II - Unknown Mortal Orchestra
II Image
Metascore
78 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.6 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 15 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
Rate this:
  • Summary: The second release for the psychedelic rock band led by Ruban Nielson was written while on tour.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. The Fly (UK)
    Feb 5, 2013
    100
    Far-out, fascinating, fantastic--just plain F-ing good.
  2. CMJ
    Feb 5, 2013
    80
    More often on the album’s 10 tracks than not, Nielson keeps the balance, giving each part equal time in the foreground and using understatement to his advantage.
  3. No Ripcord
    Feb 12, 2013
    80
    II triumphantly bypasses novelty for a more meaningful level of significance: An album whose songs, personality, and band-chemistry come together for something that could well outlast its own current weirdness.
  4. Q Magazine
    Feb 8, 2013
    60
    A murkily enveloping record, but one that occasionally misses its predecessor's gonzo sense of fun. [Mar 2013, p.110]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 27 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. 2hip2beahipster
    8
    This is a good album. A big improvement from their debut for sure. The ideas on this album are more developed and better executed than they were on their first release. The album starts off with three gems; "From the Sun" "Swim and Sleep" and "So Good at Being in Trouble" are all great examples of the growth and maturity this band's songwriting has gone through all three songs being examples of great ideas that are executed superbly. The middle of this album, however, does drag. "The Opposite of Afternoon" is a definitely a song that grows on you after a few listen, as is "Monki". The album also ends off strongly with "Faded in the Morning" and "Secret Xtians". Overall I'd say this is a great album, and a step in the right direction for Ruban and the gang. Ruban's songwriting definitely matures here, and boy, let me say, he absolutely shreds on guitar. The production is also perfected as the lo-fi/psych. rock feel is still there but it's a lot smoother and easier to take in right away. This album has just gotten me even more excited about this bands potential and future releases. Overall a pretty good album with a few gems.… Expand

Current Music Releases

Full List »
  1. The Complete Columbia Album Collection - Johnny Cash
    Metascore: 99
  2. Rumours [35th Anniversary Deluxe Edition] - Fleetwood Mac
    Metascore: 99
  3. Live in Europe 1969: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 2 - Miles Davis Quintet
    Metascore: 92
  4. Jama Ko - Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba
    Metascore: 91
  5. Like a Rose - Ashley Monroe
    Metascore: 89
  6. Same Trailer Different Park - Kacey Musgraves
    Metascore: 89
  7. Your Turn - Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog
    Metascore: 88
  8. The Graceless Age - John Murry
    Metascore: 88
  9. Minute by Minute - The James Hunter Six
    Metascore: 88
  10. Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness [Deluxe Edition] - Smashing Pumpkins
    Metascore: 88
  11. Music For the Quiet Hour/The Drawbar Organ EPs - Shackleton
    Metascore: 87
  12. M B V - My Bloody Valentine
    Metascore: 87
  13. Beautiful Africa - Rokia Traoré
    Metascore: 87
  14. LSXX [Last Splash: 20th Anniversary Edition] - The Breeders
    Metascore: 87
  15. Random Access Memories - Daft Punk
    Metascore: 87
  16. Annie Up - Pistol Annies
    Metascore: 87
  17. Rage Against the Machine XX [20th Anniversary Edition] - Rage Against the Machine
    Metascore: 87
  18. Without a Net - Wayne Shorter
    Metascore: 86
  19. In Time - The Mavericks
    Metascore: 86
All Current Music »