PC Music Volume 2
| PC Music Volume 2 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compilation album by various artists | ||||
| Released | 18 November 2016 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 38:08 | |||
| Label | PC Music | |||
| PC Music chronology | ||||
| ||||
PC Music Volume 2 is the second compilation album by British record label PC Music, released on 18 November 2016.
The compilation received mostly positive reviews from critics, with most critics praising its expansion on the label's sound and catchy songs, deeming it an improvement over the first volume, though some found it monotonous and repetitive.
Composition
Described as an electropop, synth-pop, and "house-fueled" album, PC Music Volume 2 features the group's trademark "marriage of pop hooks, rubbery synths, and beguiling female vocals," as well as "a mix of styles appropriated from both the dance underground and Top 40".[1][2][3][4] Many of the songs feature an "allergy" to the polyrhythms typical in dance music, like on "Super Natural" "where beats, hand claps, and screamingly dense Eurodance keyboards are all pulsing at you as one".[5]
Songs
The opener "Fade Away" has been described as "immensely satisfying trance-pop".[4]
"Super Natural" features Canadian singer Carly Rae Jepsen, a choice that was noted for breaking the mould in comparison to the "often metallicized" and manipulated vocals usually present on PC Music songs.[1]
GFOTY's song "Poison" introduced nu-rave and industrial elements to the label's sound.[2]
"A New Family" by Felicita features "horror-film whispers emerging from underneath the sort of crunchy torrent of sound favored by so-called post-club producers."[3]
Hannah Diamond's "Hi" was praised for its "restrained" sound and proving "that PC Music wheelhouse is far larger than just chrome-painted dance pop."[1]
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 79/100[6] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| The Guardian | |
| The Line of Best Fit | 7/10[1] |
| Pitchfork | 6.2/10[3] |
| Resident Advisor | 3.5/5[4] |
PC Music Volume 2 received a score of 79 out of 100 from review aggregate site Metacritic, indicating "generally favourable reviews".[6] Rachel Aroesti of The Guardian gave the collection a perfect score, and said that following the hype of Volume 1 "this second compilation provides an opportunity to appreciate the music on its own terms – and it feels more beautiful and progressive than ever before."[2] Grand Rindner of The Line of Best Fit praised the album for expanding upon the collective's signature sound in new directions.[1] Rich Juzwiak of Spin praised it for being "more mature, less obnoxious, and much more deserving of the early hype PC Music received" and "actual songs" as opposed to its irony-laden predecessor.[5]
Conversely, Thea Ballard of Pitchfork felt "worn out" by the compilation, but singled out "Only You" and "Broken Flowers" as highlights.[3]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Fade Away" | Hannah Diamond | 4:15 |
| 2. | "Super Natural" (featuring Carly Rae Jepsen) | Danny L Harle | 3:43 |
| 3. | "Superstar" | A. G. Cook | 4:51 |
| 4. | "Monopoly" (featuring Noonie Bao) | Easyfun | 3:10 |
| 5. | "Poison" | GFOTY | 2:46 |
| 6. | "A New Family" | Felicita | 3:50 |
| 7. | "Hi" | Hannah Diamond | 3:24 |
| 8. | "Broken Flowers" | Danny L Harle | 3:23 |
| 9. | "Only You" | Chris Lee | 2:59 |
| 10. | "IDL" | Life Sim | 5:53 |
References
- ^ a b c d e Rindner, Grant (9 November 2016). "PC Music understand that their tunes are best consumed in short, feverous bursts". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ a b c d Aroesti, Rachel (17 November 2016). "Various: PC Music Volume 2 review – the smartest gang in British pop". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ a b c d Ballard, Thea (30 November 2016). "Various Artists - PC Music, Volume 2 Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ a b c Finlayson, Angus (24 November 2016). "Various - PC Music Volume 2". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ a b Juzwiak, Rich (21 November 2016). "Review: PC Music Struggles With Identity and Grows Up on New Comp". Spin. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ a b "PC Music Volume 2 by Various Artists". Metacritic. Retrieved 30 December 2020.