| | Full Review | Ratings (994) |
Give your Rating |
| 4.5 superb | AtavanHalen | April 25th 10 |
What the FUCK is this? Album of the fucking year, that's what it is. Ferocious, schizophrenic and volatile experimental music that takes everything that was good about the first record and makes it even BETTER. From Jonsi's vocals cut up and demolished across a thudding rhythm, to the spastic rage of "Doe Deer", everything here is a winner.
Rest of 2010 had better fucking well shape up, y'all.
3 Bumps | Bump |
| 0.0 | bloc | April 23rd 10 |
Crystal Castles drop most of the glitchy nonsense from their previous album, and decide to write a collection of synthpop/dreampop tracks. While this fact alone makes it better, Castles still needs to work on actual songwriting; out of the 14 songs, many of them sound too identical so it almost confuses you when trying to determine which song is which just by listening. And because the album consists of 14 songs, the album verges on being too long. With albums like this, they are most effective as being very short, almost acting like a tease. By the time you get to the end of Crystal Castles II, you're almost off the edge of your seat, just waiting to go do something else than listen to anything off this album again.
3 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.5 great | TheAlmightyBungler | October 26th 10 |
bleep bloop bloop bleep bloop bloop bleep bleep bleep bloop bleep bloop bloop bleep bleep bloopity bleep
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Charger | April 22nd 10 |
This will take a LOT of time to grow; I hated it for the first three or four times through, until it set in what they're trying to do. At first it sounds boring and complacent compared to the debut, but eventually this becomes much more even and settled, more mature and fully-formed. Album #2 is less concerned with the novelty of the sound and more with the tracks themselves.
Right now this stands at least equal to the previous album and I expect it to shake out better over the next few weeks.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.8 excellent | Erwann S. STAFF | August 11th 20 |
Glacial synthpop. Really, this is cold shit, whether it's caused by Alice Glass' shrieks or the harrowing repetitiveness of Kath's beats. This is a weird one: it's catchy yet deeply melancholic, dancey yet almost gothic in its aesthetic - and goths don't dance. We could say it's a witchy dancefloor record, during which you wanna dance but don't really know how. Or maybe you know how but you're having a seizure.
Bump |
| 0.0 | zetsumeisama | April 8th 19 |
Favorite Tracks: Intimate, Vietnam, Not In Love (feat. Robert Smith), Baptism, Celestica.
Bump |
| 0.0 | RYMsfullofscenesters | September 28th 13 |
A couple pseudo-bohemians make the exact kind of music every other lowercase-typing fauxhemian thinks is cool right now. I prefer music with personality.
Bump |
| 2.0 poor | Rubvo | May 31st 13 |
Already gets boring half way through the album. Only one or two good songs.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Lali | January 24th 11 |
Holy Shit is all I have to say about this one. And it is quite concerning when my mother looks over my shoulder and sees I have a song titled Pap Smear on repeat on iTunes, haha.. Seeing them live tomorrow night!
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | WashboardSuds | January 16th 11 |
Very few kinds of electronic music tickle me the way Crystal Castles does. Superior to their previous record, but these are both gold to me. Lots of fun to listen to, my favorites are Celestica, Baptism, Vietnam, Pap Smear, Not In Love, Suffocation, Year of Silence, Violent Dreams...i might as well just name them all:P love this
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | caprio4us | November 12th 10 |
This is a grower, i'm changing from 4 to 4.5rand "Not in Love" (feat. Robert Smith) rock !!!
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | armanpier | July 23rd 10 |
i listened to all tracks and i love Doe Deer and Year Of Silence much, because of their bitter taste of electronic music and noisy sounds.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | thunderplex | May 13th 10 |
stellar, alice's voice is dreamier and just stronger throughout.....and I mean there have to be about 5-6 songs that are just outrageously good and cattttchhhy
Bump |
| 0.0 | Bitchfork | May 1st 10 |
Crystal Castles II is a definite improvement over the 8-bit extremities on their first album. This time the techno duo are more focused on melody, evocation, and catchy hooks. Whether it be the somber opening of "Celestica" or one of the many guilt-free dancefloor anthems on this sophomore album, it is apparrent that Crystal Castles are improving: once a guilty pleasure and now an excellent electronic duet.
