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Rating: 1991. The charismatic singer Brandon Boyd and drummer José Pasillas (who had already met at the end of the '80s), along with bassist Dirk Lance and guitarist Mike Einziger, form a band, unsure about the name, but eventually decide to call it Incubus.
In 1994, their first demo is released, titled with the name of the group. The positive response to this demo leads to the release of this 1995 "Fungus Amongus."
Well, this album, along with the subsequent "S.C.I.E.N.C.E.," is a milestone of the alternative-funk metal genre, a cross between Rage Against The Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Primus. It's hard to describe its beauty in my opinion. "Why?", you might ask... But it's simple: "Fungus Amongus" is energetic, fast, powerful, cheerful, and melodic at the same time, across all tracks.
It starts with "You Will Be A Hot Dancer", which hooks you right from the beginning with a very funky guitar, and then follows with a chorus full of RATM energy, with Boyd very close to De La Rocha. Next up is "Shaft", where we enjoy a style somewhat like KoRn's, powerful enough to move everyone. It's all topped off with a little Latin guitar that can be heard just over a minute before the end... what a blast!
The funky sound returns with "Trouble in 421", taking us back to the early RHCP days ("Freaky Styley", "The Uplift Mofo Party Plan", anyone?). With the duo "Take Me To Your Leader" and "Medium", the verses remind us once again of KoRn-like atmospheres, but the choruses deceive us (the presence of a female voice in the second track is noteworthy).
"Speak Free" is the most experimental of them all... a kind of duel between Brandon's voice and Dirk's bass that overlap very, very well... not to mention the vocal effects heard at the end! Einziger's solo, mixed with Pasillas' drumming in "The Answer", is pure enjoyment, as is the piece itself. "Psychopsilocybin" has a wah-wah that doesn't envy other funk-metal bassists in the least... And "Sink Beneath The Line"? The chorus is something terrifying... but what about the final part, with the phrase "She should have worn underpants!" followed by a cartoon sound? Ha ha ha! The final track "Hilikus" is a kind of anthem, a manifesto of the Incubus of that era, a ride impossible to get out of your head because of how great it is... It's a drug but without any side effects (even if it's the second track on the album themed around drugs)!
In short, an essential album for those who want to get to know Brandon Boyd and company better. For those who know that Incubus is not only "Are You In", "Megalomaniac", "Wish You Were Here", but also something else. And this something else, which would be this album, "S.C.I.E.N.C.E." and "Make Yourself" (unfortunately, I still haven't managed to listen to the "Enjoy Incubus" EP) deserves a lot.
Even though "Light Grenades" also deserves a lot, it unfortunately wasn't recognized as much as "Morning View" and "A Crow Left To The Murder" (the group's two lowest points for me).
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 You Will Be a Hot Dancer (03:47)
Damn, this situation's new to me, why?
I see a head afraid to be himself,
I bet he'd like to have a little encouragement from the opposite,
come that side of the floor...Yes!
Egg him along, make him feel at ease with himself,
steal his clothes, leave him his shoes,
let's get this marmaduke naked!
Everbody Make him feel at ease,
let's get this marmaduke naked let's get this marmaduke naked
so lose your head and go to pieces.....
Don't you make fun of me...don't you make fun of me!
I'm gonna be, gonna be, I'm gonna be a hot dancer!
Mmmmm...
now that the basics are down, converse amongst yourselves.
But, keep an eye out for the next complication.
In other words, grab the next motherfucker marmaduke,
who refuses to subdue to these pelvic ostentations.
I can't wait until the syllables bend.
Let's get this marmaduke naked, let's get this marmaduke
naked...so lose your head and go to pieces!
Don't you make fun of me...don't you make fun of me!
I'm gonna be, gonne be, I'm gonna be a hot dancer!
na na na na na im a hot dancer
na na na na na im a hot dancer
02 Shaft (03:14)
Who am I?
I am I.
Shaft.
Why can't I get it straight?
No!
Why can't I see it straight?
Shaft!
We can't let you, we can't let you go!
Who are you?
You are me!
Shaft! Shaft! Shaft Shaft!
I'll get a new one, then!
I take a look, look around, gas limited.
