Step aside Tame Impala, Unkown Mortal Orchestra is back with their latest album, II, and it very well may be the best psychedelic rock album available now. With II, the band does a great job of showcasing their strengths, which is their incredible handle on expressive psychedelic rock n' roll with a pop sensability, while also delivering a coshesive and very fun album. It's a joy to listen to and already one of my favorites of the year.

II works so well because it never sounds dull or so experimental that listening becomes a chore. As I mensioned before, there is a pop sensibility here that allows the listener to become helplessly addicted to the catchy tunes, while experiencing the warped soundscapes you can only find in psychedelic rock.

UMO is also not afraid to tap into punk when they want to, or any other genre for that matter. II is songwriter Ruben Nielson's honest expression of how he's feeling at that moment, and he never shies away from what he wants to do on each song.

This gives the album a great flow and nearly infinite replayability, for with each subsequent listen new ideas, thoughts, and even sounds are heard. As a music geek and a lover of pop music, this album fulfills both needs. Strange and unique sounds coupled with clever chord progressions tap into my geeky/indie side, but the catchy hooks, chugging rhythm guitars, and addictive lyrics keep my pop side very happy as well.

Don't miss this album if you like the wierd rock of The Beatles or Tame Impala, as well as the pop you find from Grizzly Bear or Foxygen. II is awesome and plants Unknown Mortal Orchestra at the forefront of the genre