| Incubus "Light Grenades" |
|
|
| Written by Shelby Chambers | |
| Monday, December 18 2006 | |
|
Over the last eleven years Incubus has managed to put out six LPs, all of which have been respectable in their balance of playability, originality, harder and softer sounds. They achieve the same balance on their new LP Light Grenades, perhaps a little too well. Yes, they make good while not too trite love songs, legitimate rock songs, and Brandon Boyd still has a powerful singing voice that is enjoyable without being dull or dime-a-dozen. Yes, they combine guitar and drums with DJ Kilmore�s effects and now piano cleanly and (most often) without excess. But it seems a little unclear to what point and purpose they are applying the usually successful Incubus formula. When you compare 2004's A Crow Left of the Murder to the band�s much earlier and much funkier S.C.I.E.N.C.E, there is a clear trajectory that reconciles the band�s unique sound with �listenability,� leaving the music primed for radio play without being lost in pop mediocrity. Perhaps this was realized too well in Incubus�s last release, leaving them no where else to turn except to do it all over again but with too much balance, too much order, and not enough complexity to render their sound interesting. While this comes off rather harsh, perhaps it�s because I was rooting for Incubus. One of the few bands that could play a huge stadium without having their lead singer preach glittering generalities about everyone needing a chance to shine, now has a lyric about diamonds starting as coal. Aside from Boyd�s occasional lapse into literal lyrics, there is no denying his vocal talent, and general talent of the band as it is realized in various forms throughout their career and in Light Grenades. Songs like Ana Molly and Paper Shoes are gripping from the start, giving listeners what they had been waiting for since 2004, but with a well-thought and well-rendered sound that is slightly new, maybe even mature. Unlike the Dig, the transitions in Paper Shoes are unpredictable yet polished without being worn-out. Incubus had always danced around the threshold of too easy or too out-there, but in times past, the resolution was more ambiguous. The bottom line: Incubus is good at what they do, maybe they should have done something a little different. Saturday Night Rating: 3/5 Comments
(3)
:D
written by ??? , March 05, 2008       dope dude, dope
...
written by Joseph , January 20, 2007
Dazzzzling! One of very few writers i can aspire to emulate. I must admit that I have yet to be showered upon by the grace of this Brandon Boyd's voice, as the majority of American rock has been banned here in Estonia. The single flaw in your writing lies not in the content but rather in the spelling of Boyd's name in which "Google's Seach Correction" suggests it be spelt with an "o". Still, my heart starves for more of your writing to feast on.
...
written by Dorothy , December 20, 2006
I totally agree! Well said.
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
.jpg)