The Lilith Fair revolution of the late '90s certainly introduced a lot of great female-centric music into the universe, though a great deal of it ended up being forgettable. It seemed like for every Erykah Badu breaking boundaries and exploring new territories, there were dozens of Chantal Kreviazuks just strumming and crooning. Fiona Apple seemed like she would be one of the performers leaving a long-lasting impression, and though she has gotten lost in the shuffle in the new millennium, she did leave an unforgettable mark on music.
On this day in 1996, Apple's debut album Tidal hit store shelves and introduced the world to her particular brand of rock, which drew inspiration from R&B, folk, jazz and alt-rock, just for good measure. Her point of view was that of a more grounded Tori Amos, as her tales of heartbreak and relationship complications were colored by neglect, abuse and rage. Tidal is a profoundly dark album, featuring a handful of mysterious dirges that create haunting moods inside which Apple's breathy, expressive voice could live.
Tidal ended up being a double-edged sword for Apple, as it became a huge hit. It sold over three million copies and made Apple a radio and MTV staple with tracks like "Shadowboxer," "Sleep to Dream" and her biggest hit, "Criminal." The latter turned Apple into a complicated icon, as the song's video (directed by auteur Mark Romanek) featured her barely dressed in a number of demure poses that cast her as a sex object rather than than an empowered artist. Nearly a decade-and-a-half later, it still feels as intense (and as problematic) as it was then.
