When the Pawn...

Last updated

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

Release

The first single, "Fast as You Can", was fairly popular and received moderate radio and video airplay. It reached the top 20 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and became Apple's first top 40 hit on the UK Singles Chart. The follow-up singles, "Limp" and especially "Paper Bag", which was nominated for a Grammy Award, were less successful. Apple's boyfriend at the time, filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson, directed videos for all three singles. [12]

In 2019, Apple collaborated with King Princess on a cover of "I Know". The song was released for Spotify's RISE program on January 25. [13]

A reissue by Vinyl Me Please was announced in 2020 featuring a new cover chosen by Fiona herself, marking the album's first ever vinyl pressing. [14]

Reception

When the Pawn...
Fiona apple when the pawn.jpg
Studio album by
Fiona Apple
ReleasedNovember 9, 1999
Recorded1998–1999
Studio
Various
    • Andora Studio
    • Chateau Brion Studio
    • NRG Recording Studios
    • Ocean Way Studio
    • One On One South
    • Presence Studios
    • Woodwinds
Genre
Length42:39
Label
Producer Jon Brion
Fiona Apple chronology
Tidal
(1996)		When the Pawn...
(1999)		 Extraordinary Machine
(2005)
Vinyl cover
When The Pawn 2020 Vinyl Cover.png
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 79/100 [15]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [16]
Chicago Sun-Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [17]
Entertainment Weekly A [18]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [19]
The Independent Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [20]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [21]
NME 5/10 [22]
Pitchfork 8.0/10 (1999) [23]
9.4/10 (2019) [24]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [25]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [26]
Slant Magazine Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [27]
Spin 8/10 [28]
The Village Voice A− [29]

In comparison to Apple's debut album Tidal , Harrington stated, "When the Pawn is a decidedly more mature work that trades in youthful melodrama for somber ruminations on shattered relationships and romantic obsession". [8] In The New Rolling Stone Album Guide , Jenny Eliscu states that Pawn is "more musically complex and melodically advanced" than the previous album, while focusing on Apple's "sultry voice and moody piano playing". [3] Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone gave the album three-and-a-half out of five stars, calling it "richer, deeper and stronger than Tidal, in every way", with "a far more muscular approach to both the songs and the singing". [26]

Entertainment Weekly 's David Browne awarded the album an A grade, praising Jon Brion's production as well as Apple's songwriting: "Apple hasn't gained much in psychic confidence following the success of Tidal. On When the Pawn..., Apple presents herself as a mental shambles, and she's more than happy to tell us about it." [18] Pitchfork originally gave the album a score of eight out of ten, with reviewer Chip Chanko praising Apple's lyrics, writing: "[Apple] seems older. Her voice is full of a heartfelt soul that seems almost timeless. While Billie Holiday would never have considered the possibility of lines like, 'It won't be long till you'll be/ Lying limp in your own hand,' Apple executes them flawlessly with a modern passion." [30] Amy Linden of Vibe wrote: "When the Pawn... is full of images that resonate. Apple's a sad, sultry woman with a sense of who she is—even if that person isn't someone she wants to be. Once again, her pain brings us joy." [31] In contrast, Piers Martin of NME rated it a 5 out of 10, calling it Apple's "second album of Amos-aping MTV-branded Lilith Fair fodder." [22]

On the U.S. Billboard 200 , When the Pawn... debuted at number 13 with 103,000 copies sold in first week. [32] As of 2005, sales of the album in the United States had exceeded 922,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. [33] On March 26, 2020, When the Pawn.. was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. [34]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Fiona Apple, except as noted; arrangements and orchestration by John Bainbridge.

No.TitleLength
1."On the Bound"5:22
2."To Your Love"3:40
3."Limp"3:29
4."Love Ridden"3:22
5."Paper Bag"3:39
6."A Mistake"4:56
7."Fast as You Can"4:38
8."The Way Things Are"4:16
9."Get Gone"4:07
10."I Know"4:55
Total length:42:39
Japanese edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Across the Universe" Lennon–McCartney 5:11
12."Never Is a Promise" (Live) 6:12

Personnel

Musicians

Additional musicians

Technical personnel

  • Jon Brion – producer, mixing engineer, assistant engineer
  • Rich Costey – mixing engineer
  • Eddy Scheyer – mastering engineer
  • Ian Sefchick – mastering engineer (2020 LP)
  • Tom Banghart, Rob Brill, Greg Collins, Bryan Jackson, Steve Mixdorf, John Tyree – assistant engineer
  • Fiona Apple – design, cover art concept

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ) [44] Gold100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [45] Silver60,000‡
United States (RIAA) [46] Platinum1,000,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Notes

  1. ↑ Full title 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.

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References

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  14. ↑ "VMP on Instagram: "♟ at long last... 'When the Pawn' is here on 180g black vinyl for the first time ever. With a new cover picked by Fiona Apple herself, and a special price for VMP members."".
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  35. ↑ bass, keyboards, vibraphone, guitars, drums, percussion
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