Being a fan of Incubus since ’99, I’ve always been psyched to hear new music from them. Incubus really stands out when compared to most of today’s bands.
If you want a band that stands on its own and never fails to offer heavy rock guitar riffs with funky beats dropped in between, Incubus is for you. However, their fifth album, “A Crow Left of the Murder,” left me yearning for the yesteryears of Incubus’s edgy metal sound, and questioning their all around ability to rock out.
On the plus side, the new single (and controversial video), “Megalomaniac,” gives listeners a taste of the Incubus we’ve been missing. A solid rock track with an interesting political opinion, singer Brandon Boyd truly shows his vocal ability.
In addition to Boyd’s talents, the band demonstrates what it means to play hard. The chorus’s lyrics are powerful and great to sing along with. “Megalomaniac” has much to like, making it the best choice for the leading single.
After a few listens, some songs rise above others. The title song, “A Crow Left of the Murder,” is one of them. Guitarist Mike Einziger strums a softer line of chords which join beautifully with Boyd’s voice and ultimately make the song a success. Other strengths of the album are “Beware! Criminal” and “Sick Sad Little World,” two of the faster tracks on the album.
“Beware! Criminal” has a catchy chorus that all ears could easily pick up. A high pitched guitar solo at the end sounds reminiscent of “Aqueous Transmission,” from 2001’s “Morning View.” “Sick Sad Little World” contains a guitar/bass lead like no other, definitely adding to the album’s overall sound.
Despite these, some of the album’s songs fall short. The second half of the CD loses the momentum the first half created. “Talk Show On Mute,” “Smile Lines,” and “Leech” are just a few of the songs that seem unfinished, leaving me to think that Incubus should’ve spent a little more time polishing up the last half of the CD. If the second half of the album was as gripping as the first, “Crow” would be a winner all around.
Don’t get me wrong, “Crow” is a decent album. However, fans that steadily follow the group will not call it one of their best. I compare every new Incubus CD to 1997’s “S.C.I.E.N.C.E.” which is, in my opinion, the best record they have released to date.
With less rock and less sampling from DJ Kilmore (who seems to not even exist on “Crow”), Incubus has lost some of their edge.
However, the music they create is still generally good, and I’m sure Incubus will be around for quite some time. In recommendation, “Crow” isn’t a bad buy; just make sure you own “S.C.I.E.N.C.E.” first.
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