THE ALBUM OF THE DAY IS… INCUBUS MAKE YOURSELF
Last week’s “Video of the Day” post of Incubus performing “Privelege” live got me to thinking about how awesome this band used to be, and in particular how incredible their 1999 breakthrough Make Yourself was. Prior to this album Incubus had been a funk metal band heavily influenced by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and their songwriting, though sometimes good, occasionally left a few ends open and was a bit scattered. With Make Yourself the band hired on producer Scott Litt (Bon Jovi, R.E.M., Days of the New) and the result was a collection of tighter songs and a much more cohesive effort overall. This record set the band apart from their nu-metal / alt-metal peers, leaving much of their hip-hop influence behind in favor of bigger arrangements and catchy choruses for days. What always made Incubus so cool to me was their superior musicanship; while many of their peers thrived on aggro rage and simple chugging guitar riffs, Incubus somehow managed to deliver the same level of ferocity using jazz chords and clever rhythmic shifts. Incubus was thinking man’s metal, both musically and lyrically. The balance that the band struck between funk metal and art rock on Make Yourself was perfect, resulting in three veritable radio smash hits in “Pardon Me,” “Stellar” and the now ubiquitous “Drive,” as well as innumerable solid album cuts such as “Privelege” and fan-favorite “The Warmth.” After this album Incubus mellowed out, a move that while I can’t say I love I do understand from an artistic standpoint, and a move that has probably contributed to their longevity. Make Yourself is still their best album by a long shot.
-VN
Buy Make Yourself
