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 16 Ratings

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  • 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]
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User Reviews

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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

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