Everyone knows crazy girls make the hottest most interesting musicians, and Fiona Apple takes that cliche to the power of hyperbole. I’m a big fan of her musical meltdowns, even if she’s reigned in the crazy ever so slightly over the last few years. This is her first scrap of new material since Extraordinary Machine vaulted through myriad hoops and controversies back in 2005. Apple is taking part in a tribute record for jazz and Broadway composer Cy Coleman. Her cover of Coleman’s “Why Try To Change Me Now?” suits her register perfectly. She’s always sounded best when she purrs out her lyrics in jazzy inflections. Hopefully, this spark of activity means Apple might be close to thinking about the follow-up to the lovely Extraordinary Machine.

[via Stereogum]