| PC Music Volume 2 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Compilation album by various artists | ||||
| Released | 18 November 2016 (2016-11-18) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 38:08 | |||
| Label | PC Music | |||
| PC Music chronology | ||||
| ||||
PC Music Volume 2 is the second compilation album by British record labelPC 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 overthe first volume, though some found it monotonous and repetitive.
Described as anelectropop,synth-pop, and "house-fueled" album,PC Music Volume 2 features the group's trademark "marriage ofpop hooks, rubberysynths, and beguiling female vocals," as well as "a mix of styles appropriated from both thedanceunderground andTop 40".[1][2][3][4] Many of the songs feature an "allergy" to thepolyrhythms typical in dance music, like on "Super Natural" "where beats, hand claps, and screamingly denseEurodancekeyboards are all pulsing at you as one".[5]
The opener "Fade Away" has been described as "immensely satisfyingtrance-pop".[4]
"Super Natural" features Canadian singerCarly 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" introducednu-rave andindustrial elements to the label's sound.[2]
"A New Family" byFelicita features "horror-film whispers emerging from underneath the sort of crunchy torrent of sound favored by so-calledpost-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-painteddance pop."[1]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 79/100[6] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| The Guardian |  [2] |
| 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 siteMetacritic, indicating "generally favourable reviews".[6] Rachel Aroesti ofThe Guardian gave the collection a perfect score, and said that following the hype ofVolume 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 ofThe Line of Best Fit praised the album for expanding upon the collective's signature sound in new directions.[1] Rich Juzwiak ofSpin 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 ofPitchfork felt "worn out" by the compilation, but singled out "Only You" and "Broken Flowers" as highlights.[3]
| No. | Title | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Fade Away" | Hannah Diamond | 4:15 |
| 2. | "Super Natural" (featuringCarly Rae Jepsen) | Danny L Harle | 3:43 |
| 3. | "Superstar" | A. G. Cook | 4:51 |
| 4. | "Monopoly" (featuringNoonie 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 |