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. 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.
  2. 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
  3. pautorres
    Mar 19, 2022
    0
    I didnt like this album. Its just something unnecessary that produces no sensations in my mind
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. JoseA32
    Jan 23, 2021
    0
    Es muy experimental, para mi es horrible! Para gustos los colores pero no es para mi.
  7. 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.
  8. BarWils
    Dec 8, 2020
    0
    Fiona decides to speak and, of course,it’s a big,drawn out to do . It’s a damn fine album. Led Zeppelin iv ? No,not even close. But she does release some really decent tunes here.
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. 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.
  13. mlkasa
    Oct 30, 2020
    0
    Hot garbage, just a bunch of random noise, nothing of actual quality, should have been kept in the drafts
  14. 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
  15. bushyforest
    Oct 23, 2020
    0
    I gave it a try but just couldn't even finish listening. Maybe it's just not my taste.
  16. SantanaBerry
    Sep 26, 2020
    0
    I'm sorry, but this album seems so confusing. It probably be a pure work of art, but only for a art museum. People can't enjoy this kind of things at any situation.
  17. mikkyd_
    Sep 5, 2020
    0
    A masterpiece. If you do not like this album, i can't ever trust you with anything. Fi saved me from the mess that is this pandemic! It's unhinged, it's angsty, it's full of flavour! It's an album that only FIONA could make!
  18. nikris
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    It is boring, repetitive, it leaves you without wanting to listen to it again
  19. brennans
    Aug 28, 2020
    3
    I love Fiona Apple's music aside from this album, and I know that what she is putting out here is a stab at "art," a new kind of "music." There's no question there's a load of creativity here. But it's a fail in my book as an album, so pretentious and self-indulgent. What appears to be on the surface an album for our times, especially in the way it explores gender roles and powerI love Fiona Apple's music aside from this album, and I know that what she is putting out here is a stab at "art," a new kind of "music." There's no question there's a load of creativity here. But it's a fail in my book as an album, so pretentious and self-indulgent. What appears to be on the surface an album for our times, especially in the way it explores gender roles and power dynamics, is actually an act of extreme narcissism. (Well, maybe it is an album for our times after all. . . ) This album isn't about an artist facilitating a connection to the human condition. It's an album that says look at me, pay attention to me. I don't like this general trend. That said, I could see why it might win album of the year. But it will be an album of the year nobody will ever listen to five, ten years from now. Ultimately, the album is a challenging bore.… Expand
  20. Swiftie1989love
    Aug 28, 2020
    0
    It is boring, repetitive, it leaves you without wanting to listen to it again,
  21. Lazlo1
    Aug 28, 2020
    0
    Si te gusta Fiona Apple, este álbum te va a gustar. Pero si no eres fan de esta artista, posiblemente te termine cansando y hasta pareciendo aburrido. No puedo entender cómo tiene tantas críticas positivas, pero sin duda sí que puedo entender por qué las pocas ventas que ha logrado cosechar tanto en Estados Unidos como en el resto del mundo. Decepcionante.
  22. rayjay
    Aug 26, 2020
    1
    Cannot get into this album. Her music is too cold and intellectual and quirky for my taste. If the music does not move me emotionally in some way, then forget it.
  23. ArturWLM
    Aug 25, 2020
    0
    Overrated. This is not good music structures, not good vocals or cool sound of instrument.
  24. adamrihani
    Aug 7, 2020
    0
    It does not deserve all these good reviews, the album is a major flop from this artist.
  25. Asumberger
    Aug 7, 2020
    1
    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
  26. Irvin432crit
    Jul 24, 2020
    1
    I find some very similar sounds this seems very repetitive no innovation in fiona
  27. samytest
    Jul 24, 2020
    0
    No me gusto el álbum. Simplemente siento que Fiona tiene mejores propuestas. Se quedo corta de creatividad.
  28. andrewventi
    Jul 24, 2020
    2
    Not my vibe. Too alternative for my personal liking. Couldn't really take a good listen to it.
  29. GendelRoses
    Jul 24, 2020
    0
    I DONT LIKE THIS, HER VOICE IS SO DISG*STING AND THE ALBUM IS SO BORING WTF IS THIS
  30. EstehAmilar
    Jul 24, 2020
    1
    I decided to give it a try after seeing all the praise being given to this album and I have to say, it's so boring. I love Fiona, Criminal is one of my jems but it's not nearly as good as I expected.
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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 »