The Idler Wheel Is Wiser than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More than Ropes Will Ever Do
by Fiona Apple
  • Record Label: Epic
  • Release Date: Jun 19, 2012
User Score
8.8

Universal acclaim- based on 353 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 319 out of 353
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 353
  3. Negative: 25 out of 353
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  1. arlp96
    Jun 24, 2012
    0
    THE IDLER... is one the most overrated albums that i counl hear in my entire life, its a completely waste of time try to understand every song that conposed this album, i love Fiona's interpretation but the album like a whole thing don't convince me, maybe is the meaningless lyrics or the awful and akward rithm, i cannot say more of this album, never will be a masterpiece like Adele's 21,THE IDLER... is one the most overrated albums that i counl hear in my entire life, its a completely waste of time try to understand every song that conposed this album, i love Fiona's interpretation but the album like a whole thing don't convince me, maybe is the meaningless lyrics or the awful and akward rithm, i cannot say more of this album, never will be a masterpiece like Adele's 21, recently named one of the best album ever play by a female singer, this is that i call a good album, I'm sorry Fiona, good luck to the next try.… Collapse
  2. frankenbutt
    Sep 4, 2012
    2
    This album has lead me to the conclusion that what I actually like (or liked) about Fiona is the influence of Jon Brion. Without him, she produces unfocussed, poorly structured and unsatisfying music. I appreciate the experimental harmonic language, but it just sits there and doesn't go anywhere interesting. I did like the track 'Jonathon', which did feel like it had some guts, depthThis album has lead me to the conclusion that what I actually like (or liked) about Fiona is the influence of Jon Brion. Without him, she produces unfocussed, poorly structured and unsatisfying music. I appreciate the experimental harmonic language, but it just sits there and doesn't go anywhere interesting. I did like the track 'Jonathon', which did feel like it had some guts, depth and structure, but the rest was just a mess. I'm not sure what happened with Brion, but I sure wish they would patch things up and make music as good as they did on Pawn and Extraordinary Machine (The Brion version). Severely disappointed.… Expand
  3. terra22
    Aug 1, 2022
    0
    I don’t mind the new Fiona Apple album, but it’s going to inspire a **** of bad music. What other good albums have left a legacy of rubbish imitators?

Awards & Rankings

5
#5 Best Album of 2012
17
#17 Most Discussed Album of 2012
37
#37 Most Shared Album of 2012

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
89

Universal acclaim - based on 35 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 35
  3. Negative: 0 out of 35
  1. The Guardian
    Dec 20, 2012
    80
    It's an album that demands something of the listener, but rewards it in spades.
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  2. Expert Witness (MSN Music)
    Jul 24, 2012
    91
    An album that's damn catchy after all.
    Read full review
  3. Austin Chronicle
    Jul 19, 2012
    67
    Still the same Fiona Apple: bigger than "all the fishes in the sea."
    Read full review
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