Thirteen years after her second studio album (with the second longest title in history to date), When the Pawn Hits the Conflicts He Thinks Like a King What He
Knows Throws the Blows When He Goes to the Fight and He'll Win the Whole
Thing 'Fore He Enters the Ring There's No Body to Batter When Your Mind
Is Your Might So When You Go Solo, You Hold Your Own Hand and Remember
That Depth Is the Greatest of Heights and If You Know Where You Stand,
Then You Know Where to Land and If You Fall It Won't Matter, Cuz You'll
Know That You're Right, and seven years after her third, Extraordinary Machine, Apple returns with The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do, a brilliant work of moody, yet vibrant songs all in the same go, something that could apply to most of her music, but the latest entry is comprised more of minimal instrumentation and vocals born of pain and acceptance (of self and / or the situation) crooned, moaned, or launched deep from within the gut.
So, while not a departure from clever minor-key tonality reflections on the precarious line between the desires to be loved and left alone, The Idler Wheel... is a very welcome addition to Apple's discography.
