjork
    Aug 8, 2020
    10
    I knew some Fiona's songs, i have never heard an album from her before, and this one fed me it was exquisite.
  4. maximizen
    Jul 25, 2021
    10
    Original, emotional, blunt, captivating and immersive. Best album of all time.
  5. Fellipecomichol
    Sep 2, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Another masterpice worth the wait! So unique, one of the best albums of the year and for me it's her best work. She is genius!… Expand
  6. DonkeyKing
    May 1, 2021
    4
    Very experimental kind of music

    It's very difficult to describe this album. I didn't have any kind of emotional connection to this kind of music and some tracks seemed a little awkward, detached and way too dissonant. Her soulful voice is great, but I think this album did not show her full potential.
  7. Jefferson16
    Oct 30, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Uno de los peores álbumes que he escuchado en mi vida, definitivamente horroroso.… Expand
  8. zil94
    Oct 30, 2020
    0
    Am I the only person who feels like critics were paid to give this album perfect 100 scores? It didn't do anything for me.
  9. hellohellohell4
    Nov 5, 2020
    10
    The Best Album Of ALL TIME! it is just so amazing and gets better every time i listen to it!
  10. Samfallows
    Jul 3, 2021
    10
    Initially I was impressed with the free-flowing, chaotic jazz rhythms but only after two listens of the whole album did I start to really understand the hype. It’s meant to be an uncomfortable, claustrophobic listen because it is meant to match the spontaneous anxieties and insecurities in Fiona’s troubled mind. The content itself if heavy hitting as it talks about bullying, depression,Initially I was impressed with the free-flowing, chaotic jazz rhythms but only after two listens of the whole album did I start to really understand the hype. It’s meant to be an uncomfortable, claustrophobic listen because it is meant to match the spontaneous anxieties and insecurities in Fiona’s troubled mind. The content itself if heavy hitting as it talks about bullying, depression, and even how Fiona was raped as a young girl. The music relies mainly on piano and percussion, and percussion in this case being anything Fiona finds lying about the house. It pushes her to vocally be as creative as possible and to put her all into her two main instruments that it creates some unexpected rhythms.