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | dylantheairplane | April 21st 10 |
Crystal Castles has certainly evolved in the past few years since they have been away. After
their debut album and tour wrapped up and became old news they relatively vanished until
now. Their second self-titled album (weird right?) just sort of appeared out of nowhere
featuring some brand new sounds never heard from the band. This new album has a lot more
straightforward singing rather than the hectic noises of the debut (not counting "Doe Deer",
which is as hectic as a song can possibly be). One of the new songs, "Year of Silence" which
the only lyrics are samples of a Sigur Ros song, although random it works very well. The
album as a whole is much darker than the previous and could almost be summed up as: The Dark
Side of Crystal Castles. Regardless though this slightly altered sound does not completely
fuck up their old sound making for a unique but still familiar listen.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Henry | September 12th 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | anode | June 9th 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | Snuron | May 31st 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | Yume | November 6th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Mazelas | February 22nd 23 |
| 4.5 superb | Aurora | January 5th 23 |
| 2.5 average | Get Low | December 15th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | shem | October 11th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | Gegery | September 11th 22 |
| 3.5 great | olmedou | September 8th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | lurxy | June 22nd 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | alamo | May 10th 22 |
| 3.5 great | mkodo | January 18th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | Xizon | September 8th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jerrad | August 19th 21 |
| 3.0 good | Lassie | January 9th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | yungalb | October 5th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | ilia | August 18th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | Murat | July 16th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | alxysm | April 12th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Roidv | April 9th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | mann28 | March 26th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | iglu | March 6th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Aeon89 | February 25th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | canczar | January 13th 20 |
| 3.5 great | peahat | December 20th 19 |
| 5.0 classic | Halfoun | December 4th 19 |
| 3.5 great | doofy | August 7th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Josh | August 1st 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | siobh | November 2nd 18 |
| 3.5 great | dvdkmlr | September 27th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | LamboGD | September 4th 18 |
| 3.5 great | Martvyk | September 2nd 18 |
| 4.5 superb | Jadiel | June 20th 18 |
| 3.0 good | Rmazer | February 23rd 18 |
| 4.5 superb | Kilbox | January 5th 18 |
| 3.5 great | nateiv | December 18th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | kb3984 | December 3rd 17 |
| 4.5 superb | facundo | November 23rd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | n60storm | November 11th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Brabiz | October 30th 17 |
| 3.0 good | Jan555 | August 22nd 17 |
| 5.0 classic | natey | June 27th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | Tom R. CONTRIBUTOR | April 2nd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | betray | February 27th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | 2ool | February 20th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | hep | January 9th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | R6Rider | January 2nd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Greem | December 31st 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Frojola | December 12th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | electox | November 18th 16 |
| 3.0 good | Jade | October 27th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Simon K. STAFF | September 11th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Lanas | July 24th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | tycobb | July 21st 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | p4p | July 18th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | tyler | July 11th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rdawg | May 9th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | AWalrus | April 2nd 16 |
| 4.5 superb | AV33 | January 25th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Qqoqq | January 7th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | mrend55 | January 2nd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Mikailov | December 11th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Sithese | August 27th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | iveau | August 26th 15 |
| 3.5 great | Dan H. EMERITUS | July 6th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | shaunly | June 18th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | 8kuji | December 28th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | vineh | October 17th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | KaNe00 | October 17th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | kudcrap | September 3rd 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | JSJC | August 23rd 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Surtur | July 27th 14 |
| 3.5 great | jimbon | July 24th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | hoox | May 26th 14 |
| 2.5 average | Wiosna | March 29th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | ihml93 | March 13th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Roargh | March 5th 14 |
| 5.0 classic | Slush | February 10th 14 |
| 5.0 classic | Ramires | January 14th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | nickhv | January 7th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | karlulol | December 29th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Scarfo | December 12th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | zundza | December 8th 13 |
| 3.0 good | kbzn | November 23rd 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kadence | November 12th 13 |
| 3.5 great | craven | October 4th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Vespiion | September 18th 13 |
| 3.5 great | cmilli | September 4th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | jtswope | September 2nd 13 |
| 3.0 good | Arel | June 25th 13 |
| 3.0 good | gelud | April 9th 13 |
| 3.5 great | Koei | March 20th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | heck | February 21st 13 |
| 3.5 great | tnd | February 18th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Filling | February 15th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Lobber | February 4th 13 |
