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. DarcenBrandt
    May 1, 2020
    1
    How on this earth does this rate a 10? Absolutely horrible album. Sounds like someone strangling a goat. Theres got to be at least one song to grab you and keep you interested till you catch up with the rest. Anyone who rates this higher than a 3 is a hipster! The uglier something is the more they like it. Well at least till lots of people start liking it and than its not to the nextHow on this earth does this rate a 10? Absolutely horrible album. Sounds like someone strangling a goat. Theres got to be at least one song to grab you and keep you interested till you catch up with the rest. Anyone who rates this higher than a 3 is a hipster! The uglier something is the more they like it. Well at least till lots of people start liking it and than its not to the next terrible album. You lot need to get your ears and head checked. Even the cover and title are horrible. I'm giving it a 1 because I can understand some of the words at least.… Expand
  2. BBlake
    Apr 17, 2020
    3
    Meh. It's good if you're already a fan of Fiona Apple. Unlikely to convince you if you're not.
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. pastorman
    May 2, 2020
    3
    I have enjoyed the early releases by Fiona Apple but this release did nothing for me. No emotional connection, no earworms, no groove to nod my head to. I just didn't grab my ears.
  6. 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.
  7. bushyforest
    Oct 23, 2020
    0
    I gave it a try but just couldn't even finish listening. Maybe it's just not my taste.
  8. elras
    Apr 26, 2020
    1
    Tremendamente sobrevalorado, original si, pero inaudible y pretencioso. No entiendo las críticas aquí recibidas.
  9. cterryr2
    Apr 28, 2020
    3
    Fiona is dripping with talent no doubt. No doubt. I personally do not like this music. Feels closer to hip hop than alt rock. Mostly fast spoken words and not singing. Lots of percussions but they sound like fake, computer instruments. Nothing I could find sweeps me away. No amazing piano or guitar solo. No sweeping vocals. Not my kind of music at all. Is it good? If you like hip hop youFiona is dripping with talent no doubt. No doubt. I personally do not like this music. Feels closer to hip hop than alt rock. Mostly fast spoken words and not singing. Lots of percussions but they sound like fake, computer instruments. Nothing I could find sweeps me away. No amazing piano or guitar solo. No sweeping vocals. Not my kind of music at all. Is it good? If you like hip hop you may like it. If you are huge fan of Pro Tools you may like it. I don't. Not my thing. Maybe she just had too much coffee?… Expand
  10. N1A
    May 3, 2020
    3
    Lyrics! Lyrics are good, for sure. But it all sounds messy and faded. I'm obsessed with non-Pop music (Florence+Machine, the 1975, FKA Twigs and other), but this stuff left me unsatisfied and disappointed. The best music album ever by Metacritic score, but it's not looked and sound like that. Want through album once I realized that this is kind of experience I will never want to have again.
  11. 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.
  12. nick-ebag
    Apr 28, 2020
    0
    I thought it would be fun to go through some of the more asinine and truly senseless "reviews", [ https://bit.ly/3f1giEK ] since there really are so many that display what makes this album one of the strongest of the year so far.
  13. DayStormDanny
    Jul 4, 2020
    3
    Fiona Apple at her most subdued. I love the way she honed her craft on that album. With this lush, smooth, highly melodic, warm and jazz-tinged collection of songs, she channels her inner Joni Mitchell as this album is deeply rooted in the '70s Laurel Canyon folk tradition. Ladies is obviously an homage to Ladies of the Canyon. This album will not only appeal to her fans. Fans of Joni,Fiona Apple at her most subdued. I love the way she honed her craft on that album. With this lush, smooth, highly melodic, warm and jazz-tinged collection of songs, she channels her inner Joni Mitchell as this album is deeply rooted in the '70s Laurel Canyon folk tradition. Ladies is obviously an homage to Ladies of the Canyon. This album will not only appeal to her fans. Fans of Joni, Carole King, Laura Nyro, Juddee Still and other great singer-songwriters will find plenty to enjoy here. Probably not the best album of the year but a worthy comeback nonetheless. (Updated my review - I quickly grew tired of this album, despite all of the risk-taking)… Expand
  14. seakiing
    May 16, 2020
    0
    Horrible sounds, all **** don't know why this album gets a 100, don't make sense
  15. Erocka
    May 8, 2020
    0
    A bad bad album. Can't dance to it. Can't nod your head to the rhythm. Dogs barking through random beats does not make a good song. The only time this music could ever be played is in front of an abstract improv. Even then, people would be waiting for it to be over. Someone had to pay off the critics for their reviews or they aren't real people.
  16. OkanaganIrish
    May 9, 2020
    0
    Tried for the third and final time to listen to this acclaimed "masterpiece." Absolute tuneless drivel without an ounce of melody. So many hipsters have to prove they're cool by praising garbage like this. It's fine to like what you like, but no one will convince me this is great music. Joni Mitchell did this style of music one million times better 50 years ago. Those praising this albumTried for the third and final time to listen to this acclaimed "masterpiece." Absolute tuneless drivel without an ounce of melody. So many hipsters have to prove they're cool by praising garbage like this. It's fine to like what you like, but no one will convince me this is great music. Joni Mitchell did this style of music one million times better 50 years ago. Those praising this album are the same group who insist Radiohead were better after OK Computer, when we all know that's simply not true.… Expand
  17. deibiddx
    Apr 28, 2020
    0
    Here it is - the most overrated album of all time. The ultimate definition of musical mediocrity that can be sold because talentless journalists said it`s good.
  18. GouldiggersNati
    Apr 28, 2020
    0
    Tremendo flop sobrevalorado por sus 3 fans, ya ni melosentada tuvo tanta sobrevaloración
  19. nikolaynegodnik
    May 16, 2020
    0
    Сотка от критиков сделала своё дело. Никакого эмэйзинга и пёрфекта ту би хёрд у альбома нет. Альбом можно назвать странным и через чур желающим показаться особенным. Однако переборщили с необычностью и состряпали чёртову дюжину без какой-либо динамики. Очень похоже на соло ковыряние в пресетах Фрути Лупса и расстановку в хаотичном порядке (!) кирпичиков в пиано ролле. Музыка подойдёт дляСотка от критиков сделала своё дело. Никакого эмэйзинга и пёрфекта ту би хёрд у альбома нет. Альбом можно назвать странным и через чур желающим показаться особенным. Однако переборщили с необычностью и состряпали чёртову дюжину без какой-либо динамики. Очень похоже на соло ковыряние в пресетах Фрути Лупса и расстановку в хаотичном порядке (!) кирпичиков в пиано ролле. Музыка подойдёт для сериальных перебивок с громкостью на 30% и записи в титры, которые никто не смотрит. После Тяжёлого Воздушного Шара все песни подлежат перемотке. Интерес к альбому вызвала только сотка от обожравшихся белены критиков.… Expand
  20. Bazza
    May 4, 2020
    0
    This woman is stealing a living. The music is so incredibly bland, she is trying way too hard to be different and there is literally nothing that can possibly draw anyone to her music. It doesn't evoke emotion, it doesn't give you goosebumps... it's entirely mediocre and the album so far receiving 100/100 is proof that equally poor journalists and reviewers that cater to the mass and chartThis woman is stealing a living. The music is so incredibly bland, she is trying way too hard to be different and there is literally nothing that can possibly draw anyone to her music. It doesn't evoke emotion, it doesn't give you goosebumps... it's entirely mediocre and the album so far receiving 100/100 is proof that equally poor journalists and reviewers that cater to the mass and chart lovers can sell trite like this. Now all the users suddenly believe it's an amazing album because magazines and websites say so. Ugh.… Expand
  21. ARTCR1T1C
    Jul 8, 2020
    0
    Garbage. Despite its length, the songs sound unfinished and all of them are repetitive, the lyrics doesn't really have a deep meaning for it to be considered "best album of the year". I don't know why the critics think that just for being a crafty album means that is pure art and deserves the best reviews; it isn't all that, it doesn't bring anything new to the table, it's plain boring,Garbage. Despite its length, the songs sound unfinished and all of them are repetitive, the lyrics doesn't really have a deep meaning for it to be considered "best album of the year". I don't know why the critics think that just for being a crafty album means that is pure art and deserves the best reviews; it isn't all that, it doesn't bring anything new to the table, it's plain boring, and, honestly, it's exhausting to listen to it, especially with all the expectations that a "98" album brings. Basic, pretentious, and completely overrated, and the fact that it's shoved down our throats makes it even worse than it already is.… Expand
  22. Real_g22
    Jun 1, 2020
    1
    Honestamente no me hicieron sentido los ritmos de este álbum. Entendí el concepto del título más no lo ví representado en ninguna parte del álbum. Vocales muy aburridos y monotonos de una buena cantante. Yo como hablante hispano no disfrute nada este álbum y creo que cualquier persona que lo escuché simplemente lo sentirá aburrido y con falta de ese factor que nos hace querer escuchar unHonestamente no me hicieron sentido los ritmos de este álbum. Entendí el concepto del título más no lo ví representado en ninguna parte del álbum. Vocales muy aburridos y monotonos de una buena cantante. Yo como hablante hispano no disfrute nada este álbum y creo que cualquier persona que lo escuché simplemente lo sentirá aburrido y con falta de ese factor que nos hace querer escuchar un álbum una y otra vez. Todas las canciones son los mismos sonidos. Quizás las líricas son muy buenas pero no algo excepcional, No entiendo la alta puntuación de este álbum honestamente.… Expand
  23. FatLadRoss
    Apr 21, 2020
    3
    This album sounds like it was made by a 10 year old having a tantrum after being told they can't get Animal Crossing on the Switch!

