Khruangbin celebrated the ten-year anniversary of the release of their first album by re-recording it in the same location, a barn in which they've recorded most of their music. The Universe Smiles Upon You ii rearranges the track listing of the original, and exchanges the slow-burning opening tune "Mr. White" for "Bin Bin," a revved-up acid rock group chant originally included on a Japanese edition of the debut as a bonus track. The group has obviously become thoroughly familiar with their material, and these renditions generally feel loose, casual, and lived-in. "Little Joe and Mary" is promoted to the opening slot, and it has a crisp, rustic tone, making it sound closer to '70s folk-rock than the Afrobeat-tinged original. "Balls and Pins" switches up from an ethereal neo-psych haze to something tighter and more upbeat, with stop-start drumming that sounds similar to the oft-sampled "Ashley's Roachclip" breakbeat, yet the bass sounds as atmospheric and untethered as the original. "White Gloves," one of the original album's most vocal-based songs, sounds clearer and more upfront this time, but doesn't pile more drama on a song that's already quite elegiac. Only on a handful of tracks does the band stretch the songs out and explore their moods at length. "People Everywhere" expands to nearly eight minutes here, adding trickling textures and lots of dubby echo, and giving it a bit more of a disco groove, though it doesn't quite feel as spicy as the original. "Two Fish and an Elephant" sounded calm and laid-back to begin with, and this version is even more chilled-out, echo-enhanced, and easier to lounge on the beach to. The group wisely decided to keep the final track the same on both versions of the album. "Zionsville" was originally a cool, swaying vibe kissed by slide guitar, and this version has glowing keyboards and trip-hop-style drumming, making it sound more propulsive as well as more intimate. Up to this point, Khruangbin have largely stayed within their lane. They've found their groove and they continue to explore subtle variations on their signature sound, which pulls from countless international influences, so it seems like there are always different angles for them to approach their material from. The Universe Smiles Upon You ii isn't necessarily an improvement on the original, sounding more like the group checking up on old friends and seeing how they've grown.

A1        Little Joe And Mary II
A2        Balls And Pins II
A3        White Gloves II
B1        The Man Who Took My Sunglasses II
B2        People Everywhere II
C1        Bin Bin II
C2        August Twelve II
C3        Dern Kala II
D1        Two Fish And An Elephant
D2        Zionsville II