Fiona Appleâs debut album, Tidal, was released in 1996 when she was only 19, and it was the cream of that crop of confessional, badass female mid-to-late-â90s pop. She gave frank interviews about eating disorders, rape, and depression, and mouthed off on MTV (âThis world is bullshitâ). Then, instead of going crazy or dying or getting a reality show, she just kept making excellent music. Reviews of her recent shows have been ecstatic and slightly terrified (âVibrating hot and fast,â said the NYT; âShe was in warrior mode,â said the Chicago Tribune). (Paramount Theater, 911 Pine St, www.stgpresents.org, 8 pm, $41.25â$56.25, all ages)