    No seriously, I now know that I am uncool, not down with it and have no idea what constitutes a good album anymore. Which is fine with me as long as I don't have to listen to this again! This album has rave reviews but I have no idea how, it's drivel.    This album sounds like it was made by a 10 year old having a tantrum after being told they can't get Animal Crossing on the Switch!

    No seriously, I now know that I am uncool, not down with it and have no idea what constitutes a good album anymore. Which is fine with me as long as I don't have to listen to this again!

    This album has rave reviews but I have no idea how, it's drivel. It's a mash of noises and poor singing, shouting and screeching. If you like that sort of thing which people obviously do then power to you, however I like my music more enjoyable.

    My pretentious score for this album is 165 out of 10!    … Expand
  24. sab123
    Apr 21, 2020
    3
    Obviously it's just my opinion, but really, music shouldn't be this much hard work to listen to. Some melody here or there and a few less discordant notes wouldn't go astray.
  25. 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.
  26. TakeMeAway
    Jul 23, 2020
    3
    I've tried to like it but i just couldn't, it doesn't make me feel anything
  27. Swiftie1989love
    Aug 28, 2020
    0
    It is boring, repetitive, it leaves you without wanting to listen to it again,
  28. nikris
    Aug 29, 2020
    0
    It is boring, repetitive, it leaves you without wanting to listen to it again
  29. Putsman
    Apr 18, 2020
    1
    Meh. Doesn’t sound like anything I’d want to listen to again after one go.
  30. eldieguisss
    Jun 16, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Spoiler!! Te dormirás oyendo esto!!
    Mejor ve a reproducir SAWAYAMA es muchísimo mejor!!    … Expand
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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 »