When the Pawn Hits the Conflicts He Thinks Like a King What He Knows Throws the Blows When He ... by Fiona Apple (CD, Nov-1999, Epic USA)

Fiona Apple's "Tidal" is a beautiful, well-rounded album. That said, her second album, "When the Pawn...," is extraordinarily mature and a perfect follow-up. After showing us she could sing about heartbreak and failed relationships, she comes back to show us that she can kick ass while getting over the men who broke her heart in the first place. "When the Pawn..." demonstrates her piano skills, which are quite elevated, to a higher degree. Her music composition is also more complicated and evolved, and her lyrics are more compelling than ever.
Apple is clearly multi-talented, since she can write very precise lyrics (by themselves, many could stand as contemporary poetry), compose complex and innovative music, and play the piano with impeccable technique.
All in all, Fiona Apple is a powerhouse of a musician and artist. "When the Pawn..." is simply evidence of this. Three thumbs up!
(And if you like this CD, make sure you also purchase "Extraordinary Machine" - her most accomplished and impressive album yet!)