Like its predecessor,
MTV's Best of the Buzz Bin, Vol. 2 is filled with songs that became American alternative radio hits due to their heavy exposure on MTV. As such, it's more of a snapshot of '90s pop music trends than a genuine, cohesive collection, but it's quite an entertaining one at that, combining one-hit wonders (
Cake's "The Distance,"
311's "Down,"
Nada Surf's "Popular,"
Primitive Radio Gods' "Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth") with fluke hits by both important and cult artists (
Chemical Brothers' "Setting Sun,"
Flaming Lips' "She Don't Use Jelly"). For most alt-rock listeners, there's bound to be nearly as many irritants as pleasures, but that's part of the fun of listening to
MTV's Best of the Buzz Bin, Vol. 2. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide