This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you—if you make a purchase.
Fiona Apple is my favorite artist of all time.
There are others I deeply love, and many that are more niche,
But no one has the longevity, the raw growth, and the evolution Fiona does.
Her discography spans nearly three decades, and the space between her albums is part of what makes them so powerful.
She doesn’t rush expression.
She lets life happen, then writes the aftermath.
But let’s start at the beginning:
Tidal, released in 1996.
Fiona’s debut.
The Genre and Feel
Generally labeled as pop, Tidal blends jazz, blues, and alternative into something that doesn’t quite fit in any one box.
It’s emotional, complex, sultry, and unfiltered.
I actually listened to this album last out of all her projects.
Which is wild, because it’s one of her best.
My Ranking (Best to Least Favorite)
- Shadowboxer – Has me in a chokehold. Every time I hear it I can't help but sing along with vicious passion.
- Carrion – I used to listen to this every day on my way to and from work. It feels like the midwest in a song.
- Sleep to Dream – One of the strongest openers to any album I’ve heard. Confident, bold, addictive, like an anthem.
- Criminal – This used to be my absolute least favorite Fiona Apple song for so long, but after making this blog post and attempting again, and again, and again, I finally came around and I love it so much.
- Sullen Girl – Actually hypnotizing.
- The First Taste
- Slow Like Honey
- The Child Is Gone
- Pale September
- Never Is a Promise
Final Thoughts
Tidal proves how ahead of her time Fiona was, and still is.
Her voice, her writing, her melodies…
It’s all so vivid.
So real.
Even though I listened to it last, it instantly made its way to the top of my favorites.
It’s personal. It’s powerful. It’s so Fiona.
Rating: 9/10
This album cemented her as an artist who doesn't just sing, she speaks.
And I can’t wait to write about the rest.