Loud City Song

Pitchfork 8.6/10 Loud City Song is one of those records so full of un-jaded wonder and attuned to the secret music of ordinary things that the world looks a little bit different while it's playing.

The Needle Drop 8/10 On her latest album, Loud City Song, CA singer-songwriter Julia Holter maintains her dreamy aesthetic while bringing some beautifully arranged horns and strings.

NME 4.5/5 Excitingly, ‘Loud City Song’ has an immediate pop whirl that should make Holter’s genius apparent to all, without sacrificing the California Institute Of The Arts graduate’s knack for intricacy.

The Line of Best Fit 8/10 It’s the explorations of sound and bold yet gentle orchestrations that makes Loud City Song a perfect example of Holter honing in on her talents by evoking mystery but retaining enough openness to keep her sound in constant flux.

DIY 4/5 This is a clever, sophisticated album that still oozes warmth and affection. Superficiality and loneliness have never sounded so tender and dazzling.

All Music 4.5/5 Loud City Song is Holter's most polished work to date, and another example of how she upholds and redefines what it means to be an avant-garde singer/songwriter.

Under The Radar 8.0/10 This is music that takes a while to comprehend, designed for longevity over quick appeal. For those of you wistful for this approach, look no further.

Clash 9/10 Although it takes more than a couple of listens for ‘Loud City Song’ to feel like a cohesive album, the reward once you do is well worth the outlay.

Loud and Quiet 3/10 For the most part this feels a little bit like being dragged along to witness a friend’s first attempt at experimental theatre: mostly painful, and thoroughly tedious.

Pop Matters 9/10 It’s an impressive record to listen to—the compositions are even more beautiful than Ekstasis, even though they’re often more fragmented—but it’s also a frightening depiction of what it feels like to have a whole population making you up in its head.

The Guardian 4/5 Barbara Lewis's soul classic Hello Stranger gets a chillout makeover, which doesn't quite work; but any faults are obliterated by the album's closer, City Appearing.

Spectrum Culture 80% As a cohesive whole, Loud City Song is a statement that an artist can be being avant-garde without being off-putting. It is evocative, mysterious and captivating, and proof that there is still room for innovation from the ground-up in modern music.

Beats Per Minute 88% Loud City Song is a true achievement from Julia Holter. Nary is there a hook on the album, but the richness and vividness that she brings to the songs musically and lyrically will hook you more effectively anyway.

The Irish Times 4/5 These bewitching songs, both quiet and loud, reverberate more deeply with every listen.

Uncut 8/10 Like any new city, this album may take some getting used to--there's beauty everywhere, but the streets are far from a neat grid. But as you walk them, Holter's genius as a sonic town planner reveals itself.