Summary:The second full-length release for the Australian electronic band comes 16 years after its debut album Since I Left You with features guest appearances from Ariel Pink, David Berman, Jean-Michel Bernard, Biz Markie, Danny Brown, Camp Lo, Jonathan Donahue, Warren Ellis, Jennifer Herrema,The second full-length release for the Australian electronic band comes 16 years after its debut album Since I Left You with features guest appearances from Ariel Pink, David Berman, Jean-Michel Bernard, Biz Markie, Danny Brown, Camp Lo, Jonathan Donahue, Warren Ellis, Jennifer Herrema, Father John Misty, MF Doom, Paris Pershun and Toro y Moi.…Expand
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Record Label:Astralwerks
Genre(s): Electronic, Rap, Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Club/Dance, Alternative Dance, Funky Breaks
The wonderful Wildflower is cause for celebration, its Zappa/Beasties-style collage of voices, samples, beats, sounds, and especially laughter offering a joyous affirmation of life.
As with their debut, the exquisitely painstaking craftsmanship, the overriding sense joy and wonder, the ears wide open to an infinite universe of sonic possibility are all there. It sounds like the Avalanches, and nothing else does.
Even if it could never feel like a childhood's worth of lovingly curated music, and even if the shock of the new's way out of its reach, it's still another out-of-its-time, forensically assembled wonder.
While the days of heavily sampled music seemed dead and gone forever, the Avalanches have somehow managed to pull off an album that's as much a mastery of red tape as it is of musical prowess.
There are far too many children’s voices, snatches of birdsong, glissandi of saccharine strings, and always the half-heard, half-sensed thwack of Frisbee upon social media manager.
I signed up for Metacritic just to write this review. I find this album to be so special that I want to be a part of theI signed up for Metacritic just to write this review. I find this album to be so special that I want to be a part of the art-objectifying-via-ranking community to help secure its place in the collective consciousness for years to come. This album is a joyful swirl of nostalgic funkiness. It's beautiful. Wistful. I have long considered SILY to be a desert island album to keep my joy alive if I was all alone on this planet, so I had the highest of hopes for their follow-up, and, amazingly, not only did it not disappoint me it revealed new depths of joy, gratitude and dance moves in my emotional and physical lexicon. I will be returning to this album, I expect, for the rest of my life. It makes me happy and sad at the same time, while propelling me in time through dance.
I've waited 15 years for this album. These guys have kept the magic that made their 1st album so special to us. You can't say that for a lotI've waited 15 years for this album. These guys have kept the magic that made their 1st album so special to us. You can't say that for a lot of artists! This album will make you smile, even if there's not as much variety / experimentation as their 1st album.…Expand
Try not to compare the sound to that of SILY- the theme of the album is completely different than before, however is just as expertly craftedTry not to compare the sound to that of SILY- the theme of the album is completely different than before, however is just as expertly crafted full of depth and nostalgic samples that are assembled so wonderfully. The album truly is a masterpiece and flows from start to finish with an underlying lively pulse, however the songs themselves are more individual than the seamless SILY. At 22 songs long, the more I played this album the more I loved it and the more I heard in it. Those who do not find joy in this expertly crafted work of art is not listening deep enough.
Highlights - Because I'm Me, Harmony, Zap!, If I Was A Folkstar, Wozard of Iz, Saturday Night Out. But everything is amazing!…Expand
The Avalanches' long awaited return (and it was very, very long) does not disappoint many and this writer is included. I always felt thatThe Avalanches' long awaited return (and it was very, very long) does not disappoint many and this writer is included. I always felt that "Since I Left You" was more popular for its uniqueness and less for the musical depth, and this album picks up the slack from that effort. I do think that SInce I Left You succeeded in the overall album approach and was quite enjoyable for its grand vision, and Wildflowers does not forget this. Overall Wildflowers is a relatively similar album and is an enjoyable trip for prior fans and new fans alike.…Expand
I've waited a long time for this album and I'll be honest if I say that I'm slightly disappointed. The rap parts are a great bonus, yet theI've waited a long time for this album and I'll be honest if I say that I'm slightly disappointed. The rap parts are a great bonus, yet the tracks do feel a bit repetitive and tiring at times.…Expand
It could be just me or is Frankie Sinatra the only good song on this album. A lot if it is just noise. Apparently the song about the subwayIt could be just me or is Frankie Sinatra the only good song on this album. A lot if it is just noise. Apparently the song about the subway was written and sung by a kid, which would explain why its rubbish. I wouldn't buy an album for one song.…Expand
