The Idler Wheel...

Following the delays and controversy surrounding the release of Extraordinary Machine (2005), Apple began recording new material for her fourth studio album in secret, including from her label, Epic Records. When asked by BlackBook magazine when the recording sessions began, Apple remarked, "It must have started in 2008. Or 2009. I don't know! I have no idea. It's weird to think that there was 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011. Where've I been? What was I doing? What was that year about?"{{cite web|last=Coates |first=Tyler |url=http://www.blackbookmag.com/music/the-long-and-winding-road-that-leads-to-fiona-apple-1.49114 |title=The Long and Winding Road That Leads to Fiona Apple |work=BlackBook |date=May 31, 2012 |access-date=June 3, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603033544/http://www.blackbookmag.com/music/the-long-and-winding-road-that-leads-to-fiona-apple-1.49114 |archive-date=June 3, 2012 }} Apple elaborated,

{{cquote|It was very casual, and I wasn't fully admitting that I was making an album, I got to use the time in the studio to inspire me to finish other things rather than feel like I was finishing homework to hand in. It wasn't a lot of pressure. And the record company didn't know I was doing it, so nobody was looking over my shoulder.}} Instead of her long-time collaborator Jon Brion, Apple opted to produce the album with her touring drummer, Charley Drayton.{{cite news |last=Pareles |first=Jon |author-link=Jon Pareles |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/arts/music/fiona-apples-new-album-the-idler-wheel.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all |title=Fiona Apple Faces Outward |work=The New York Times |date=May 30, 2012 |access-date=June 3, 2012}} Executives at Epic found out that Apple had recorded an album in early 2012, when she presented it to them.{{cite web |last=Baron |first=Zach |url=https://www.spin.com/2012/05/fiona-apples-return-idle-no-more/?page=3 |title=Fiona Apple's Return: Idle No More |work=Spin |date=May 31, 2012 |access-date=June 3, 2012}} The album was originally planned for release in 2011, but Apple delayed the release until her label found a new president in 2012, explaining that she "didn't want her work to be mishandled amid corporate disarray." During a secret concert in Los Angeles with Brion, Apple remarked, "I can't remember any of my new songs because they've been done for a fucking year."{{cite magazine |last=Baltin |first=Steve |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/fiona-apple-previews-new-material-at-sxsw-show-20120315 |title=Fiona Apple Previews New Material At SXSW Show |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=March 15, 2012 |access-date=June 3, 2012}} In January 2012, L.A. Reid announced through Twitter that new material from Apple would be released later in 2012.{{cite web |last=Mitchell |first=Jon |url=http://newsroom.mtv.com/2012/01/24/la-reid-confirms-new-fiona-apple-music-is-on-the-way/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608204850/http://newsroom.mtv.com/2012/01/24/la-reid-confirms-new-fiona-apple-music-is-on-the-way/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 8, 2012 |title=LA Reid Confirms New Fiona Apple Music Is On The Way |publisher=MTV News. MTV Networks |date=January 24, 2012 |access-date=June 3, 2012}}{{cite web |last=Bain |first=Becky |url=http://idolator.com/6151291/fiona-apple-new-album-la-reid |title=L.A. Reid Confirms New Fiona Apple Music On The Way |publisher=Idolator. Buzz Media |date=January 24, 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=June 3, 2012|quote=Lot's {{sic}} of good music coming from Epic_Records in the next few weeks. Stay tuned music fans. Welcome back Fiona!}}

Apple announced a small tour in early 2012 prompting speculation over a new album.{{cite magazine|url=http://music-mix.ew.com/2012/02/21/fiona-apple-tour-dates-2012-sxsw/|title=Fiona Apple will play at least eight live shows this year -- find the details here|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229192116/http://music-mix.ew.com/2012/02/21/fiona-apple-tour-dates-2012-sxsw/|first=Ray|last=Rahman|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=February 21, 2012|archive-date=February 29, 2012}} Ahead of her first performance on the Idler Wheel Tour, the album and its title were announced.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/45671-fiona-apple-reveals-album-title|title=Fiona Apple Reveals Album Title|first=Carrie|last=Battan|work=Pitchfork|access-date=March 7, 2012|date=February 21, 2012}} The tour marked Apple's first performances outside of Los Angeles in over five years.{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/15/fiona-apple-sxsw-video-npr-showcase_n_1346947.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114035107/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/15/fiona-apple-sxsw-video-npr-showcase_n_1346947.html|title=Fiona Apple SXSW: Singer Performs Seven Years After Her Last Album (VIDEO, PHOTOS)|first=Chris|last=Talbott|work=HuffPost|access-date=March 20, 2012|archive-date=November 14, 2012}} Apple kicked off the tour with two performances at the South by Southwest Festival where she debuted three new songs from The Idler Wheel....The album's first single, "Every Single Night", received positive reviews and was well received by fans and critics.

