Incubus - If Not Now, When? Your Thoughts?
circlesdown
Posts: 308
I've been waiting a long, long time for some new Incubi. Loved this band for a long time. It seems there are three kinds of listeners that like Incubus. There's the kind that insists on measuring everything against S.C.I.E.N.C.E., demanding they return to that sound, there's the kind that is a slight extension of the first, thinking that they were good through Morning View and the two albums since have been weak adult contemporary Maroon 5 crap, and then there are what seem to be only a few of those who are cool with and actually like the direction they have taken the past couple of albums. I myself am in this final group. I don't think their last two albums are as off-the-reservation as I've heard many claim, and I dig the pop sounding stuff as well as the hard rockin stuff.
Well I just listened to the new disc through all the way and then a little more. I feel about like I figured I would. Fortunately I was prepared for how literally off the reservation this one actually is, and I was ready to go along for the ride. I'll admit, a few of the tracks do not go down so smooth, and it may take several listens before I can get it. In some places there is no tangible rhythm or melody, no riff or structure. Mike is laying textures (I know that sounds kinda musice reviewer cliche, sorry, but that's is what he's doing) and is far in the background. There are a small handful of moments where the guitar actually stands out, and kinda like Incubus have always done, they pick the awkward note to land on rather than the one you expect, which can make the first few listens uncomfortable, but later you get used to it and you like it. Brandon's voice however sounds full, front-mixed, clear, strong and amazing. It's clearly leading everything else. He might as well have given the band his vocal tracks and told them to figure something out to go around it, cause it's done. Early standouts for me were Isadore, Defiance, In the Company of Wolves (another music writer cliche, the pink floyd comparison). Wolves will make for a nice, stoned groove during their live shows, and I like the single, Promises Promises. Switchblade was one that was difficut this first go-round, kinda like Pistola was. (I HATED a crow left of the murder for a good month and then fell in deep, lustful, filthy, dirty, love with it).
I fucking love Science, Make Yourself, and Morning View. Love Love Love. And I wouldn't suggest their later stuff is any better than their early stuff, but I'm totally cool with them not recreating those styles still and instead doing songs like Oil & Water, Diamonds & Coal, Love Hurts, Talk Shows on Mute, etc. For every song people say is "too poppy" there's a Rogues or Kiss to Send Us Off or Made For TV Movie that sounds as edgy and baddass as anything on Make Yourself. Give this new album time and it will grow, like a fungus, among us.
Well I just listened to the new disc through all the way and then a little more. I feel about like I figured I would. Fortunately I was prepared for how literally off the reservation this one actually is, and I was ready to go along for the ride. I'll admit, a few of the tracks do not go down so smooth, and it may take several listens before I can get it. In some places there is no tangible rhythm or melody, no riff or structure. Mike is laying textures (I know that sounds kinda musice reviewer cliche, sorry, but that's is what he's doing) and is far in the background. There are a small handful of moments where the guitar actually stands out, and kinda like Incubus have always done, they pick the awkward note to land on rather than the one you expect, which can make the first few listens uncomfortable, but later you get used to it and you like it. Brandon's voice however sounds full, front-mixed, clear, strong and amazing. It's clearly leading everything else. He might as well have given the band his vocal tracks and told them to figure something out to go around it, cause it's done. Early standouts for me were Isadore, Defiance, In the Company of Wolves (another music writer cliche, the pink floyd comparison). Wolves will make for a nice, stoned groove during their live shows, and I like the single, Promises Promises. Switchblade was one that was difficut this first go-round, kinda like Pistola was. (I HATED a crow left of the murder for a good month and then fell in deep, lustful, filthy, dirty, love with it).
I fucking love Science, Make Yourself, and Morning View. Love Love Love. And I wouldn't suggest their later stuff is any better than their early stuff, but I'm totally cool with them not recreating those styles still and instead doing songs like Oil & Water, Diamonds & Coal, Love Hurts, Talk Shows on Mute, etc. For every song people say is "too poppy" there's a Rogues or Kiss to Send Us Off or Made For TV Movie that sounds as edgy and baddass as anything on Make Yourself. Give this new album time and it will grow, like a fungus, among us.
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totally different on this album. In the Company of Wolves is a masterpiece. The whole album is.
A must buy.
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
eV: 8/4/08, 8/5/08, 6/21/11
SG: 10/4/08<-- MET STONE!!!
Incredible melodies.
EV - 5
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alot of hate surrounding this album and as mentioned above, alot of incubus fans can't let go of the sounds created on SCIENCE. we are not going to see incubus make another one of those, just as we will not see another VS or vitalogy from pearl jam.
might have to do with incubus' younger fan base that can't come to terms with a band maturing?
in the company of wolves might be the best song they have ever written. and i am really digging the orginal too.
That's why at first listen of this new album I thought "WTF?" Where's the energy?? But this album grows on you once you give it a chance. There is so much subtlety to every song, each song is like a small explosion instead of the big bang of some of their previous hits, but it's so mellow and cool. I love the title song, great!
haha since I heard this album i've been scrawlling "If Not now,when?" everywhere at school, in my notes, on desks. Great way to look at life!
Hey Incubus. When will you get yours? Well, you already got it when I paid $10 for your album. Now how about you lay out a few lines of cocaine, bust out the effects, and blow this motherfucker up!
but all of the aggressiveness is gone. At least on light grenades they had some hard rock songs, like
a kiss to send us off, rogues, etc. I agree that jose didn't get to showcase much, but even more
dissapointing is the fact that guitarist mike einzinger isn't given the chance to showcase how he is
one of the most creative guitarists in the world today.