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. yaboirolex
    Apr 17, 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.
  2. viniciussawate
    Apr 17, 2020
    10
    This is certainly Fiona Apple's most affordable album since her cheeky debut. But it's not for it's melodic side (it's difficult to retain melodies), but for it's very new and impossible "delivery". A sigh is passed. As an expression of this paradoxical field of conversion and musical composition, the album is a masterpiece. In it, you can practically feel the creative and emotionalThis is certainly Fiona Apple's most affordable album since her cheeky debut. But it's not for it's melodic side (it's difficult to retain melodies), but for it's very new and impossible "delivery". A sigh is passed. As an expression of this paradoxical field of conversion and musical composition, the album is a masterpiece. In it, you can practically feel the creative and emotional process as it is loaded with relentless and overwhelming revisionism; of a disturbing mix between memory and the present.… Expand
  3. ooit
    Apr 19, 2020
    4
    After seeing all the praise being given to this album I decided to give it a try and after 3 listens through I feel like I'm missing something. It's like i'm listening to a completely different record than everyone else. There are a handful of solid tracks like I Want You To Love Me (aside from the grating vocals to close the song), Rack of His, Ladies, and Cosmonauts. The problem withAfter seeing all the praise being given to this album I decided to give it a try and after 3 listens through I feel like I'm missing something. It's like i'm listening to a completely different record than everyone else. There are a handful of solid tracks like I Want You To Love Me (aside from the grating vocals to close the song), Rack of His, Ladies, and Cosmonauts. The problem with making music in the kind of head space she seems to be in is that you toe the line between brilliance and pretentious drivel. Personally, I feel like the album wandered into the latter too many times for me to enjoy (Relay and Newspaper stand out in particular). It's hard for me to become immersed in an album if I'm rolling my eyes or shaking my head during half of the run time. If there were more memorable melodies to match the dissonance then I could see myself enjoying it more but there's just not much to grab onto for me. None of this is to say that I don't respect her ability as a musician or her talent for creating an atmosphere. It's just not an atmosphere that I want to be in regularly.… Expand
  4. DarcenBrandt
    May 1, 2020
    1
    How on this earth does this rate a 10? Absolutely horrible album. Sounds like someone strangling a goat. Theres got to be at least one song to grab you and keep you interested till you catch up with the rest. Anyone who rates this higher than a 3 is a hipster! The uglier something is the more they like it. Well at least till lots of people start liking it and than its not to the nextHow on this earth does this rate a 10? Absolutely horrible album. Sounds like someone strangling a goat. Theres got to be at least one song to grab you and keep you interested till you catch up with the rest. Anyone who rates this higher than a 3 is a hipster! The uglier something is the more they like it. Well at least till lots of people start liking it and than its not to the next terrible album. You lot need to get your ears and head checked. Even the cover and title are horrible. I'm giving it a 1 because I can understand some of the words at least.… Expand
  5. BBlake
    Apr 17, 2020
    3
    Meh. It's good if you're already a fan of Fiona Apple. Unlikely to convince you if you're not.
  6. Mtaeuso
    Jun 16, 2020
    10
    if you don't like this album, you don't like music.
    (or you're too dumb to understand it)
  7. Lucid_Icarus
    Jul 7, 2020
    8
    Anyone rating low didn't finish the album or can't comprehend human emotion.
  8. musicwizard636
    Jul 4, 2020
    10
    It's about SONGWRITING. There are so many sharp hooks that multiple songs stick with you for months afterward. The Fiona we've known for decades is still here, with her magnificent, nearly poetic lyricism, sharp tongue, and legendary piano-playing. She yields a new set of weapons with this batch of tracks however; a raw, tactile sense of production.
  9. Danielle22
    Jun 26, 2020
    10
    Best I have ever heard. Amazing. So many layers and gets better and better over time. Learned you need good headphones to capture the nuances of the music. Amazing.
