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. normanfrockweII
    Sep 8, 2023
    10
    Fetch the Bolt cutters i’ve been in here too long MASTERPIECE fiona will never disappoint me i love every thing shes doing
  2. custodiotiago86
    Sep 4, 2023
    10
    Fiona Apple's 'Fetch the Bolt Cutters' is a true masterpiece that emerges once in a blue moon. This album is nothing short of a revelation, boldly stretching the boundaries of musical artistry with its raw and unapologetic authenticity. From its unconventional instrumentals to its fearless exploration of lyrics, it's an extraordinary gem that will unquestionably withstand the test of time.Fiona Apple's 'Fetch the Bolt Cutters' is a true masterpiece that emerges once in a blue moon. This album is nothing short of a revelation, boldly stretching the boundaries of musical artistry with its raw and unapologetic authenticity. From its unconventional instrumentals to its fearless exploration of lyrics, it's an extraordinary gem that will unquestionably withstand the test of time. It's a genuine work of art that unequivocally merits a flawless 10.… Expand
  3. Neshelie
    Aug 20, 2023
    3
    It's a good album, but it's not for me. Although I didn't get bored while listening to the album in general, I wished the album to end as soon as possible. If I listen to it again in the future, maybe it will be for me with that mindset.
  4. nami2
    Jun 21, 2023
    10
    I have a lot to say about this album. From the opening song, Fiona Apple had me hooked. Fetch The Bolt Cutters came at a time where we were all locked up at home and wanting to escape, and it came as a bold statement from one of music's most reclusive pop stars but also one its loudest and least afraid voices. The different influences on this album, from the rock to electropop to theI have a lot to say about this album. From the opening song, Fiona Apple had me hooked. Fetch The Bolt Cutters came at a time where we were all locked up at home and wanting to escape, and it came as a bold statement from one of music's most reclusive pop stars but also one its loudest and least afraid voices. The different influences on this album, from the rock to electropop to the "bedroom pop"-esque nature of it being recorded in Apple's house, and the overall industrial and artpop sound of the album, Fetch The Bolt Cutters is a grand statement, a statement of a woman who has had enough of everything holding her down and is encouraging us to fetch our own proverbial bolt cutters and cut ourselves out of whatever **** box we let ourselves get in. The entire album has an aura of strength and empowerment from Shameika and standing up to bullies to Under The Table and refusing to be quiet at a dinner table for the sake of everyone else's comfort and the bold For Her, Fiona Apple made a truly visceral piece of work.
    One element that makes the album shine is Apple's unique use of instrumentation and the recording methods itself. Apple said she used GarageBand to make part of the record, a software she is unfamiliar with, and that it resulted in long takes being used for the album with her not being able to edit her mistakes out, but I think this worked in favour of the album, an example of this is Apple and Cara Delevigne's dogs barking on the end of Fetch The Bolt Cutters, adding to the overall theme of the song and the album of wanting to break free and escape, of not being able to be contained.
    Overall, I think Fetch The Bolt Cutters is an amazing album, and easily one of if not the best experience of music I have ever had, and Fiona Apple is truly one of the greatest musical geniuses that has graced the Earth. It is just a shame I will have to wait another 5+ years for another one of her albums, but while I do, this and the rest of her discography will be on repeat XD.    … Expand
  5. Jorgepardo
    Dec 7, 2022
    10
    It’s just the best album. It’s unbelievable how her humor moves along the whole record. She talks about some many topics in this record and the way she approach them are so particular. It’s Fiona Apple literally. Love this récord could listen all day long non stop
  6. leogarcia132002
    Nov 25, 2022
    10
    As a writer I can say that Apple is one of those indescribable and unpredictable women, this album is magical and it is the best of 2020, even one of the best of all time.
  7. 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
  8. Ndrwdvdbrsn
    Oct 9, 2022
    10
    Fiona Apple's latest album, Fetch the Bolt Cutters is one of the greatest alt-rock albums ever. Shameika has some of the greatest vocals of all time making it an incredible rock song.
  9. Jackson889
    Sep 24, 2022
    6
    Definitely not one of my favorite albums and I find the album artwork to be a little weird. Its far from being unlistenable and perfect coffee table music.
  10. aleom_hx
    Sep 18, 2022
    10
    9.8/10
    Only Fiona Apple can only use the call of the cats and dogs, the sound sent by the bench, a piano and a long string of sighs to write a song.
  11. oNewYorker
    Sep 16, 2022
    9
    You might not like the songs, but you do have to agree that this album is one of her best.
  12. diluteacid
    Aug 22, 2022
    6
    Didn’t quite understand the complex nature. She doesn’t quite deliver as best from previous work but still a great body of work start to finish!
  13. shad0w0711
    Aug 15, 2022
    10
    Perfect! Iconic! Amazing! Acclaimed! Memorable! Through instruments and lyricals, Fiona was able to understand human emotion in a simple and real way!
  14. After_peep08
    Jul 15, 2022
    10
    she's such an icon and this is perfect. fiona apple IS the music industry forever
  15. shadowfetch
    Jun 12, 2022
    10
    the best album of 2020, fiona managed to outdo herself with this work of art.
