Incubus - Light Grenades

[murlough23]

So, Incubus released a new album yesterday, but I've heard absolutely zero talk about this one from anyone. I guess the band lost some of their buzz after A Crow Left of the Murder, which was admittedly a rather inconsistent album that lost some of its charm for me after the first few months (I still love several of its individual songs, though). Light Grenades, which I'm now almost all the way through my first listen to, seems to have remedied that problem. It feels stronger and punchier than Crow in so many ways - varied, but more consistently likeable on first listen, a feat which Incubus hasn't accomplished for me on any of their other albums. It would be hard for them to beat Morning View in my book, but the second place spot is wide open, and I think Light Grenades is a lock. We'll see if the substance of the album holds up for me after the initial "Wow!" wears off. Right now I'm just loving Einzinger's technical guitar riffs, Pasillas' cluttered but lively percussion, and Boyd's lyrics, which don't make a lot of the unsavory missteps that they made on Crow.

I'm going to give this one a hearty recommendation to the modern rock fans in the room who don't mind a little oddness or abrasiveness here and there.

NP: "Earth to Bella (Part II)", Incubus

[bloop]

I liked Crow, I may have even liked a few of those "unsavory lyrical missteps", but I don't return to it much (there isn't a lot I go back to, anyway - there's too much new to listen to).  I've only listened a couple times to Light Grenades - not enough to tell you whether I think it's an improvement.  I'm digging the spacier moments.

[murlough23]

I liked Crow, I may have even liked a few of those "unsavory lyrical missteps"

Hopefully "pink tractor beam into your incision" wasn't one of them.

NP: "The Eleventh Reel", Chris Thile

[spacebrat311]

I like Light Grenades a lot, but it's just not hitting me the way Morning View or Crow Left did. I can't really pinpoint why.

I think that I like A Crow Left of the Murder best out of all their albums from a musical standpoint, but I have to agree with that there are some hilariously awkward lyrics in places. Although, to be fair, I think "Love Hurts" is pretty up there. I haven't noticed anything else I dislike lyrically, but that chorus might well have been stolen from a middle schooler.

[TheWanderer]

S.C.I.E.N.C.E will always be my favorite.  I am eager to hear this album.

[murlough23]

OK, so listening to this a little more, I've decided that it rates somewhere around a straight B. That makes it my second favorite Incubus album out of the four I've heard (first being Morning View, third being Crow, and fourth being Make Yourself). I don't mind that there are moments here that don't crash and bang about as much as the usual Incubus fare, even if it's that highly rhythmic and catchy crashing and banging about that draws me to them the most. "Dig" is a good example - it's one of my favorite Incubus songs, period, thanks to its lyrics about people keeping each other accountable. It's mellow and it never seizes the opportunity to catapult forward into a swelling climax, but I kind of like the unexpected restraint. Elsewhere, "Earth to Bella, Pt. 1" works well due to its acoustic intro which unexpectedly slams into an abrasive slow rock jam.

Of the more upbeat tracks, "Anna-Molly" is my favorite. The pun in the song's title ("Anomaly", get it?) is beyond stupid, but once you get past that it's pretty sweet, and I love the drum rolls and the ride the song takes you on. (It reminds me a bit of "Sick Sad Little World", which was one of my favorite tracks on Crow.) The title track is a fun little political rant that flies by in a blur. I normally don't like lyrics which are hard to make out, but I don't mind with that song, since a new piece of the lyrics seems to stick out with each listen. "Paper Shoes" is acoustic but upbeat, which is always fun, and "Pendulous Threads" is a blast in a very unorthodox way.

The songs that aren't working so well for me are "Love Hurts" (I like the sentiment but don't like the cliche way that the lyrics express that sentiment, and the music is too ordinary for Incubus), "Quicksand" (I prefer for Incubus to not try to be Radiohead), and the one-two anti-punch of "Oil and Water" and "Diamonds to Coal". Aside from those problematic songs, it's a solid disc.

NP: "Paper Shoes", Incubus

[bloop]

"Quicksand"

This is one of my favorites on the album.  While I hear the similarities to Radiohead, it doesn't sound so much like something Radiohead would do that it's distracting to me.  Besides, if your a band looking for a little inspiration, not many do it better.