{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/pm/post/155991-sxsw-music-day-2-fiona-apple-at-pitchfork-showcase/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108091123/https://www.popmatters.com/pm/post/155991-sxsw-music-day-2-fiona-apple-at-pitchfork-showcase/|title=SXSW Music Day 3: Fiona Apple + Grimes (Pitchfork Showcase)|work=PopMatters|archive-date=November 8, 2012|date=March 15, 2012}}{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/19/fiona-apple-valentine_n_1362819.html|title=Fiona Apple's Valentine: Artist Performs New Song Live At SXSW (VIDEO)|first=Amber|last=Genuske|work=HuffPost|access-date=March 20, 2012|date=March 19, 2012}} She released a video for the track "Hot Knife" on July 24, 2013.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/51611-watch-fiona-apples-hot-knife-video-directed-by-paul-thomas-anderson/|title=Watch Fiona Apple's "Hot Knife" Video, Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson|last=Battan|first=Carrie| website=Pitchfork |date=July 24, 2013|access-date=April 28, 2018}}

On June 19, 2012, the same day that The Idler Wheel... was released, Apple began an expansive North American tour to promote the album. The tour kicked off in Ithaca, New York, and finished on July 29 at the Hollywood Palladium. On June 24, Apple performed at the Sunday portion of New York City's Governors Ball Music Festival, which featured acts such as Modest Mouse, Explosions in the Sky and Beck, among others.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1682708/fiona-apple-tour-dates.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120413234238/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1682708/fiona-apple-tour-dates.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 13, 2012|title=Fiona Apple Announces North American Tour Dates|first=James|last=Montgomery|publisher=MTV|access-date=March 20, 2012|date=March 19, 2012}}

The music video for "Every Single Night" premiered on the Sundance Channel on June 10{{cite web|url=http://www.sundancechannel.com/sunfiltered/2012/06/fiona-apple-premiere/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121204032927/http://www.sundancechannel.com/sunfiltered/2012/06/fiona-apple-premiere/|title=Watch: Exclusive premiere of Fiona Apple's new video EVERY SINGLE NIGHT|publisher=Sundance Channel|archive-date=December 4, 2012|date=June 10, 2012}} and was directed by Joseph Cahill.{{cite news|title=Video: Fiona Apple: "Every Single Night"|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/46795-video-fiona-apple-every-single-night/|access-date=June 11, 2012|date=June 9, 2012}} On the same day, the entire album streamed online on NPR.[https://www.npr.org/2012/06/10/154422085/first-listen-fiona-apple-the-idler-wheel First Listen: Fiona Apple, 'The Idler Wheel...'] NPR Music. June 10, 2012 On June 18, Apple made her first television appearance since 2006 on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Apple performed "Anything We Want" with the Roots and celebrated Paul McCartney's 70th birthday by performing "Let Me Roll It" with Jimmy Fallon performing back-up vocals.{{cite web|url=https://stereogum.com/1068841/watch-fiona-apple-play-fallon/video/|title=Watch Fiona Apple Play Fallon|first=Tom|last=Breihan|publisher=Stereogum|access-date=June 21, 2012|date=June 19, 2012}}

A video was also made for the song "Hot Knife" directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Due to shooting conflicts with Anderson's 2012 film The Master, it was not edited and released until July 24, 2013, over a year after the album release and 6 months after the tour finished. "Hot Knife" was never released as a single.

{{Music ratings

| ADM = 8.5/10{{cite web |url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/4646/Fiona-Apple-The-Idler-Wheel-Is-Wiser-Than-The-Driver-Of-The-Screw-And-Whipping-Cords-Will-Serve-You-More-Than-Ropes-Will-Ever-Do.aspx |title=The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do by Fiona Apple reviews |publisher=AnyDecentMusic? |access-date=May 14, 2019}}

| MC = 89/100{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/the-idler-wheel-is-wiser-than-the-driver-of-the-screw-and-whipping-cords-will-serve-you-more-than-ro |title=Reviews for The Idler Wheel Is Wiser than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More than Ropes Will Ever Do by Fiona Apple |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=June 18, 2012}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite web |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-idler-wheel-is-wiser-than-the-driver-of-the-screw-and-whipping-cords-will-serve-you-more-than-ropes-will-ever-do-mw0002332951|title=The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do – Fiona Apple |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=November 16, 2019}}

| rev2 = The A.V. Club

| rev2score = A{{cite web |last=Koski |first=Genevieve |url=https://www.avclub.com/fiona-apple-the-idler-wheel-is-wiser-than-the-driver-o-1798173221 |title=Fiona Apple: The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do |work=The A.V. Club |date=June 19, 2012 |access-date=January 26, 2016}}

| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev3score = A{{cite magazine |last=Maerz |first=Melissa |url=https://ew.com/article/2012/06/14/idler-wheel-review-fiona-apple/ |title=The Idler Wheel... review – Fiona Apple |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=June 14, 2012 |access-date=June 14, 2012}}

| rev4 = The Guardian

| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news |last=Simpson |first=Dave |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/dec/20/fiona-apple-idler-wheel-review |title=Fiona Apple: The Idler Wheel … – review |work=The Guardian |date=December 20, 2012 |access-date=December 20, 2012}}

| rev5 = Los Angeles Times

| rev5score = {{Rating|4|4}}{{cite news |last=Roberts |first=Randall |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2012/06/album-review-fiona-apples-the-idler-wheel-.html |title=Album review: Fiona Apple's 'The Idler Wheel ...' |work=Los Angeles Times |date=June 19, 2012 |access-date=June 19, 2012}}

| rev6 = MSN Music (Expert Witness)

| rev6score = A−{{cite web |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |date=July 24, 2012 |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/ew2012-07.php |title=Fiona Apple/Regina Spektor |work=MSN Music |access-date=July 24, 2012}}

| rev7 = NME

| rev7score = 8/10{{cite web |last=Elan |first=Priya |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/reviews-fiona-apple-13311 |title=Fiona Apple – 'The Idler Wheel...' |work=NME |date=June 18, 2012 |access-date=June 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109025639/http://www.nme.com/reviews/fiona-apple/13311 |archive-date=November 9, 2014}}

| rev8 = Pitchfork

| rev8score = 9.0/10{{cite web |last=Dombal |first=Ryan |url=https://www.pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16732-the-idler-wheel-is-wiser-than-the-driver-of-the-screw-and-whipping-cords-will-serve-you-more-than-ropes-will-ever-do/ |title=Fiona Apple: The Idler Wheel... |work=Pitchfork |date=June 18, 2012 |access-date=June 18, 2012}}

| rev9 = PopMatters

| rev9score = 6/10{{cite web |last=Chinola | first=Enio |url=https://www.popmatters.com/159931-fiona-apple-the-idler-wheel-2495841224.html/ |title=Fiona Apple: The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw... |work=PopMatters |date=June 18, 2012 |access-date=June 18, 2012}}

| rev10 = Rolling Stone

| rev10score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Rosen |first=Jody |author-link=Jody Rosen |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/the-idler-wheel-204355/ |title=The Idler Wheel... |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=June 19, 2012 |access-date=April 5, 2020}}

| rev11 = Spin

| rev11score = 8/10{{cite web |last=Hopper |first=Jessica |url=https://www.spin.com/2012/06/fiona-apple-idler-wheel-wiser-driver-screw-and-whipping-cords-will-serve-you-more-ropes-will/|title=Fiona Apple, 'The Idler Wheel is wiser than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords will serve you more than Ropes will ever do' (Epic) |work=Spin |date=June 18, 2012 |access-date=June 18, 2012}}

}}

The Idler Wheel... received widespread critical acclaim by contemporary music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 89, based on 35 reviews, which indicates "universal acclaim".

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic awarded the album five stars out of five, praising Apple's "magnetic vocals, the human element pulling us into these songs", adding that while the album has similarities to her previous three, it is "stripped of all her carnivalesque accouterments" and there is a new "unwavering determination and cohesion". BBC Music reviewer James Skinner praised the "hopelessly romantic" album and Apple's "expressive" vocals, and considered the album to be her "sparsest work to date".{{cite web |last=Skinner |first=James |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/j2d3 |title=Review of Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel... |work=BBC Music|date=June 11, 2012 |access-date=June 11, 2012}} Blair Kelly of musicOMH said the album is "both roaring with rage and swooning with romance", finding it refreshingly "spare" while its focus is on Apple's "raw, rough and flawed" vocals.{{cite web |first=Blair |last=Kelly |url=http://www.musicomh.com/albums/fiona-apple-2_0612.htm |title=Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do |work=musicOMH |access-date=June 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616121437/http://www.musicomh.com/albums/fiona-apple-2_0612.htm|archive-date=June 16, 2012}} American Songwriter writer Jim Beviglia rated the album four stars out of five, praising its "stark and raw" songs, its "visceral power" and Apple's presentation of "the mixed emotions that accompany the fallout of a broken relationship".{{cite web|url=http://www.americansongwriter.com/2012/06/fiona-apple-the-idler-wheel/|title=Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel... Review |work=American Songwriter|first=Jim|last=Beviglia|date=June 13, 2012|access-date=June 13, 2012}}

