Extraordinary Machine - Review

I had never heard of Fiona Apple until I went for some makeup lessons at M-A-C Cosmetics. I learned alot about how to do my makeup, and the added bonus was learning about Fiona Apple and her new Album, Extraordinary Machines. It is a very good album and it has meaning for many kinds of people. Two songs in particular, talk of the uniqueness of people and how amazing they either are or are becoming.

In the title track, “Extraordinary Machine” Fiona sings:

If there was a better way to go then it would find me

I can’t help the road just rolls out behind me

Be kind to me, or treat me mean

I’ll make the most of it, I’m an extraordinary machine

It’s a great line from a very well written, sung and produced song. And how many of us (trans or not) couldn’t identify with those verses. Coming to grips and hopefully at peace with our own lives, we may indeed come to the conclusion that if there was a better way to go, it would find you.

In “Better Version of Me” Fiona has some equally interesting lines:

I am likely to miss the main event

If I stop to cry or complain again

So I will keep a deliberate pace

Let the damned breeze dry my face

I won’t give away some other yummy tidbits from that song, but I think you’ll agree, when you listen, that it’s not just catchy, but it will give you pause to think as well. Maybe in your life and mine we’ll realize that stopping to cry and complain isn’t going to do anything, but keeping a deliberate pace moving forward will. Overall the album is well produced, it’s a joy to listen to. It is also uncommon music. What I mean by that is that it’s not the same top-40 watered down pap that you hear on the radio. It’s far better. With much more variety and excellent musical skills being demonstrated. And that not clinically, but richly with deep feeling. It’s really a joy to listen to.

Go pick up “Extraordinary Machines”, it’s a very good album, that is not only meaningful, but fun as well. At the end, you too may come to the conclusion that you are an Extraordinary Machine.