  10. VenusAsABoy11
    Jul 27, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Fiona apple knows how to make music and has not shown it again in her most recent album fetch the bolt cutters which takes us to an incredible experience within the apple world giving us a raw and deep lyric maybe this is her best album so far.… Expand
  11. Heavy-Balloon
    Jul 18, 2020
    10
    Extraordinary Machine helped “Free Fiona.” Idler Wheel got closer. Fetch The Bolt Cutters, she unapologetically frees herself! And there is nothing more inspiring and soul reaching than authenticity! She nails this not only on a personal level, but on a professional level, raising every damn bar possible! Tidal changed my life, as did Fiona Apple and each of her subsequent albumsExtraordinary Machine helped “Free Fiona.” Idler Wheel got closer. Fetch The Bolt Cutters, she unapologetically frees herself! And there is nothing more inspiring and soul reaching than authenticity! She nails this not only on a personal level, but on a professional level, raising every damn bar possible! Tidal changed my life, as did Fiona Apple and each of her subsequent albums throughout numerous seasons of my life. Through her strength, advocacy, struggles, growth, courage and, of course, music, she saved me...as a woman and human. More than once. Fiona Apple reaches the depth of her soul with every lyric, song and album. I hope she knows she reaches the depths of her fans’ souls equally so. I hope feels the inexplicable energy she puts out into this universe. 10. Fetch The Bolt Cutters, 10. Fiona Apple’s musical, lyrical and personal freedom pouring from this album, 10. Crushing musical boundaries and social norms, 10. For women and humans, 10. Dropping out of the Relay, 10. Fiona Apple, 10.… Expand
  12. Brayanol
    Jul 24, 2020
    10
    Album of The year! Fiona DID that! Newspapper, Shameika, Relay and Heavy Balloon
  13. Eupedrokas
    Jul 24, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Only perfect......................... .........................................................… Expand
  14. dalilita
    Jul 25, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Best album of 2020, a sound revolution with the most wonderful lyrics. Fiona Apple once again proves herself to be an artist for the ages… Expand
  15. inconexo
    Jul 24, 2020
    10
    Excelente album, con mucha razón es el mejor disco en criticas, y también por eso muchos comentarios negativos aquí de gentuza envidiosa y sin buen gusto. Sin duda uno de los mejores albums de todos los tiempos.
  16. GatinConPeter
    Jul 25, 2020
    10
    Perfeito incrível espetacular aclamadissimo memorável esse álbum é simplesmente incrível merece muito o AOTY esse ano isso se o Grammy não criar uma categoria especial pra esse ano especial
  17. alxmsn
    Jul 1, 2020
    7
    I'm not too sure what to think of this album. My overall impression is positive, as the album has its moments, but at times it's all a bit too mad for me. Fiona is clearly very talented and creative, but occasionally she just seems to try too hard.
  18. ronissanti
    Aug 29, 2020
    10
    Álbum bem ressoado vocalmente, sua interpretação é máxima. Liríca complexa e criativa; Destaco I want you to love me que é abertura estoante junto com Relay pelo fundo ofegante e Ladies pela letra interpretada.
  19. Jesusddiaz
    Aug 31, 2020
    10
    La gente que dice que este album solo te puede gustar si te gusta Fiona Apple, estaaan bien? Mor por este álbum me gusta Fiona Apple, por este álbum no puedo odiarte, 2020.
  20. Max_Vito
    Nov 1, 2020
    0
    It baffles me that this album currently has a near perfect score on metacritic. A couple of my friends were raving about it and urged me to listen to it so I gave it a chance. I was excited to hear it because of its near universal acclaim...but I honestly thought it sounded like hot garbage. It was a chore to get through and I found myself being relieved when each song was finally over.It baffles me that this album currently has a near perfect score on metacritic. A couple of my friends were raving about it and urged me to listen to it so I gave it a chance. I was excited to hear it because of its near universal acclaim...but I honestly thought it sounded like hot garbage. It was a chore to get through and I found myself being relieved when each song was finally over. I'm pretty open-minded about music but I just couldn't find much to appreciate here. I get this odd feeling about it... It's like what am I missing? I listen to good music, right? Right?! Why does everyone love this album so much and why do I loathe it so much? I am happy that people like it, but if/when someone tells me how great this album is I am going to forever be suspicious of that person. The lyrics and themes might be good. Challenging. Important... But the music itself didn't do it for me. I don't care for her voice, either. To me this album is way over-hyped but hey what do I know? People really seem to dig this album. I'm just not one of those people… Expand
  21. LISANDRO3105
    Jul 11, 2020
    10
    Ha sido un larga espera desde su último álbum, pero definitivamente valió la pena.
