Record of the Month

I figured I'd do a monthly 'what I'm listening to' kind of thing. This could be viewed as a lame placeholder kind of post. And probably it is. But it's my blog! So there! 

I'm so looking forward to the last half of 2012, at least for new music. Some really good things planned to come out - some with release dates, some not yet set.

I got the newest one from Fiona Apple a few weeks back. All hype on The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do (yes, that's the entire title), there is no way it can live up to all the PR that it got.

...and it doesn't. Which isn't to say it's bad. It isn't.....but you build something up that much, it's destined to not meet expectations.

But I like it, or most of it. Like a lot of the music I buy, it's a little off-center, and while Apple has always been that way, she takes it to a new level with The Idler Wheel.

The disk is very stripped down compared to some of her other works, and those were never brimming with over the top production. Over her career, it took me a long time to warm-up to Apple, but I did and like her music and her risks.....and this is her riskiest. If you're looking for classic melodies or arrangements, this isn't really the album for you.

For those who want to hear something more innovative and interesting, you might take a listen.

Yes, she is angsty. Yes, there are semi-volatile moments, but that's her style overall, just in context of song.

Recorded a few years ago and held by her until she wanted to release it, the disk sat on a shelf since then waiting to see daylight.  But if you're looking for radio airplay - forget it. Maybe college radio or some obscure XM station, but even her most accessible songs were for MTV (eons ago) and not radio.

The first "single", "Every Single Night" is seemingly one of the most difficult song to grasp and it give attention to Apple's style for this disk, but I fear it won't make anyone go out an purchase the album because of this.  But it is only seemingly the most difficult - as it's the first track. The more you delve into the recording, the more you discover more obscure tunes.

But I like "Every Single Night" as well as "Daredevil", "Left Alone", "Regret" (that one took me a few listens), "Periphery", "Anything We Want" and "Hot Knife".

The other 3-4 songs are ok, one's if they rotate through my playlist, I'll let play, but doubtful they'd be ones I'd search out.

Still it is the most interesting disk of 2012, that's for sure, but it still couldn't stand-up to the pre-release hype.