| 3.5 great | JS19 | February 3rd 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | ILJ | January 23rd 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | armykat | January 8th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | alpo | December 21st 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | newrot | December 18th 12 |
| 3.5 great | urzadek | December 17th 12 |
| 3.5 great | Feels | December 12th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Surette | December 11th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Earendil | November 30th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | seldead | November 25th 12 |
| 3.0 good | Trey STAFF | November 24th 12 |
| 3.5 great | goop | November 18th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | thejared | November 15th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | jlb1993 | November 12th 12 |
| 3.5 great | Winrar | November 9th 12 |
| 3.5 great | iGuter | November 7th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | TheGoon | October 30th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | bert0 | October 28th 12 |
| 3.0 good | balazs | October 20th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | chayka | October 13th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Melanin | October 6th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Cerbyrus | September 11th 12 |
| 3.5 great | John L | August 21st 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | SYLover | July 28th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Behexen | July 23rd 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | xevman | June 20th 12 |
| 3.5 great | ramens | June 12th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | BrianE | June 4th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Rail | May 3rd 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | axo | April 3rd 12 |
| 2.5 average | jday | March 25th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | san073 | March 24th 12 |
| 3.5 great | ava082 | March 14th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Steev0h | January 30th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | BlueW | December 9th 11 |
| 3.5 great | THIEF | December 3rd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | 4Train | November 28th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | ElDev | November 9th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rev | November 7th 11 |
| 3.0 good | Aids | October 25th 11 |
| 3.5 great | JJwins | October 24th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | mckyG | October 6th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | jaykayy | September 14th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | brynv | September 6th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Othcar | September 3rd 11 |
| 3.5 great | stfrnz | August 17th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | sharmz | August 10th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | 669 | August 7th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Boah11 | July 22nd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Opaque | July 5th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Trebor. EMERITUS | July 2nd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | amosmyn | June 15th 11 |
| 3.0 good | Teto | June 4th 11 |
| 3.0 good | Vesper | April 20th 11 |
| 1.5 very poor | cvlts | April 14th 11 |
| 1.0 awful | lynit | March 20th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Clash | February 19th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Pawsee | February 16th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | jmae1101 | February 15th 11 |
| 3.5 great | TAL | February 7th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Dionni | February 2nd 11 |
| 3.5 great | jOtl | January 29th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | TanMan | January 21st 11 |
| 4.5 superb | CWBrown | January 18th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rowdy | January 2nd 11 |
| 3.5 great | mmfarva | December 31st 10 |
| 3.5 great | whoaoh | December 28th 10 |
| 3.5 great | Moraff | December 28th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | cubbzor | December 27th 10 |
| 3.5 great | SCope13 | December 22nd 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Plank | December 11th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | rymo | December 7th 10 |
| 3.5 great | jambi93 | November 29th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | gonzab | November 22nd 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Basman | November 22nd 10 |
| 2.5 average | wylpyl | November 21st 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Fluorine | November 11th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | easolet | October 14th 10 |
| 3.5 great | mvood | October 1st 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Budheim | September 27th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | adiq51 | September 13th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | lodes | September 7th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Titan50 | September 2nd 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | doqtor | August 26th 10 |
| 3.5 great | Creed | August 22nd 10 |
| 4.5 superb | bab808 | August 22nd 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | WooHa | August 18th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | estok | August 14th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | IAJP | August 14th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | rtplol | July 25th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | shindip | July 23rd 10 |
| 3.5 great | Zoo | July 19th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | cuki92 | July 19th 10 |
| 3.5 great | lobby | July 17th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | shizm | July 12th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tom2704 | June 29th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Matski | June 29th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | kojpl | June 27th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Gummers | June 18th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | tato | May 23rd 10 |
| 2.0 poor | Jin | May 23rd 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Yotimi | May 9th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | gosk8n | May 6th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | joshc | April 30th 10 |
| 2.0 poor | Skyler | April 28th 10 |
| 3.5 great | Edwin | April 27th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Dogget | April 26th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ramos29 | April 26th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | akiro | April 25th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Smevin | April 24th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Faint7 | April 23rd 10 |
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