Review by Bob Messer
Incubus
Make Yourself
Through the years groups like Yes, King Crimson, Kansas, and the latest Dream Theater have influenced pop groups to go more progressive in their style. Such I think is the case here. Incubus exhibits some complex timing hooks. But yet staying well within the pop range. This fusion of metal, hip-hop, and funk is well mixed and pleasing to my ears.
The mix gets an A+, every instrument is well voiced. Even the vocals are clear and well defined. Now lets meet the players; Brandon Boyd– lead vocals and percussion, Alex Lance– bass, Mike Elinziger- guitar and backup vocals, Chris “DJ” Kilmore– turntables, and Jose Pasillas– drums.
Formed back in 1991, Incubus stormed out of Calbasas California. In 1995 they included a DJ, and within a year signed with Immortal Records to release an EP. A year later Incubus recorded their first full length album entitled S.C.I.E.N.C.E. Their latest, Make Yourself, is sneaking up the charts. Produced by Scott Litt, who’s claim to fame is R.E.M., there’s no doubt why ’Make Yourself’ sounds so good.
The first song here is Privilege. This song describes life as a long line. Everyone is waiting. The indications of a backdoor, or a way out of the long line is mentioned here. “Maybe if I look in my heart I could find a backdoor.” If we look deep within our hearts, sooner or later we will discover a spiritual longing for truth. Until we find that truth, we all are ‘dragging our feet’. Mathew 6:33-34
The fourth track is The Warmth. Not too often we hear an uplifting song of encouragement, but this is what this is. The chorus shines through the music saying…”Don’t let the world bring you down, not everyone here is that f#+*ed up and cold. Remember why you came and while you’re alive experience the warmth before you grow old.” We all should have a friend we can go to with our problems before they explode. If you don’t, time to get new friends. Moving my way to Stellar which is the sixth song. I like this one – it is a cute romantic sci-fi song. It is true, we all grow tired of the places we are in.
Make Yourself is a disturbing passage about making your own belief system by reinventing one’s self. This is not good and neither is the sexual reference used here. Upon doing this review, I had wanted to draw on just the positive side of the recording. But I just couldn’t pass this up.
I Miss You; another cute song of love from these guys. I think this might be their strength.
Pardon Me is not only the single, but also the most exact song. The twenties seem to be life’s hardest journey to get through. Your trying to find yourself, get a college education, or working non-stop. In fact did you know a lot of celebrities did not make it past twenty-seven. Jimmy Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Keith Moon, and the latest Kurt Cobain. Letting the world absorb you can be Dangerous. If you are absorbed and ‘bursting into flames’, there is an answer. Be in the world, not of it. 1 John 2:15-17
Sorry it has taken me so long to write this review. But when you move into a new house things can get buried. Want to know a little bit more about me and my band? Check out www.jawbonemusic.com
A list of songs:
1. PRIVILEGE
2. NOWHERE FAST
3. CONSEQUENCE
4. THE WARMTH
5. WHEN IT COMES
6. STELLAR
7. MAKE YOURSELF
8. DRIVE
9. CLEAN
10. BATTLESTAR SCRALATCHTICA
11. I MISS YOU
12. PARDON ME
13. Out From Under
Follow this link to www.hollywoodjesus.com