  16. arixsz
    May 13, 2022
    10
    Brilhante e genial. Não há espaços para o previsível, Fetch The Bolt Cutters é autêntico e um clássico instantâneo, tudo nesse álbum funciona com precisão, a única coisa que importa aqui é a música e Fiona Apple nos mostra todas as camadas que o som pode alcançar. Além disso, os sons caseiros contribuem para um projeto que se torna perfeito não por ter a intenção de ser perfeito, mas simBrilhante e genial. Não há espaços para o previsível, Fetch The Bolt Cutters é autêntico e um clássico instantâneo, tudo nesse álbum funciona com precisão, a única coisa que importa aqui é a música e Fiona Apple nos mostra todas as camadas que o som pode alcançar. Além disso, os sons caseiros contribuem para um projeto que se torna perfeito não por ter a intenção de ser perfeito, mas sim de ser um lembrete de que nós não precisamos ser como querem que sejamos, ela está nos permitindo entender que nós podemos nos livrar das algemas que nos prendem. Sem dúvidas um álbum que transborda emoções, criatividade e autenticidade e para todos os efeitos, se algo for um empencilho em seu caminho, pegue os alicates e o tire você mesmo.… Expand
  17. Thatsajokeright
    Apr 25, 2022
    8
    honeslty a beautiful album, I just never go back to it, but when I do, it's beautiful.
  18. Stavush
    Apr 12, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The lyrics and production are next-level, just pure genius. You'd think that 34 years into her career Fiona would play it safe and continue the piano-rock sound of her previous albums, but she kept being innovative and different in the perfect way. The music is very experimental and many times odd, but still catchy.… Expand
  19. badboiruru
    Mar 26, 2022
    10
    This album is lyrically incredible poetic but still brutally honest and self aware, but still enough lines to **** the patriarchy! congratulation Fiona, you done good [:
  20. cherrymusic
    Mar 19, 2022
    10
    Fiona Apple has entered the big door with her most recently album, there is certainly a word to define this album and it is "unique", the wait of almost more than 8 years has been worth it, this album has brought us a breath of fresh air to this new era of music, each song has its own personality, in addition to the fact that Fiona has managed to have a balance between the lyrics and theFiona Apple has entered the big door with her most recently album, there is certainly a word to define this album and it is "unique", the wait of almost more than 8 years has been worth it, this album has brought us a breath of fresh air to this new era of music, each song has its own personality, in addition to the fact that Fiona has managed to have a balance between the lyrics and the production, where both manage to stand out enormously, in the lyrics we can find a great maturity on the part of Fiona. In "Fetch The Bolt Cutters" she is sincere, raising her voice to express her anger, frustrations and experiences through metaphors, likewise, on some occasions being direct and without any hesitation. Sonically "Fetch The Blot Cutters" is an album without equal, which has elements of percussion, piano and strings in general. But these sonic elements are not just that, they go further, the resulting sounds arose from sounds produced by anything Fiona could imagine, from banging on the wall to a nearly unplayable piano arrangement.
    Without a doubt, Fiona has brought us the best album of her career, the album of the year and the album of the decade. She surpasses herself in every album she releases, from "Tidal" to "Fetch The Bolt Cutters" we have seen how she has advanced and matured as an artist, proof of this we have before us a genuine album.
    Top 5 Tracks: Heavy Balloon, Relay, Shameika, For Her, Drumset    … Expand
  21. pautorres
    Mar 19, 2022
    0
    I didnt like this album. Its just something unnecessary that produces no sensations in my mind
  22. LilScience
    Jan 17, 2022
    8
    Quando você pensa que 2020 eu já tinha classificado quase todos os álbuns e singles possíveis tinha esquecido de um dos mais votados 'Fetch The Bolt Cutters' de Fiona Apple, e me impressionei de como o álbum se transita em um alternativo, rock, pop; tudo bem misturado e dosado, e sem falar na originalidade de Fiona, realmente um dos melhores álbuns de longe de 2020, esse realmente meQuando você pensa que 2020 eu já tinha classificado quase todos os álbuns e singles possíveis tinha esquecido de um dos mais votados 'Fetch The Bolt Cutters' de Fiona Apple, e me impressionei de como o álbum se transita em um alternativo, rock, pop; tudo bem misturado e dosado, e sem falar na originalidade de Fiona, realmente um dos melhores álbuns de longe de 2020, esse realmente me impressionou, estou sem palavras para essa obra musical.

    Faixas favoritas: I Want You To Love Me, Shameika, Relay, Newspaper, Ladies, Heavy Balloon, For Her, Drumset.    … Expand
  23. utkarshbansal
    Nov 18, 2021
    9
    The entire album is a masterpiece, but the title track especially is underrated.
  24. fulltimepharb
    Nov 13, 2021
    10
    most perfect album ever fiona apple has done it once again. the production of it is something i’ve truly never heard before which is something i find a lot in her music.
  25. Darkmorning
    Nov 13, 2021
    10
    It’s a modern masterpiece and it can only be made by Fiona Apple. Love her new experiments. This is one of her best albums for sure.
  26. lwtos
    Nov 13, 2021
    10
    Its above this world! "Fetch the bolt cutters" and "Norman F*cking Rockwell" are maybe the bests albums ever.
  27. musicenjoyerrr
    Oct 9, 2021
    10
    The way every single music outlet collectively decided this was a masterpiece but the jobless fat ugly misogynists hate that it got a higher rating than their fav so they use the little power this website has given them to lower her score just for the thrill of it.
  28. plw_
    Sep 24, 2021
    4
    I don't see the hype for it. Mostly boring and not really an enjoyable project.
  29. gabriellla13
    Sep 18, 2021
    10
    I just LOVED the content in the lyrics!! Fiona you really did something here. Thanks for being in this world. My favs were Ladies, Cosmonauts and Fetch the Bolt Cutters.
  30. barbosaalvesfla
    Sep 9, 2021
    9
    Do have anything else to say? It's a practically perfect album. It's Fiona.
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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 »