Preface: I have not done an album review in a long time. My original purpose of tumblr was to create album reviews, so I will try to wean my way back to doing so. I will not do a track-by-track rundown, but rather highlight key songs in the album that encompass what the album is trying to convey (or what I took from it).
Score:7/10
It has been five years since the California rock-based group Incubus has been in the lime light with a new album. During this five year hiatus, the band did not simply relax, if anything, they were quite busy. During this duration, lead singer Brandon Boyd released his first solo album entitled “The Wild Trapeze”, released another book, “From The Murks of the Sultry Abyss”, as well as contribute to a couple of art exhibits. Guitarist Mike Einziger decided to spend his time crafting his already musical abilites by attending Harvard studying musical composition, as well as other adventures. So, to say this was a true “hiatus” is quite misleading.
At first listen, most Incubus fans will probably note that this album is “too soft”. This is the obvious note to make of the bands’ new album. Yes, this album is by far softer than their previous efforts, but we have seen signs of this type of music before; evident in previous efforts such as “Light Grenades” or “Morning View”. If you were hoping for another “Make Yourself” or “S.C.I.E.N.C.E.” part two, you may come away disappointed.
The album starts with the melodic title track, “If Not Now, When?”. The song is primary carried by the subtle drum beats of Jose Pasillas, and Brandon Boyd’s soft vocals. This is one of the few songs in Incubus’s catalog that Mike Einziger’s guitar is not the prominent instrument. Yes, he is there, but he is just adding to the heavy layers of orchestration. This song is just preparing the listen to ask their own question of “If Not Now, When?”. As Mr. Boyd makes the listeners ask themselves the very question, he paints the picture of a person not knowing when their time has come. Having “climbed Everest” and “swung from chandeliers”, the person in this song has accomplished a decent amount, but believes there is more to their life. The listener can relate to this song by asking the same question themselves.
The second song on the album, “Promises, Promises” has to be one of the most pop songs that the band has ever created. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but rather out of character for the band. It is not necessarily a bold choice to make this song your first single off your album, only if you never have heard the band before. Some fans would consider this song way too off the map, even for Incubus. Driven primary by piano, the song banks on the notion to promise to never make any promises. This is very Boyd-esque as he has done in the past where he offers contradictions within a song (previous example: Oil and Water, Diamonds and Coal).
“Isadore” is a stand out track, not because it is on this album, but this is truly the first time Incubus has told a story within a song. An obvious love song (as are most of them on this album) pointing out the pros and cons of the character “Isadore” until everyone knows “her name Isadore”.
The peak point of the album comes within the 8th song on the album, entitled “In The Company of Wolves”. The song starts off as one would assume based on what the rest of the album as sounded like, with clean guitars, and Brandon’s vocals. But this epic 7 minute and 35 second song take you on adventure. The first part is rather relaxing, with some organs, and simplistic drums. But then the song takes a sharp, psychedelic turn. Mike Einziger brings haunting guitar sounds, with screeching violins, and bass heavy rhythm section. During this breakdown, Brandon sings in a rather whisper type of voice, explaining the “rite of passage” in which this song is about. This breakdown in this song is some of Incubus’s best work in several years. This part is also some of the most reminiscent of Incubus’s earlier work (think of the solo/breakdown section of “Sick, Sad, Little World”).
“In The Company of Wolves” is then followed by the most hard rocking song on the album, “Switchblade”. This is one of the first songs Incubus has relied primary on Brandon’s vocals and Jose’s drums. This is by far a rhythm based song, to say the least. The lyrics themselves are rather cliche at times, referring to a girl in a black hat, and thigh highs, with references to a switchblade (duh). This song might be in reference to an incident a few years ago when Mr. Boyd was apprehended in an airport for carrying a switchblade in his luggage. Perhaps he is alluding to this incident in the form of a girl in a black hat, with thigh highs (think of “Nice to Know You” whereas the song was actually about Brandon’s arm falling asleep).
“Adolescents” sounds like it could have easily been on “Light Grenades” or “A Crow Left of the Murder”. This is a very “Incubus sounding” song. “Out of sight, out of mind!” Brandon keeps declaring throughout this sound, referencing the fact they may be adolescent themselves by being so. Hopefully this is the one song that long-time Incubus fans can enjoy. This song, to me, sums up what sound Incubus has evolved to over these past 20 years.
The album ends with “Tomorrow’s Food”, which is pretty much just Brandon and Mike. With Brandon’s reverb vocals over Mike’s finger-picking, this song is a delight to listen to as an album closer. “There is not so thing as the good old days”, says Brandon declaring that nostalgia can be itself not so nostalgic. People tend to believe that the good old days where so much more pure and innocent, and we live in grueling times. The song, lyrically, ends about halfway through, and continues in this instrumental melody of Mike’s finger-picking with orchestration over it. The song fades with these elements, and the album comes to a close
If you have never heard an Incubus album before, this album will be easier to digest than those who have grown up with the band. Incubus has been notoriously known for always changing their sound from album to album. But those who fell in love with them during the “S.C.I.E.N.C.E.” and “Make Yourself” days might find this album as a disappointment, or feel like they have betrayed their fans. You have to keep in mind this band has been together since their teenage years, and are now well into their 30’s. To ask a band to band the same type of album they made decades ago is like going to your 20 year high school reunion and everyone assuming you’re the same person you were 20 years ago. If you hated this album, then just keep in mind “Hey, this might just be another phase the band is going through”, that might be the case. But if Incubus has settled down with this sound, then they certainly have answered the question “If Not Now, When?”.