Robert Christgau gave the album an A−, calling it "damn catchy", with "few arpeggios, and not much tone color and such", and while Apple "executes simple figures and hammers thick chords, including a few boogie-woogies just to make a point", the album is "mood music". Melissa Maerz of Entertainment Weekly gave the album an A, and regarded it as "highly confessional and creative and temperamental", concluding it "isn't easy listening. But it's worth it." Ryan Dombal of Pitchfork scored the album nine out of ten and called it "the most distilled Fiona Apple album yet", commending its "raw emotion". Consequence of Sound called the album "one of the most daring pop records in recent history", awarding it with four-and-a-half stars out of five.{{cite web |last=Larson |first=Jeremy D. |url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2012/06/album-review-fiona-apple-the-idler-wheel/ |title=Album Review: Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel… |work=Consequence of Sound |date=June 18, 2012 |access-date=June 19, 2012}} Greg Kot of Chicago Tribune gave it three-and-a-half stars out of four, deeming it "more stripped down and turbulent than before", adding that "It makes for a raw, unsettling listen, tempered by shots of dark humor."{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/turnitup/chi-fiona-apple-album-review-the-idler-wheel-reviewed-20120618,0,5611603.column|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621121423/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-06-18/entertainment/chi-fiona-apple-album-review-the-idler-wheel-reviewed-20120618_1_album-review-songs-percussion|title=Album review: Fiona Apple, 'The Idler Wheel ...'|work=Chicago Tribune|first=Greg|last=Kot|date=June 18, 2012|archive-date=June 21, 2012}} NME wrote: "The tension created by the lyrics and music is wonderful and uneasy, ensuring that The Idler Wheel... is endlessly fascinating and unlike anything else you're likely to hear this year."

Jessica Hopper of Spin rated the album eight out of ten, writing that it "relentlessly reassures us that she’s the same old Fiona, still wilding and Weill-ing out" and "the unexpected triumph lies not in the spectacle of the singer raw-dogging her emotions, but in her total command of the anarchy that results". Slant Magazine gave it four stars out of five and called the album "her most dense and ambitious" while it remains "accessible".{{cite web |last=Keefe |first=Jonathan |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/fiona-apple-the-idler-wheel-is-wiser-than-the-driver-of-the-screw-and-whipping-cords-will-serve-you-more-than-ropes-will-ever-do/2803 |title=Fiona Apple: The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw, and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do |work=Slant Magazine|date=June 18, 2012 |access-date=June 18, 2012}} Genevieve Koski of The A.V. Club graded the album an A and said: "The beauty of The Idler Wheel... is how it transmits each of those feelings in excruciating, frank, and lovely detail." Jillian Mapes of Billboard wrote that although the album is "devoid of much musical flourishing", it was "absolutely worth the seven-year wait".{{cite magazine |last=Mapes |first=Jillian |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/review/1066945/fiona-apples-the-idler-wheel-track-by-track-review |title=Fiona Apple's "The Idler Wheel...": Track-by-Track Review |magazine=Billboard |date=June 19, 2012 |access-date=June 19, 2012}} The Boston Phoenix{{'}}s Zeth Lundy rated the album three-and-a-half stars out of four, describing its sound as "raw and deceptively artless" and deeming it "arguably her funniest ... but also her leanest and most melodically daring."{{cite web|url=http://thephoenix.com/Boston/music/140302-fiona-apple-the-idler-wheel-is-wiser-than-the-dr/|title=Fiona Apple's The Idler Wheel is wiser than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords will serve you more than Ropes will ever do - review|work=The Boston Phoenix|first=Zeth|last=Lundy|date=June 19, 2012|access-date=June 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217124859/http://thephoenix.com/Boston/music/140302-fiona-apple-the-idler-wheel-is-wiser-than-the-dr/|archive-date=February 17, 2013}} Paste magazine reviewer Stephen M. Deusner rated it 8.4 out of 10, stating that Apple relies on the same eccentricities of her past work, and her inability to "get out of her own head — can’t even begin to write a song that doesn’t build on layers of self-conscious self-absorption and gritty self-loathing — may in fact be one of her greatest and most distinguishing strengths as an artist"; while her "overwrought" lyrics "can provoke cringes as easily as sympathetic nods", they "exert a considerable power, marking these songs as indelibly her own".{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2012/06/fiona-apple-the-idler-wheel-is-wiser-than-the-driv.html|title=Fiona Apple: The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do REVIEW|work=Paste|first=Stephen M.|last=Deusner|date=June 19, 2012|access-date=June 19, 2012}} Now magazine gave the album four out of five stars, writing: "Apple's return to music is not only undeniably powerful, but Idler is arguably her best work yet."{{cite web|url=https://nowtoronto.com/music/album-reviews/fiona-apple-the-idler-wheel-is-wiser-than-the-driver-of-the-screw-and-whipping-cords-will-serve-you-more-than-ropes-will-ever-do/|title=Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel... REVIEW|work=Now|first=Benjamin|last=Boles|date=June 19, 2012|access-date=June 19, 2012}}

