II is the second studio album from the band Unknown Mortal Orchestra, released in February 2013.[1] A 15-track Deluxe Edition was released in October,[2] along with the EP Blue Record.[3]
II | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | February 5, 2013 (2013-02-05) | |||
Recorded | 2012 | |||
Genre |
| |||
Length | 40:25 | |||
Label | Jagjaguwar | |||
Producer | Ruban Nielson | |||
Unknown Mortal Orchestra chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from II | ||||
| ||||
The album cover is a photo of British author Janet Farrar taken by husband Stewart Farrar.
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 7.7/10[4] |
Metacritic | 78/100[5] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Financial Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Irish Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
NME | 8/10[1] |
The Observer | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Pitchfork | 7.3/10[11] |
Q | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Uncut | 9/10[14] |
II received acclaim from most music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 78, based on 27 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".[5]
AllMusic gave the album four out of five stars, saying "from the opening moments of the trippy, lo-fi intro 'From the Sun' all the way to the funky-as-a-Hendrix-ballad closer 'Secret Xtians,' II takes risks and achieves greatness."[6]
NME gave the album eight out of ten, saying "raw melody made Unknown Mortal Orchestra exciting two years ago; now they’ve matched it with attention to detail."[1]
The Observer gave the album three out of five stars, described "Swim and Sleep (Like a Shark)" as "conjoin[ing] sleep, prettiness and unease", and the album as having "longueurs where Nielson can get a little vague and inward-directed."[10]
II won Best Alternative Album in the 2013 New Zealand Music Awards.
All tracks are written by Ruban Nielson.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "From the Sun" | 4:43 |
2. | "Swim and Sleep (Like a Shark)" | 2:45 |
3. | "So Good at Being in Trouble" | 3:50 |
4. | "One at a Time" | 2:28 |
5. | "The Opposite of Afternoon" | 5:25 |
6. | "No Need for a Leader" | 5:44 |
7. | "Monki" | 7:18 |
8. | "Dawn" | 1:08 |
9. | "Faded in the Morning" | 4:21 |
10. | "Secret Xtians" | 2:43 |
Total length: | 40:25 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Swim & Sleep (Like a Shark)" (acoustic version) | 2:42 |
2. | "Faded in the Morning" (acoustic version) | 3:29 |
3. | "So Good at Being in Trouble" (acoustic version) | 3:30 |
4. | "Swing Lo Magellan" (Dirty Projectors cover) | 2:47 |
5. | "Puttin' It Down" (Beck cover) | 2:34 |
Total length: | 15:02 |
Source:[3]
| |
---|---|
| |
Studio albums |
|
EPs |
|
Authority control ![]() |
|
---|