Fiona Apple's latest, The Idler Wheel Is Wiser..., isn't as immediately approachable as her previous effort, Extraordinary Machine. It's a rawer, sparer album that doesn't flaunt the immediate indie-pop hooks of Tidal or the jazzy theatricality of When the Pawn..., and I imagine those who already can't stand Apple because of her precocious-naif persona will find plenty to object to here. Fine, but I do love listening to the stories on The Idler Wheel, which start emerging once you wrap your ear around the piano-and-percussion arrangements. I think "Regret," which isn't the most outwardly catchy tune, is a good Rorschach test for the whole album. If you can get into its lyrical specificity and scruffy, handmade aesthetic, I think you're ready for the record.
