Critics have been raving about Fiona Apple‘s recent performances at South by Southwest and in a few select East Coast cities, amping up the anticipation for her long-awaited fourth album. Now, finally, those of us who weren’t able to score tickets to any of her sold-out shows get our first taste of The Idler Wheel. “Every Single Night”, the first new song Apple has released in seven years, hit the Web today. It’s a surprisingly understated choice for a first single, especially from such a highly anticipated release. Apple’s powerful voice croons over a delicate, jazzy melody, shifting into a kind of Native American-sounding refrain. It’s a distant cousin to her chart-topping “Criminal,” but “Night” is a brilliant example of Apple’s quirky songwriting virtuosity, just the kind of thing we’ve come to expect of her over the last 16 years.
NEXT: Nelly Furtado is back with “Big Hoops”
JON
I don’t care much for Nelly Furtado’s new song ‘Big Hoops’.
Weak lyrics and more technology than music.
I’ve heard her do a lot better in the past.
She is very talented and should put out music of higher quality that will stand the test of time. It’s more a ‘flavor-of-the-month’.
marcus
dying for fiona’s new album!
Aedan
Fiona Apple’s song? Brilliant. Absolutely lovely and it really excites me for her upcoming album. It’s been far too long.
Nelly Furtado’s song? Passable. I was not a fan of her first album- but her second album blew me away. It was unique, fun, powerful and felt like something completely her own. Her third album had a few songs that stood out for me but I was saddened by the apparent homogenized route she was taking. Even more sad is the fact that this newest release proves that it wasn’t a one-off deal like her second remarkable album. She seems to be going even further into generic hip-hop/dance-club music. And while it’s definitely catchy and enjoyed it there wasn’t much to distinguish it from a thousand and one other songs that have recently flooded the clubs.
adam
What I like about Fiona Apple is that she has never been one to follow the trend or the gimmick. I remember when Britney was big in the early 2000’s but Fiona went on stage at an awards show and gave what I thought was a veiled dismissal of Britney and all the other AutoTuned female clones. Fiona basically said to think for yourself, don’t let yourself be influenced by marketing, stick by your principles etc etc etc.
It really increased my respect for her.
Tommy
I”m a big Fiona Apple fan, but I don’t care for this particular song. Hopefully there will be better songs on the album.
DouggSeven
I like it. Not sure how it’ll do commercially, but I don’t think she or her record label are anticipating Adele type numbers.
DouggSeven
@DouggSeven: Oh, I was talking about the Fiona track, I can’t be bothered to listen to the others.