In contrast to many of her faux-eccentric contemporaries, this wolf in waif's clothing seems to be genuinely astray in the straight world. Moreover, Fiona Apple is a real talent. When The Pawn picks up where her eye-opening debut, Tidal, left off. With Jon Brion back in the producer's seat, the twosome concoct a heady, keyboard-heavy soundscape that perfectly complements the singer's assertive, dangerously sexy Nina Simone-meets-Chrissie Hynde delivery. Unforeseen embellishments colour the arrangements, including the sinister carnival interlude in "On the Bound", the George Harrison-like guitar in "Mistake" and the drum solo in "Limp". All Brion's enhancements are in service of Apple, who comes through with preternaturally confident expressions of insecure sentiments ("Change my mind, I can't decide, there's too many variations to consider") and cold-eyed accounts of recrimination and self-recrimination. Cohesive, gutsy, and finely honed, When The Pawn pummels any notions of a sophomore slump. A character, yes, but what an artist, too! --Steven Stolder