Incubus
High school is a great place to start a Rock band. However, it's difficult to keep the thing going once everyone graduates. In '91, Incubus came together with school chums Brandon Boyd (vocals), Mike Einziger (guitars), Alex Katunich (bass) and Jose Pasillias (drums). Soon the group was playing the all-ages club circuit throughout their native SoCal. In '95 they added DJ Lyfe to the line-up and released "Fungus Amongus" on an indie label. About a year later they signed with Immortal Records and issued the '97 EP "Enjoy Incubus." The full-length album "S.C.I.E.N.C.E." rolled out in '98 and Incubus hit the road showing up on the Family Values Tour. "S.C.I.E.N.C.E" was notable for the piling driving "New Skin" which was a perfect example of the group's high energy Funk/Metal.
'99 was a hot year for Incubus. First, their album "Make Yourself" was released. Out of the box, sales were slow. But driven by the singles "Pardon Me" and "Drive" along with a slot on the 2000 Ozzfest Tour, the album proved to be a strong, consistent seller. Also from the album, "When It Comes," was a pure-bred Rocker.
With success came the opportunity to push out a limited edition EP of rare and unreleased material "When Incubus Attacks Vol. 1." "Fungus Amongus" was also re-released (gotta keep the pipeline full). "01 saw the arrival of "Morning View" with "A Crow Left Of The Murder" following two and a half years later.
"Live at Red Rocks" was released in '04. That same year, Incubus, Hoobstank and Breaking Benjamin were heard on the CD soundtrack accompanying the Xbox video game "Halo 2." In November, Boyd appeared in a New York court to face a criminal-possession-of-a-weapon charge. He pled guilty and got a $250 fine for carrying a souvenir switchblade while trying to board a plane at New York's LaGuardia Airport.
The emotional "Light Grenades," the group's sixth studio album, arrived in '06. According to Einziger, Boyd put a lot of himself into the record. "He's always written a lot about relationships, but this record is very, very personal for him," said Einziger. Boyd's '05 break-up with model Carolyn Murphy apparently took its toll. "Light Grenades," the band's first studio effort since '04's "A Crow Left Of The Murder," featured the single "Anna Molly." "It's a total mess," continued Einziger. "It sounds like 13 different bands playing 13 different songs. That's kind of how all our records sound."
Incubus created a video contest for their single "Dig" (from "Light Grenades"). With entries coming from around the world, the group had the five finalists flown to Hollywood for the announcement that Carlos Oliveira, from Portugal, was the winner. "I think we were pretty decided on his video," said Einzinger. "It's all animation. We're not in it, which is awesome. He just did an amazing job of taking the artwork from our album and animating it into a story."
Having fans produce your video is smart marketing - also cost effective.
Incubus has a bit broader scope than most of their Nu Metal contemporaries. Sure, the anger and occasional despair are evident but Incubus gives it a bit of a spin. On recent efforts Incubus starts an album with a couple of Rockers before changing their tack.
The Grunge tinged "A Kiss To Send Us Off," the Nu-Metal rush of "Light Grenades" and the straight-ahead Rock on the single, "Anna Molly," are the initial reasons for buying "Light Grenades." But here, as on previous efforts, Incubus move down a road less traveled and actually, for the most part, pull it off. Their dramatic power ballads, "Dig" and "Earth To Bella (Parts I & II") are good but they do better when they strip to lean yet energetic sound. The sparse mid-tempo ballads "Love Hurts," and "Paper Shoes," the pensive "Oil And Water" with the line about "dancing on volcanoes," and "Diamonds And Coal" are melodic and engaging. The diffuse opening track "Quicksand" should have been buried while the noise-fest that begins Pendulous Threads" mercifully gives way to a syncopated rhythm. But these are small gripes, especially when there is an irresistible track like "Rouges" with a to-die-for guitar part.
On "A Crow Left Of The Murder" Incubus again alternates between full on Rockers and tight mid-tempo songs to good effect. The album opens with the energetic "Megalomaniac" and the title track. Both are strong. But taking it down a notch, the group really scores with the accessible "Agoraphobia" and the moody "Talk Show On Mute," with its George Orwell/1984 reference. Another outstanding track is "Beware! Criminal." The songs are sharp and Incubus is in excellent form.
"Morning View" opens with "Nice To Know You" and Circles." "Wish You Were Here" has a lighter touch with the line "dig my toes into the sand." "11 AM" has a dreamy feeling. These songs have an airy quality but don't unravel.
"S.C.I.E.N.C.E" is Incubus' most Rock oriented effort. The vastly more popular "Make Yourself" has a less energetic approach. "Fungus Amongus" is a decent debut. "When Incubus Attacks Vol. 1" is for fans and collectors.
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