Fiona Apple To Release Extraordinary Machine
Acclaimed artist Fiona Apple has completed her highly anticipated third album Extraordinary Machine and it will be released by Epic Records on October 4, 2005. Extraordinary Machine, produced by Mike Elizondo (Dr. Dre, Eminem and 50 Cent) and co-produced by Brian Kehew, contains twelve new tracks from this groundbreaking artist.
“Now that my album is finally finished, I am very, very excited to have people hear what we did – I am so proud of it, and all of us who worked on it.” says Fiona Apple.
As most on the Internets know, this to-be-released third album will be a retooled version of the leaked tracks that has been available on various bittorrent sites. The 12-song CD includes nine new versions of material that had been circulated on said P2P network, two previously leaked songs and one brand-new one, "Parting Gift."
Upon listening to the two tracks available on the official website, I have the feeling that this new version of the album will be reminiscent of tracks from Tidal. The main track on the website, "O' Sailor," did not seemed to have via too far from the Jon Brion-produced version that was leaked. The main annoyance I had was with the chorus toward the end that was added.
One thing that had me wondering was the little fact that had been floating around of why Fiona's new album was shelved in the first place: the lack of radio-friendly singles. If the retooled "O' Sailor" is worthy of release on the website--marketed as a new single through sales on music download services like iTunes--then what are the real reasons for pushing back the release dates on this album.
Perhaps we all should believe that, in the end, the album was not up to what Fiona herself wanted released. But then that would be a real disappointment since the leaked tracks were nothing short of inspired. After following her musical journey through When the Pawn . . . , the leaked Extraordinary Machine seemed like a natural progression for her musically.
Though the retooled tracks will sound "radically different," according to the now-credited producer Mike Elizondo, from the Jon Brion-produced renditions, one can only wish that the as-yet-released album will retain what was best from that collaboration.
