Wildflower
by The Avalanches

From Timestarter 03/08/2021 23:15 | #267108

Highlights:

- Because I'm Me
- Frankie Sinatra
- If I Was a Folkstar
- Colours
- The Noisy Eater
- Wildflower
- Livin' Underwater (Is Somethin' Wild)
- Stepkids
- Saturday Night Inside Out

It had been such a long time since the last Avalanches release (SIXTEEN YEARS, PEOPLE) that I wasn’t really that hopeful for this. Absurdly, even though this is the same kind of plunderphonics they were hawking back in 2000, it’s landed at just the right time to sound fresh and new again.

Best track: Because I’m Me. Not a million miles away from Since I Left You in its construction, but who cares.

There is so much happening in every single one of these tracks. So many beautiful melodies, new layers of percussion to discover, and incredible mixing. I just can’t praise the attention to detail and originality of this album enough. Favorite album of 2016.

From Boltzmann 09/16/2018 15:02 | #221160

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From JulianR 09/02/2018 19:36 | #220422

I don't know why, but this album clicks with me so much more than Since I Left You. It seems like lots of people love one or the other a lot more for some reason. IDK why. For me, other than Noisey Eater, which is just kinda dumb, and Frankie Sinatra, which is a mediocre song but takes some time to warm to and doesn't totally fit the vibe of the rest of the album, this album is a really beautiful collage of music. The highlights for me are Becuase I'm Me, If I Was A Folkstar, and Harmony.

85/100 (Very Good)

I've listened to Since I Left You it seems like a thousand times since the day it dropped, and for some reason Wildflower just doesn't cut it. No flow, and a similar approach with no improved skill. Hate Frankie Sinatra and tried several times to listen to the full album and wanted to tear my hair out before it was half way through. I tried and still disappointed.

People obviously dislike this because it's not Since I Left You, which is kind of unfair since very few records will ever sound like that.
In it's own right, Wildflower is flawed but it's still a completely fun and enjoyable listen. Plus, only the Avalanches could pull off a song as mesmerizingly lush and beautiful as "Colours".

From HoldenM 12/26/2017 16:20 | #203928

I stayed away for a year so I wouldn't head in expecting some grand triumph. It could just be an album. Also, I didn't feel like listening to it until today.

And it's terrific! It's not nearly as good as Since I Left You, but so little music is. Wildflower is still lovely and dynamic as can be. Even at in its less memorable moments, this is still really good.

A pretty good follow up, even if it did not meet up to the expectations.

Favorite Track: Noisy Eater

From cestuneblague 12/07/2016 19:06 | #179724

I think if Since I Left You was like riding a massive, swooping wave of neon candy sprinkles, this was just enjoying the incoming tide from a distance as it slowly swallowed up the beach whole. More of a relaxed daisy-age concoction in comparison to Since I Left You's giant soul/hip-hop-tronica masterstroke, enjoyable but still wise to temper your expectations and expect more of a pleasent encore than another special-snowflake windfall, but it's still quite deftly produced and quite catchy overall (if ultimately containing a bit too much filler this time around).