PopMatters{{'}} Enio Chiola rated the album six out of ten, finding it "purposefully and inauthentically difficult for the sake of being difficult", criticizing the "twist[ing] [of] simple arrangements and sentiments into an unnecessarily uneasy listen...[resulting] in the record being often times tiresome and boring" and Apple's "tendency to scream". "There simply isn't enough variation" on the album, Chiola concluded, but it "isn't necessarily (even at its core) a bad record."{{cite web |last=Chiola |first=Enio |url=https://www.popmatters.com/159931-fiona-apple-the-idler-wheel-2495841224.html |title=Fiona Apple: The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw... |work=PopMatters |date=June 19, 2012 |access-date=June 19, 2012}} Rolling Stone gave the album three-and-a-half out of five stars, writing that the album is "rawboned emotionally" while Apple "pours out her distress on driving songs with lyrics that mix romantic poetry and therapy-speak – Byron by way of Oprah", and although the songs may "drag", her "kooky energy pushes through the slow spots."

The album received a nomination at the 55th Grammy Awards for Best Alternative Album. It was named the best album of 2012 by Time, Stereogum, Spinner, and NPR Music's Fresh Air.{{Cite magazine|url=https://entertainment.time.com/2012/12/04/top-10-albums/slide/all/|title=Top 10 Albums|magazine=Time|date=December 5, 2012|access-date=December 6, 2012}}{{Cite news|url=https://stereogum.com/1210661/stereogums-top-50-albums-of-2012/franchises/listomania/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208234447/https://www.stereogum.com/1210661/stereogums-top-50-albums-of-2012/lists/year-in-review/2012-in-review/|title=Stereogum's Top 50 Albums Of 2012|work=Stereogum|date=December 5, 2012|archive-date=February 8, 2021}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.spinner.com/2012/12/07/50-best-albums-of-2012-list/|title=50 Best Albums of 2012 List|work=Spinner|date=December 7, 2012|access-date=December 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130109175601/http://www.spinner.com/2012/12/07/50-best-albums-of-2012-list/|archive-date=January 9, 2013}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/bestmusic2012/2012/12/18/167278615/ken-tuckers-top-10-albums-of-2012|title=Ken Tucker's Top 10 Albums Of 2012|first=Ken|last=Tucker|work=Fresh Air|date=December 18, 2012|access-date=December 18, 2012}} It ranked at number 2 on the lists of Consequence of Sound{{Cite news|url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2012/12/albums-of-the-year-2012/|title=Top 50 Albums 2012|work=Consequence of Sound|date=December 14, 2012|access-date=December 15, 2012}} and Entertainment Weekly,{{Cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/gallery/10-best-albums-2012/#2-fiona-apple-the-idler-wheel-is-wiser-than-the-driver-of-the-screw-and-whipping-cords-will-serve-you-more-than-ropes-will-ever-do|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420192627/http://ew.com/gallery/10-best-albums-2012/#2-fiona-apple-the-idler-wheel-is-wiser-than-the-driver-of-the-screw-and-whipping-cords-will-serve-you-more-than-ropes-will-ever-do|title=10 Best Albums of 2012|last=Maerz|first=Melissa|date=December 11, 2012|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|archive-date=April 20, 2018}} number 3 on the lists of USA Today and Pitchfork,{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/popcandy/2012/11/21/top-albums-of-2012/1719319/|title=The top albums of 2012|first=Sean|last=McCarthy|work=USA Today|date=November 21, 2012|access-date=December 6, 2012}}{{Cite news |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/9017-the-top-50-albums-of-2012/5/ |title=Staff Lists: The Top 50 Albums of 2012 |work=Pitchfork |date=December 20, 2012 |access-date=December 22, 2012}} number 4 on Paste,{{Cite news|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2012/11/the-50-best-albums-of-2012.html|title=The 50 Best Albums of 2012|work=Paste|date=November 26, 2012|access-date=December 6, 2012|last=Jackson|first=Josh|archive-date=December 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121206232312/http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2012/11/the-50-best-albums-of-2012.html|url-status=dead}} number 5 in Rolling Stone,{{Cite news|url=https://stereogum.com/1213142/rolling-stones-50-best-albums-of-2012/list/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112010729/https://www.stereogum.com/1213142/rolling-stones-50-best-albums-of-2012/news/|title=Rolling Stone's 50 Best Albums Of 2012|first=Michael|last=Nelson|work=Stereogum|date=December 5, 2012|archive-date=November 12, 2020}} number 10 on Idolator,{{Cite news|url=http://idolator.com/photos/best-albums-2012-year/fiona-apple-the-idler-wheel-2|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126084247/http://idolator.com/photos/best-albums-2012-year/fiona-apple-the-idler-wheel-2|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 26, 2013|title=2012′s Best Music|first=Robbie|last=Daw|work=Idolator|date=December 5, 2012|access-date=December 6, 2012}} number sixteen in Spin,{{Cite news|url=https://www.spin.com/2012/12/best-albums-2012/121130-16-fiona/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322090324/https://www.spin.com/2012/12/best-albums-2012/121130-16-fiona/|title=SPIN's 50 Best Albums of 2012|work=Spin|date=November 30, 2012|archive-date=March 22, 2016}} number seventeen on American Songwriter{{Cite news|url=http://www.americansongwriter.com/2012/12/american-songwriters-top-50-albums-of-2012/4/|title=Top 50 Albums of 2012|work=American Songwriter|date=December 4, 2012|access-date=December 6, 2012}} and Filter,{{Cite news|url=http://filtermagazine.com/index.php/news/entry/filters_top_10_of_2012_staff_picks|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130805150628/http://filtermagazine.com/index.php/news/entry/filters_top_10_of_2012_staff_picks|title=FILTER's Top 10 of 2012: Staff Picks|work=Filter|date=December 3, 2012|archive-date=August 5, 2013}} and appeared on NPR's unnumbered list.{{Cite news|url=https://stereogum.com/1213131/nprs-50-favorite-albums-of-2012/list/|title=NPR's 50 Favorite Albums Of 2012|first=Tom|last=Breihan|work=Stereogum|date=December 5, 2012|access-date=December 6, 2012}} The album was ranked No. 10 in Pitchfork{{'s}} list of The 100 Best Albums of the Decade So Far (2010-2014), published in August 2014.{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/9465-the-top-100-albums-of-2010-2014/5/ |title=The Top 100 Albums of 2010-2014 |work=Pitchfork |access-date=February 20, 2020 |archive-date=October 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141003085154/http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/9465-the-top-100-albums-of-2010-2014/5/ |url-status=dead }}

