Incubus: Brandon Boyd, Mike Einziger, Jose Pasillas II, DJ Kilmore, Dirk Lance.
Additional personnel: Dave Holdridge (cello); Cut Chemist. Nu-Mark (scratches).
By 1999, the Los Angeles aggro unit made the stylistic leap from Korn-like shouting to 311-like harmonizing. Features 14 tunes, including the grunge-tinged single "Stellar," the surprisingly funky "Privilege," and the heavy "Out From Under."
Take the apocalyptic, electronics-tinged riff-rock of bands like Korn. Subtract the fratboy sensibility and the Red Hot Chili Peppers-derived hip-hop rhythms. Add a sophisticated sense of melody and harmony, a more optimistic lyrical outlook, and a sense of dynamics. You've essentially got the Incubus sound. Incubus practices the kind of rapid intra-song mood shifts that were Nirvana's trademark, but instead of merely going from soft to loud and back, they change stylistically, switching from full-on hard rock to almost jangly, low-key alt-rock. The resultant sound should appeal to fans of both styles. The tasteful application of electronic effects updates the feel of MAKE YOURSELF nicely. There's plenty of teeth-gnashing and shrieking angst to be found in the lyrics, but there's hopefulness and pop-friendly catchiness as well. In the world of late-'90s radio rock, Incubus seems capable of being all things to all people.
Professional Reviews
Alternative Press (1/00, p.88) - 3 out of 5 - "...a stylish attempt to merge...metal-edged riff-rock with hip-hop turntable aesthetics....reveals a band with more [brains] than...balls...."
CMJ (11/1/99, p.26) - "...a fresh and sassy new amalgam....[Incubus] still rock the night away, but they've mellowed out considerably on the smooth-movin' MAKE YOURSELF."
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