[murlough23]

This is one of my favorites on the album.  While I hear the similarities to Radiohead, it doesn't sound so much like something Radiohead would do that it's distracting to me.  Besides, if your a band looking for a little inspiration, not many do it better.

It's not a ripoff, but it's not an inspired homage, either. To me it sounds like Incubus' version of "Everything in Its Right Place", but it doesn't lead well into the rest of the album. The rhythm and flow of the song are totally awkward.

You can be inspired by a good source but still not do great things with the inspiration.

Oh, and by the way, you're.

NP: "Fragment (of a Fiery Sun)", Iona

[bloop]

Well, we disagree here.  I hear "Everything . . . " could be an influence (and it isn't as good as that), but it's still spacey Incubus as I know and like them.  My mind is only allowing me to be pretty vague right now, but I like the somewhat off-kilter nature of the song and I'll just leave it there.

As for the other part, so I type too fast sometimes.  Sue me.

[murlough23]

Well, we disagree here.  I hear "Everything . . . " could be an influence (and it isn't as good as that), but it's still spacey Incubus as I know and like them.  My mind is only allowing me to be pretty vague right now, but I like the somewhat off-kilter nature of the song and I'll just leave it there.

Neither of us is wrong. We both see "Everything" as a possible influence, and I don't think it's a ripoff. We've whittled it down to a purely aesthetic difference in opinion, and there's no right answer to that argument.

[ewok20t3]

I used to love Incubus, but I just can't bring myself to buy this album. I didn't really care much for A Crow Left of The Murder, although I know that is some people here's favorite album by them. I enjoyed them more when they were edgier. Make Yourself is my favorite Incubus album.

[murlough23]

I used to love Incubus, but I just can't bring myself to buy this album. I didn't really care much for A Crow Left of The Murder, although I know that is some people here's favorite album by them. I enjoyed them more when they were edgier. Make Yourself is my favorite Incubus album.

I think this album corrects some of the mistakes made on Crow. At times it's as dense and percussion-heavy as some of the better songs on Make Yourself, but less awkward, and without all the pesky swearing.

[ewok20t3]

I may have to check it out then.

[murlough23]

I just loaded Incubus's live set from KROQ's Acoustic Christmas 2006 to the Pub. See the Pub thread for details.

NP: "Sick Sad Little World (live)", Incubus

[murlough23]

This live set reminds me, I should list my favorite Incubus songs. (Disclaimer: I've never listened to S.C.I.E.N.C.E. So sue me.)

1. Aqueous Transmission
2. Nice to Know You
3. Sick Sad Little World
4. Anna-Molly
5. Wish You Were Here
6. Dig
7. Clean
8. Pardon Me
9. Echo
10. Light Grenades
11. Priceless
12. Pistola
13. Warning
14. Circles
15. Paper Shoes
16. A Crow Left of the Murder
17. Privilege
18. Drive
19. A Kiss to Send Us Off
20. Pendulous Threads

[TheWanderer]

This live set reminds me, I should list my favorite Incubus songs. (Disclaimer: I've never listened to S.C.I.E.N.C.E. So sue me.)

1. Aqueous Transmission
2. Nice to Know You
3. Sick Sad Little World
4. Anna-Molly
5. Wish You Were Here
6. Dig
7. Clean
8. Pardon Me
9. Echo
10. Light Grenades
11. Priceless
12. Pistola
13. Warning
14. Circles
15. Paper Shoes
16. A Crow Left of the Murder
17. Privilege
18. Drive
19. A Kiss to Send Us Off
20. Pendulous Threads

Here's the lawsuit papers....THere are some great songs on S.C.I.E.N.C.E.

[murlough23]

Here's the lawsuit papers....THere are some great songs on S.C.I.E.N.C.E.

I don't doubt that; I just haven't gotten around to it yet.

NP: "Dig (live)", Incubus

[murlough23]

Here's my first review of the new year, on Light Grenades. Now I've finally reviewed everything that made my Top 20 for 2006.

http://www.epinions.com/content_303070350980