Wildflower
by
Wildflower Image
Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 33 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 135 Ratings

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  • 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
  • More Details and Credits »

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 33
  3. Negative: 0 out of 33
  1. The Independent (UK)
    Jul 7, 2016
    100
    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.
  2. PopMatters
    Jul 13, 2016
    90
    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.
  3. Consequence
    Jul 6, 2016
    83
    Wildflower comes out swinging.
  4. The Quietus
    Jul 5, 2016
    80
    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.
  5. Exclaim
    Jul 11, 2016
    80
    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.
  6. The Guardian
    Jul 7, 2016
    80
    It’s testament to the power of their original vision that it all still sounds so fresh.
  7. New Musical Express (NME)
    Jul 1, 2016
    40
    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.

See all 33 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 15
  3. Negative: 2 out of 15
  1. IanJWalters
    Jul 5, 2016
    10
    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.

    Magic.    … Expand
  2. Cyrone
    Jul 5, 2016
    10
    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
  4. ExcitedPillow
    Jul 5, 2016
    10
    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
  5. krazyyeti555
    Feb 1, 2017
    9
    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
  6. Henf25
    Jul 13, 2019
    9
    A great “feel good” album, with tons of creative, funny, and obscure samples and has top-tier production.
  7. brockcheese
    Jul 5, 2016
    8
    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
  8. ozymandias79
    Feb 1, 2017
    2
    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

See all 15 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

62
#62 Best Album of 2016
63
#63 Most Discussed Album of 2016
72
#72 Most Shared Album of 2016

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