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II
by
II Image
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 13 Ratings

  • Summary: This is the appropriately-titled second release for the Philadelphia acid-folk group.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. NOW Magazine
    100
    The main attraction is still Baird's and Weeks's haunting voices, which turn a risky experiment into a genre-defining classic.
  2. AllMusic
    90
    Espers II is both wondrous and troubling.
  3. Q Magazine
    80
    Music that sounds completely out of time, made by an often incredible string band. [Sep 2006, p.108]
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  4. Alternative Press
    80
    Though parts of the album veer a bit too close to the synthetic hippie pabulum you hear upon entering the Nature Store, there's enough dark charm on Espers II to make it essential listeing for those of us who prefer our CDs caked with actual resin. [Jul 2006, p.208]
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  5. Delusions of Adequacy
    70
    It’s the core songwriting beneath the band’s rich sonic layering that needs the greatest sharpening.
  6. The New York Times
    70
    It's a handsome downer of a record. [15 May 2006]
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  7. musicOMH.com
    40
    The band seem to be far too familiar with the sonic designs of The Incredible String Band and Comus. Espers II sounds more like a lovelorn impersonation of the music than a radical exploration of its possibilities.

See all 22 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 6
  3. Negative: 1 out of 6
  1. TonyF
    Jul 13, 2006
    10
    epic record in my opinion. huge step forward from their self titled debut, probably because they doubled the members from 3 to 6 and gave it epic record in my opinion. huge step forward from their self titled debut, probably because they doubled the members from 3 to 6 and gave it themselves a much fuller sound with stronger tracks. standouts are tracks 1,2,5 and 7. get this if you like folk or psychedelic.… Expand
  2. danf
    May 27, 2006
    10
    amazing and mesmerizing. espers have really grown as a group and put together a fantastic and haunting album. one of the best of the year.
  4. SteveL.
    Jun 15, 2006
    10
    Definitely my favorite of 2006 so for. Absolutely, mind-numbingly, stunning. I love this album and cannot speak too highly of it. This is Definitely my favorite of 2006 so for. Absolutely, mind-numbingly, stunning. I love this album and cannot speak too highly of it. This is perfect, in every sense of the word. You can't tell the songs apart? Seriously? You aren't listening. This isn't "background" music, this is "stop everything you're doing and absorb the beautiful folk" music. This album is gorgeous; psychadelic folk done right.… Expand
  5. MickeyR
    Jun 2, 2006
    9
    beautiful, chilling, and hauting.
  6. BenH
    Jun 6, 2006
    5
    Starts off with a great sound, singer has a nice voice, musicians definitely have the chops, but it just never seems to go anywhere. This is Starts off with a great sound, singer has a nice voice, musicians definitely have the chops, but it just never seems to go anywhere. This is the kind of CD you can put on an endless loop and never know one end from the other. I seriously doubt most people will find themselves trying to find some quiet time to give this one another listen - its background music. Yes Dave A. - it is boring.… Collapse
  7. DaveA
    May 27, 2006
    0
    Boring.

Awards & Rankings

95
#95 Best Album of 2006