Fiona Apple’s 2020 album hit hard in the early Covid era because it was uniquely suited to the new quarantine culture. It was a vivid artistic explosion from a woman who basically lives in quarantine herself all the time — the perfect hero for the moment.

I spent a week digging in to the celebrated album’s music and themes.

Introduction and ‘Fetch the Bolt Cutters’

Female empowerment and ‘Ladies’

Overcoming trauma and ‘Shameika’

Use of percussion and ‘Rack of His’

Why this is a solitary album and ‘Heavy Balloon’