Aviary
by Julia Holter
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 53 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 45 out of 53
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 53
  3. Negative: 6 out of 53
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  1. SergioAllIndie
    Oct 26, 2018
    8
    Could be Holter's most unorthodox effort thus far, and probably its length has something to do with it (excessive for some). Nevertheless, it remains somehow pure and truthful. It's a creature grandiloquently parading its inner visions and thoughts throughout the vast density of a forest-like darkness, making a guiding light of itself for us to endure the ninety-minute tour de force itCould be Holter's most unorthodox effort thus far, and probably its length has something to do with it (excessive for some). Nevertheless, it remains somehow pure and truthful. It's a creature grandiloquently parading its inner visions and thoughts throughout the vast density of a forest-like darkness, making a guiding light of itself for us to endure the ninety-minute tour de force it lasts, and bringing us several moments of awe, unsettlement, relief, joy and self-contemplation along the way. It grows on you. Not as fast as you'd might want it to, but it grows. We shall love.… Expand
  2. Gizmo-Guy
    Oct 31, 2018
    10
    Most important album of the year or maybe 10 years. Most cohesive sound i've heard since In Rainbows by Radiohead
  3. BrushedRed
    Oct 28, 2018
    1
    Quite the bummer after the superb Have You In My Wilderness. I’ve not been a huge fan of hers in the past, but I loved her catchy and ethereal chamber pop tracks. There wasn’t a single bad song on that album. Here, though, I struggle to even finish a track. All of them are long and drawn out. They’re very sparse and have very little in the way of hooks. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying IQuite the bummer after the superb Have You In My Wilderness. I’ve not been a huge fan of hers in the past, but I loved her catchy and ethereal chamber pop tracks. There wasn’t a single bad song on that album. Here, though, I struggle to even finish a track. All of them are long and drawn out. They’re very sparse and have very little in the way of hooks. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I want ALL hooks, but I’d like something to keep me around. All of these songs could be condensed down to a minute or less and lose no merit. It seems like she just pranced around a studio in a flower halo while randomly hitting random instruments while quietly whispering over them. After her last album, I couldn’t wait for more material, but as the singles rolled out, I quickly lost hope. I think the only redeeming track here I found was “Another Dream.” It was one of the ones I found less painful. Kinda spacey and engrossing. Can’t say the same for much of the rest. It was way too long.… Expand
  4. Daytona
    Nov 1, 2018
    10
    Not as good as HYIMW but I think it's still a pretty solid record, the time is not a contra for me, as a matter of fact is a pro
  5. Estoniantoad
    Oct 28, 2018
    10
    What a beautiful mess! Julia worked hard, but the listener has to work even harder to find the order in this music. Or do we need the order? Anyway, this album is her mix of Aerial/Dreaming - two albums by Kate Bush that remind me of Aviary´s beautiful madness.
  6. juanmanueltorov
    Oct 29, 2018
    8
    As always, she's exploring new sounds. As a whole, it sunds beautiful but if may become a little like.. mmm again?
    You must hear this album anyway.
  7. BartlebyScr
    Nov 1, 2018
    10
    Julia Holter has created with Aviary a completely uncompromising album, one that takes a totally different approach from her previous and more accessible Have You in My Wilderness. Here she embodies her full spacious, moody, ethereal persona, apparently not caring if it will appeal to most people (see the 4 minute bagpipe extravaganza opening of Everyday is an emergency), though invitingJulia Holter has created with Aviary a completely uncompromising album, one that takes a totally different approach from her previous and more accessible Have You in My Wilderness. Here she embodies her full spacious, moody, ethereal persona, apparently not caring if it will appeal to most people (see the 4 minute bagpipe extravaganza opening of Everyday is an emergency), though inviting us nonetheless to share her songwriting bliss, carving an elegant space, with lots of hidden details so that we can discover every time we listen to it a new piece of it. Just marvellous!… Expand

Awards & Rankings

84
#84 Best Album of 2018

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 23
  3. Negative: 0 out of 23
  1. Pitchfork
    Nov 2, 2018
    82
    Aviary ultimately has the effect of looking through a new friend’s bookshelf, accessing the wild particularities of their mind.
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  2. The Quietus
    Oct 31, 2018
    80
    Where Have You In My Wilderness faithfully stuck to pop structures and verse-chorus-verse dynamics, Aviary appears through-composed, as though its songs were written purely according to whatever felt like the right thing to do next, and not dictated by any of Holter’s more traditionalist habits. This doesn’t make it a difficult listen, though--this is an album steeped in beauty, a celebration of sound.
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  3. The 405
    Oct 30, 2018
    75
    Aviary is an incredibly immersive voyage and arguably her greatest achievement. In fact, it wouldn’t be too bold to say this is an Art pop masterpiece via one of the best songwriters alive—it’s just not for everyone, and Holter is ok with that.
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