    Fiona ha madurado en su producción, su composición, sus letras y, por sobre todo, en el uso (y abuso) de su increíble voz.
    Entiendo que algunos puedan valorar este disco con una puntuación de 6 o 7 puntos, para mí definitivamente es un 10. Lo que realmente es inentendible es quien puntúa con 0, 1 o 2.    Ha sido un larga espera desde su último álbum, pero definitivamente valió la pena.
    Fiona ha madurado en su producción, su composición, sus letras y, por sobre todo, en el uso (y abuso) de su increíble voz.
    Entiendo que algunos puedan valorar este disco con una puntuación de 6 o 7 puntos, para mí definitivamente es un 10. Lo que realmente es inentendible es quien puntúa con 0, 1 o 2. Realmente merece dejar de lado esas puntuaciones para obtener el promedio sin distorsiones.    … Expand
  22. hellokittypie
    Sep 3, 2020
    10
    Perfect! Iconic! Amazing! Acclaimed! Memorable! Through instruments and lyricals, Fiona was able to understand human emotion in a simple and real way!
  23. oldcardigan
    Jul 25, 2020
    10
    uma obra de arte que vai ganhar muitos grammys. a fiona foi MUITO perspicaz aqui
  24. panzcoolg
    Nov 20, 2020
    10
    APPLE, YET AGAIN, EXCELS IN WHAT SHE DOES BEST: CONVEYING EMOTION TO THE LISTENER USING WHATEVER MEANS POSSIBLE.
  25. clouds_darkness
    May 24, 2020
    10
    Fiona got herself a new fan. Every song stands great on its own. the hype is real
  26. Hmmmm97
    May 28, 2020
    10
    PERFECT
    AOTY
    ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
  27. TaipeiJoey
    May 31, 2020
    10
    Okay so i dismissed this album as some critic-pandering album that just wasn't for me. Then I actually listened to it. It wasn't that.
  28. OSailor
    Jun 8, 2020
    10
    On the first listen, I was excited by all the different sounds I was hearing. Now, fifty or so listens later, it's catchy, it's clever, and it manages to stay fresh.
  29. Archellarchell
    May 29, 2020
    10
    The way Fiona writes lyrics that shocks you to the core! Amazing storytelling was being put out to this record. I wasn’t a Fiona fan until this day that I discovered this album. The hook really captivates me as a listener, the way the song is naturally balanced lyrically and instrumentally the way I can explain this is a chef’s kiss. The structure of each song were really astonishing toThe way Fiona writes lyrics that shocks you to the core! Amazing storytelling was being put out to this record. I wasn’t a Fiona fan until this day that I discovered this album. The hook really captivates me as a listener, the way the song is naturally balanced lyrically and instrumentally the way I can explain this is a chef’s kiss. The structure of each song were really astonishing to the fact that you’ll be driven by the song itself—it is not just a typical song where the structure is general. The piano on the “I Want You To Love Me” really captivates me, the song itself is a classic to me. The raw vocals really shows how vulnerable the singer is especially through the themes of the lyrics that tackles sexual assault and so on and so forth. Overall, it’s amazing.… Expand
  30. atanganeli
    Sep 1, 2020
    4
    I don't understand why they think it's the biggest album of the year, songs with lyrics and repetitive sounds on all 13 tracks are the best songs of the year?
    The album is cool and I think it is one of the best of Fiona Apple but I don't think "Fetch the Bolt Cutters" is a totally cohesive album. It sounds kind of tiring when I reach the thirteenth track since all the songs have the same sounds.
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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 »