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. 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
  2. panzcoolg
    Nov 20, 2020
    10
    APPLE, YET AGAIN, EXCELS IN WHAT SHE DOES BEST: CONVEYING EMOTION TO THE LISTENER USING WHATEVER MEANS POSSIBLE.
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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.
  6. EnriqueBallinas
    Dec 1, 2020
    10
    This album has so much power, it is pure perfection and everyone should listen to it at least once.
  7. 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.
  8. Jackprior
    Feb 23, 2021
    10
    Love this album so much. Has fantastic lyrics and Uses a wide range of instruments.
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. sugarbaby3
    Jan 9, 2021
    10
    raw, emotional, and real every song every lyric every sound was crafted by an artist
  12. Jrpacnw
    Mar 29, 2021
    10
    Wow. Just...wow.
  13. BillboardPH
    Apr 9, 2021
    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.
  14. 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
  15. georgiarose888
    Apr 17, 2021
    10
    I feel like Fiona has a window into my soul, I have always said if anyone would like to get to know me, all they have to do is listen to her entire discography. Fetch the Boltcutters is a welcome addition to my psyche.
  16. 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!
  17. WheresTheGay
    May 18, 2021
    10
    Wow, I was wary at first but now this album is all I think about. Unconventional and wise. Fiona Apple at her best.
  18. xbluefairytale
    May 18, 2021
    10
    This album is definitely a grower. I didn't like it at first, but now I'm listening at least once a week. It's innovative, original and completely out of the box. It might not be appealing to everyone
  19. finnster04
    Jun 16, 2021
    10
    A fantastically enjoyable and interesting album the whole way through. I can listen to it endlessly and never get bored.
  20. 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.
  21. 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.
  22. lwtos
    Nov 13, 2021
    10
    Its above this world! "Fetch the bolt cutters" and "Norman F*cking Rockwell" are maybe the bests albums ever.
  23. 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.
  24. After_peep08
    Jul 15, 2022
    10
    she's such an icon and this is perfect. fiona apple IS the music industry forever
  25. 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 [:
  26. 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
  27. 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
  28. shadowfetch
    Jun 12, 2022
    10
    the best album of 2020, fiona managed to outdo herself with this work of art.
  29. 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.
  30. 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.
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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 »