Apple's track "Hot Knife" ranked at number twelve in Rolling Stone’s 50 Best Songs of 2012 list{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-songs-of-2012-20121205/fiona-apple-hot-knife-19691231|title=50 BEST SONGS OF 2012|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=December 5, 2012|access-date=December 6, 2012}} and "Every Single Night" ranked at number 7 on American Songwriter's Top 50 Songs of 2012.{{Cite news|url=http://www.americansongwriter.com/2012/12/american-songwriters-top-50-songs-of-2012/2/|title=Top 50 Songs of 2012|work=American Songwriter|date=December 4, 2012|access-date=December 6, 2012}} In Pitchfork{{'}}s Top 100 Tracks of 2012, "Werewolf" was ranked at number 9 and "Every Single Night" was ranked at number 35.{{Cite news|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/9015-the-top-100-tracks-of-2012/11/|title=The Top 100 Tracks of 2012|work=Pitchfork|date=December 17, 2012|access-date=December 29, 2012}}

In 2019, the album was included on The Guardian's 100 Best Albums of the 21st Century list,{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/sep/13/100-best-albums-of-the-21st-century |title=The 100 best albums of the 21st century |work=The Guardian|date=September 13, 2019 |access-date=September 18, 2019 }} and ranked 5th on Pitchfork{{'s}} list of The 200 Best Albums of the 2010s.{{cite web |title=The 200 Best Albums of the 2010s |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-200-best-albums-of-the-2010s/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=October 9, 2019}} In 2020, Rolling Stone placed the album at number 213 on its list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.{{cite magazine |date=September 22, 2020 |title=The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time |magazine=Rolling Stone |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/fiona-apple-the-idler-wheel-3-1063020/ |access-date=September 24, 2020}}

{{Track listing

| headline = The Idler Wheel…

| all_writing = Fiona Apple

| total_length = 42:39

| title1 = Every Single Night

| length1 = 3:29

| title2 = Daredevil

| length2 = 3:28

| title3 = Valentine

| length3 = 3:32

| title4 = Jonathan

| length4 = 5:03

| title5 = Left Alone

| length5 = 4:50

| title6 = Werewolf

| length6 = 3:12

| title7 = Periphery

| length7 = 4:58

| title8 = Regret

| length8 = 5:17

| title9 = Anything We Want

| length9 = 4:40

| title10 = Hot Knife

| length10 = 4:02

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Bonus track {{nobold|(digital editions)}}

| title11 = Largo

| length11 = 2:41

| total_length = 45:20

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Deluxe edition bonus DVD {{nobold|(filmed at SXSW, March 14, 2012)}}

| title1 = Every Single Night

| note1 =

| length1 = 3:19

| title2 = Anything We Want

| note2 =

| length2 = 5:00

| title3 = Fast as You Can

| note3 =

| length3 = 5:15

| title4 = A Mistake

| note4 =

| length4 = 5:53

| title5 = Sleep to Dream

| note5 =

| length5 = 4:40

| total_length = 24:07

}}

Credits adapted from The Idler Wheel... album liner notes.{{cite AV media notes |title=The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do |others=Fiona Apple |year=2012 |type=CD liner notes |publisher=Epic Records |id=88691978632}}