    My advice is if you listen to this album, throw away all expectations, especially if you’ve listened to her previous work and give it two or three spins for it to really sink in. This is Art Pop, with less of the pop but a huge emphasis on the art.    … Expand
  11. raz13
    Nov 21, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. i am sorry , maybe I'm an idiot i can't listen to it ,it is very hard to get through even one song maybe its not my style ,i am always open when it comes to music but this album is a no… Expand
  12. HG_Kitara
    Nov 20, 2020
    9
    This album is the definition of human emotion. Exploring the concepts of love, anger, sadness and joy, Fionna's ability to turn a song on its head within a blink of an eye is second to none. Writing ranges from comedic to shocking. Fantastic album.
  13. fkablockhead
    Nov 21, 2020
    10
    After an 8 year musical hiatus, Fiona Apple reemerged with her most prolific, unique, and raw work to date. Distinctly composed of percussive layering and vocal loops, this album is the most notable sonic departure in Apple's musical discography. Released with little promo in the rise of a global pandemic, Apple's lyrics stick like oatmeal to the ribs of a society itself looking to "fetchAfter an 8 year musical hiatus, Fiona Apple reemerged with her most prolific, unique, and raw work to date. Distinctly composed of percussive layering and vocal loops, this album is the most notable sonic departure in Apple's musical discography. Released with little promo in the rise of a global pandemic, Apple's lyrics stick like oatmeal to the ribs of a society itself looking to "fetch the bolt cutters" and get out of our universally bad situation.… Expand
  14. anguswats
    Nov 24, 2020
    10
    This album is incredible. I understand that some may find it confusing but it brings a sound with it that's like making an album from the 90's today (an extremely rare occurrence). When listening to Fetch the Bolt Cutters it actually feels as though the music is live - incredible
  15. DUCHIEU
    Nov 25, 2020
    10
    This is such a huge statement as an album. The lyrics are brilliant, incredible instrumental, incredible production, incredible everything. It feels almost like a new statement for music in general, it got too much going on and everything just works incredibly well, nothing like it. It feels like a huge fresh air of a completely original, innovative and refined masterpiece.
  16. EnriqueBallinas
    Dec 1, 2020
    10
    This album has so much power, it is pure perfection and everyone should listen to it at least once.
  17. JvanMariah
    Dec 5, 2020
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It's like a Yoko Ono album, I don't understand the happiness it causes, I'm probably wrong but I definitely don't think it's the album of the year.… Expand
  18. Diabolical_
    Jan 24, 2021
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Not for me. This album felt like I was being constantly held underwater. It’s one claustrophobic **** after another. The only good thing about it is that it ends.… Expand
  19. mehe321
    Dec 11, 2020
    0
    worst and boring. wth is dis. make smth better sis. FN was way better. But at least better than Positions and Changes.
  20. cosmonauts
    Dec 12, 2020
    10
    Instant classic. When you start to analyze every detail of this album you get to understand its greatness and the reason why this is an album that will define a decade.
  21. michcord
    Feb 26, 2021
    0
    i really didnt like it bc its so bad like idk its just bad i would like to have reparations for this pls
  22. Jackprior
    Feb 23, 2021
    10
    Love this album so much. Has fantastic lyrics and Uses a wide range of instruments.
  23. crissss23
    Dec 16, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It s literally one of the best albums of all time, the pasion she has in this album and the story about middle-school experiences and how she grew out of them, amazing!… Expand
  24. ksullivan
    Dec 27, 2020
    10
    FTBC's "I Want You To Love Me" is the best album-opening track I've ever heard to date. Fiona's voice is so moving
  25. denizkose
    Dec 28, 2020
    5
    There is a lot of raw emotions and I appreciate the honesty of the album but the melody & the sounds are really not for me. Don't think I would listen to this album again.
  26. sugarbaby3
    Jan 9, 2021
    10
    raw, emotional, and real every song every lyric every sound was crafted by an artist
  27. JoseA32
    Jan 23, 2021
    0
    Es muy experimental, para mi es horrible! Para gustos los colores pero no es para mi.
  28. TheBigCheez
    Mar 22, 2021
    6
    So, this was my introduction to Fiona Apple. Maybe this is why my rating is so low, but I believe in starting in the best of an artist's discography. Anyway, to the criticism. I honestly don't get the hype. The first 6 tracks were really boring, nothing to them. They weren't very nicely produced, the lyrics were okay telling a story throughout songs like Fetch The Bolt Cutters. But, ISo, this was my introduction to Fiona Apple. Maybe this is why my rating is so low, but I believe in starting in the best of an artist's discography. Anyway, to the criticism. I honestly don't get the hype. The first 6 tracks were really boring, nothing to them. They weren't very nicely produced, the lyrics were okay telling a story throughout songs like Fetch The Bolt Cutters. But, I think this album shines in the second half, rather than the first, which is where most of my criticism comes from. My other criticisms come from my disliking of her production and her vocals. I already expressed my disliking for her production, but I feel her vocals also contribute to the mediocrity of this album. I don't know who needs to hear this, but Fionas bocals are nothing special. Even on some of the tracks I liked her vocals performance annoyed me.… Expand
  29. Stefans43
    Nov 2, 2022
    2
    2/10 - Great art, terrible music

    Art and music is something critics do not seem to be able to differntiate. Of course, it is an important album, of course, it is authentic and daring and a fantastic expression of her emotions, but it's bad music. And it's important to differentiate between music you don't like and music that is not good - Fetch The Bolt Cutters is not good. The funniest    2/10 - Great art, terrible music

    Art and music is something critics do not seem to be able to differntiate. Of course, it is an important album, of course, it is authentic and daring and a fantastic expression of her emotions, but it's bad music. And it's important to differentiate between music you don't like and music that is not good - Fetch The Bolt Cutters is not good.

    The funniest thing about all this is that Pitchfork gave Fetchi the Bolt Cutters a 10/10 and Travistan a 0/10 and they sound exactly the same, especially if you remove the artist from the art. Travis is rapping/talking over weird arhytmic sounds and so is Fiona, but Fiona's rumbling is more menaingful and authentic. Both albums are terrible music, but Fiona's is better art.

    This begs to ask the question: Are the critics reviewing music for the public or for art students with bowl cuts who need to do dislike whatever is mainstream?    … Expand
  30. Jrpacnw
    Mar 29, 2021
    10
    Wow. Just...wow.
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best Album of 2020
18
#18 Most Discussed Album of 2020

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
98

Universal acclaim - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. Under The Radar
    Aug 18, 2020
    85
    Guttural, soft, cacophonous, and poetic, Fetch the Bolt Cutters is a reminder of Apple’s genius and that we are all interconnected, one people, existing in a pulse.
    Read full review
  2. Classic Rock Magazine
    Jul 6, 2020
    80
    Forget the bolt cutters, Apple's already shed her last shackle. [Summer 2020, p.87]
  3. Uncut
    May 22, 2020
    90
    Fetch The Bolt Cutters is mostly the soundtrack of liberation, not recrimination, with Apple's piano keys, battering on the walls and barking dogs as its percussive, beating heart. [Jul 2020, p.27]
See all critic reviews »