Free pics of Fiona Apple

"With the songs, the writing, the work in the studio," Fiona Apple says, "this time it was a lot more me--an uninhibited me, a confident me."

She's talking, with justifiable pride, of her new album: 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. (The album is released November 9, 1999 on Clean Slate/Epic.)

That extraordinary title, however, is only a foretaste of the extraordinary music it proclaims. When The Pawn is soul music of a remarkably ambitious and highly original kind. Impressionistic string arrangements meet funky hip-hop rhythms and syncopations that hearken the spirit of jazz; lyrics of rare truth-telling set up an intimate conversation between artist and listener; and singing of sheer, strong beauty inspires and resonates. "Fast As You Can" is the first single and video--the latter directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, Magnolia) who also lensed Fiona's striking video for "Across The Universe," the Lennon/McCartney song she interpreted on the Pleasantville soundtrack.

Out of virtually nowhere, 19-year-old Fiona Apple established herself a visionary singer and songwriter with her 1996 debut album Tidal. With gems like "Shadowboxer," "Criminal," and "Sleep to Dream," the vocalist/pianist reaped critical and commercial success almost overnight. As aficionados found echoes in her songs of such legends as Nina Simone and Carole King, Apple found herself at the vanguard of contemporary pop. Released in July 1996, Tidal went gold in December and currently is certified triple platinum for sales of more than three million copies.