• Fiona Apple (credited as "Feedy") – field recording, loops, truck stomping, dance partner, thighs on "Daredevil", percussion, piano, celeste, timpani on "Hot Knife", voice strings, singing, artwork, bass keyboard, production
• Charley Drayton (credited as "Seedy") – kora, autoharp, truck stomping, dance partner, percussion, guitar, bouzouki, marimba, drum set, voice strings, thighs on "Daredevil", field recording, pillow, voice of pain, baritone vocals, string harp, Teisco guitar, production
• John Would – recording
• Eddison Sainsbury – recording
• Dave Way – mixing
• Howie Weinberg – mastering
• Dan Gerbarg – mastering
• Sebastian Steinberg – acoustic bass, Harmony guitar
• Maude Maggart – high harmony on "Hot Knife"
• Eric Roinestad – art direction, design
• Andrew Slater – management

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

|-

!scope="col"|Chart (2012)

!scope="col"|Peak
position

|-

!scope="row"|Australian Albums Chart{{cite web |url=http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Fiona+Apple&titel=The+Idler+Wheel+Is+Wiser+Than+The+Driver+Of+The+Screw+And+Whipping+Cords+Will+Serve+You+More+Than+Ropes+Will+Ever+Do&cat=a |title=Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do |publisher=australian-charts.com. Hung Medien |access-date=July 3, 2012}}

|align="center"|23

|-

!scope="row"|Austrian Albums Chart{{cite web |url=http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Fiona+Apple&titel=The+Idler+Wheel+Is+Wiser+Than+The+Driver+Of+The+Screw+And+Whipping+Cords+Will+Serve+You+More+Than+Ropes+Will+Ever+Do&cat=a |title=Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do |language=de |publisher=austriancharts.at. Hung Medien |access-date=June 29, 2012}}

|align="center"|44

|-

!scope="row"|Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders){{cite web |url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/album/309f3/Fiona-Apple-The-Idler-Wheel-Is-Wiser-Than-The-Driver-Of-The-Screw-And-Whipping-Cords-Will-Serve-You-More-Than-Ropes-Will-Ever-Do |title=Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do |language=nl |publisher=Ultratop. Hung Medien |access-date=June 29, 2012}}

|align="center"|116

|-

!scope="row"|Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia){{cite web |url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/album/309f3/Fiona-Apple-The-Idler-Wheel-Is-Wiser-Than-The-Driver-Of-The-Screw-And-Whipping-Cords-Will-Serve-You-More-Than-Ropes-Will-Ever-Do |title=Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do |language=fr |publisher=Ultratop. Hung Medien |access-date=July 13, 2012}}

|align="center"|149

|-

!scope="row"|Canadian Albums Chart{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/2012-07-07/rock-albums |title=Rock Albums – Week of July 07, 2012 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=June 29, 2012}}

|align="center"|13

|-

!scope="row"|Dutch Albums Chart{{cite web |url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Fiona+Apple&titel=The+Idler+Wheel+Is+Wiser+Than+The+Driver+Of+The+Screw+And+Whipping+Cords+Will+Serve+You+More+Than+Ropes+Will+Ever+Do&cat=a |title=Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do |language=nl |publisher=dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien |access-date=June 23, 2012}}

|align="center"|62

|-

!scope="row"|French Albums Chart{{cite web |url=http://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Fiona+Apple&titel=The+Idler+Wheel+Is+Wiser+Than+The+Driver+Of+The+Screw+And+Whipping+Cords+Will+Serve+You+More+Than+Ropes+Will+Ever+Do&cat=a |title=Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do |language=fr |publisher=lescharts.com. Hung Medien |access-date=July 3, 2012}}

|align="center"|54

|-

!scope="row"|German Albums Chart{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.de/album.asp?artist=Fiona+Apple&title=The+Idler+Wheel+Is+Wiser+Than+The+Driver+Of+The+Screw+And+Whipping+Cords+Will+Serve+You+More+Than+Ropes+Will+Ever+Do&country=de |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140707095749/http://www.officialcharts.de/album.asp?artist=Fiona+Apple&title=The+Idler+Wheel+Is+Wiser+Than+The+Driver+Of+The+Screw+And+Whipping+Cords+Will+Serve+You+More+Than+Ropes+Will+Ever+Do&country=de |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 7, 2014 |title=Fiona Apple, The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do |language=de |publisher=charts.de. Media Control |access-date=June 29, 2012}}

|align="center"|56

|-

!scope="row"|Irish Albums Chart{{cite web |url=http://irma.ie/aucharts.asp#albums |title=Top 100 Individual Artist Albums |publisher=Irish Recorded Music Association |date=June 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614070438/http://www.irma.ie/aucharts.asp#albums |archive-date=June 14, 2012 |access-date=June 27, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

|align="center"|78

|-

!scope="row"|Italian Albums Chart{{cite web |url=http://www.fimi.it/classifiche_result_artisti.php?anno=2012&mese=06&id=413 |title=Artisti – Classifica settimanale dal 18/06/2012 al 24/06/2012 |language=it |publisher=Federation of the Italian Music Industry |access-date=June 29, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322110820/http://www.fimi.it/classifiche_result_artisti.php?anno=2012&mese=06&id=413 |archive-date=March 22, 2014 }}

|align="center"|61

|-

!scope="row"|Japanese Albums Chart{{cite web |url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/138237/ranking/cd_album/ |script-title=ja:フィオナ・アップルのアルバム売り上げランキング |trans-title=Fiona Apple album sales ranking |language=ja |publisher=Oricon |access-date=July 13, 2012}}

|align="center"|68

|-

!scope="row"|Mexican Albums Chart{{cite web |url=http://www.centrodedesarrollodigital.com/amprofon3/Top100.pdf |title=Top 100 México – Semana Del 25 de Junio al 01 de Julio del 2012 |language=es |publisher=Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707212420/http://www.centrodedesarrollodigital.com/amprofon3/Top100.pdf |archive-date=July 7, 2012 |access-date=July 13, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

|align="center"|91

|-

!scope="row"|New Zealand Albums Chart{{cite web |url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Fiona+Apple&titel=The+Idler+Wheel+Is+Wiser+Than+The+Driver+Of+The+Screw+And+Whipping+Cords+Will+Serve+You+More+Than+Ropes+Will+Ever+Do&cat=a |title=Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do |publisher=charts.nz. Hung Medien |access-date=July 3, 2012}}

|align="center"|30

|-

!scope="row"|Portuguese Albums Chart{{cite web |url=http://portuguesecharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Fiona+Apple&titel=The+Idler+Wheel+Is+Wiser+Than+The+Driver+Of+The+Screw+And+Whipping+Cords+Will+Serve+You+More+Than+Ropes+Will+Ever+Do&cat=a |title=Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do |publisher=portuguesecharts.com. Hung Medien |access-date=July 13, 2012}}

|align="center"|20

|-

{{album chart|Scotland|90|date=20080914|rowheader=true|access-date=17 December 2023|refname="Scotland"}}

|-

!scope="row"|Spanish Albums Chart{{cite web |url=http://spanishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Fiona+Apple&titel=The+Idler+Wheel+Is+Wiser+Than+The+Driver+Of+The+Screw+And+Whipping+Cords+Will+Serve+You+More+Than+Ropes+Will+Ever+Do&cat=a |title=Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do |publisher=spanishcharts.com. Hung Medien |access-date=July 2, 2012}}

|align="center"|100

|-

!scope="row"|Swiss Albums Chart{{cite web |url=http://swisscharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Fiona+Apple&titel=The+Idler+Wheel+Is+Wiser+Than+The+Driver+Of+The+Screw+And+Whipping+Cords+Will+Serve+You+More+Than+Ropes+Will+Ever+Do&cat=a |title=Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do |publisher=swisscharts.com. Hung Medien |access-date=June 29, 2012}}

|align="center"|28

|-

!scope="row"|UK Albums Chart{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/albums-chart/ |title=Official UK Albums Top 100 |publisher=Official Charts Company |date=June 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120627073600/http://www.officialcharts.com/albums-chart/ |archive-date=June 27, 2012 |access-date=June 27, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

|align="center"|68

|-

!scope="row"|US Billboard 200{{cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/482560/justin-bieber-kenny-chesney-fiona-apple-lead-billboard-200-debuts |title=Justin Bieber, Kenny Chesney, Fiona Apple Lead Billboard 200 Debuts |magazine=Billboard |date=June 27, 2012 |access-date=June 27, 2012}}

|align="center"|3

|-

!scope="row"|US Alternative Albums

|align="center"|1

|-

!scope="row"|US Rock Albums

|align="center"|1

|-

{{end}}

{{col-end}}

{{certification Table Top}}

{{certification Table Entry|type=album|title=The Idler Wheel|artist=Fiona Apple|relyear=2012|region=United States|nocert=true|salesamount=205,000|salesref={{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/1568686/christopher-tricky-stewart-exits-epic-ar-helm|title=Christopher 'Tricky' Stewart Exits Epic A&R Helm

|magazine=Billboard |date=June 28, 2013 |access-date=April 20, 2018}}}}

{{end}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Discogs master|type=album|446092|name=The Idler Wheel...}}

{{Fiona Apple}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Idler Wheel}}

Category:2012 albums

Category:Albums produced by Charley Drayton

Category:Epic Records albums

Category:Fiona Apple albums