I take a look around, I tell myself I'll live again!
Shaft!
Why can't I get it straight?
No!
Why can't I see it straight?
Shaft!
We can't let you, we can't let you go.
Up until this day; I took a look, look around, gas limited.
Up until this day; I take a look around, I tell myself I'll live again!
Shaft.... where's Lorena when we need her?
Shaft!
Why can't I get it straight?
No!
Why can't I see it straight?
No!
We can't let you we can't let you go!
Who am I?
I am I!
03 Trouble in 421 (04:41)
The evening began as a positive swaret
and my abode was 4-2-0 G.
But little did I know that in the very next apartment
there'd be trouble on the brew for me!
Ubiquitious I wish I could be
because the clock cuts short me own day!
One hundred things to do before I rest my sore ass
upon the cushion that supports my array!
Can this be?
Trouble!!!
So if I may, slip you a tip.
You'd stay away from 4-2-1.
Trouble!!!
So get high the green way.
So get high the green way...yes!
I knocked upon their door
in hopes of bidding them their welcome
when instead i was caught by an eye.
His pupil was wide open
kinda like a liquor barn at 3:00.
It was indoubadoubly dose derived.
It was then that they took me
and shined a light between my eyes.
He said,"WHAT ARE YA NEW?
WHY ARE YOU HERE? WHAT'S THE CATCH?
WHY NOT EXPLAIN IN CLEAR? WHY YOU'RE PEAKIN' AROUND?!"
I wish I could've just kept to my own.
My hospitality has been too well spent and I've paid my rent!
I should've kept my thoughts, on who might've been inside
so that my mind could sit and delude my pride!
I beg my common sense to keep my
neighbor out away from my front door
until I find a way
to hide myself from those in 4-2-1.......one...
one away from the good one.
04 Take Me to Your Leader (04:27)
What if your brain, unexpectedly and suddenly,
picked out things to flip around and view a lot differently?
What if blue sky, all of a sudden turned a purple hue?
We would shit a brick the size of all of it... what if?
What if I was just dreaming? What if I lived in a pear?
What if my watch read 4:20 every hour, every day?
You can bet your dollar I'd be happy!
I forgot to remember; I forgot to remember my dream.
Take me to your leader or die by the fly guy!
What if mothballs, hangin' around too close to microwaves,
suddenly woke up and said,
"Take me to your leader or die by the fly guy!
He'll push ya' out, no wings attached!"
Just do as I say, no mistake, he'll blow away.
What if I was just dreaming? What if I lived in a pear?
What if I had a mustard drenched cucumber tied to my leg
and I did not want my pants to get dirty?
What if this, what if that?! Go!
I forgot to remember; I forgot to remember my dream.
Take me to your leader or die by the fly guy!
I forgot to remember my....DREAM! My dream!
Forgot to inject my... cocaine!
Forgot to apply my... rogaine!
Forgot to remember... my dream!(x3)
I never think, I never thought, oh maybe I'm insane!
I think I like being way the fuck outa' my brain!
I forgot to remember; I forgot to remember my brain.
Take me to your leader or die by the fly guy!
05 Medium (03:12)
Medium, medium.
Waking up I smell the scent of coffee on the brew
and I think about the amount of the sweet
I'd like to have in my cup today.
One for the two lump, three lump, four.
No half of one, no less no more.
Just give me a chance, let me make it mine.
I'd like a medium blend of that piece of pie.
Not too bitter, not too sweet... Medium.
Just enough to start my beat... Medium.
Not too bitter, not too sweet... Medium.
Just enough to start my beat... Medium.
Dinner time just rolls around
and I think I crave a steak but
I'm not too partial to the meat
when it's cooked too long and I'm made to wait.
Not too much of the parsley
and just enough of the spice.
I think I'd enjoy a medium-rare dish with a side of fries.
Not too tender, not too tough... Medium.
Not too little, just enough... Medium.
Not too tender, not too tough... Medium.
Not too little, just enough... Medium.
Medium. Medium. Medium. Medium.
Just a medium. Medium.
Come Thursday morn' I smell the pits
but hey, it aint that bad I could of sworn I bathed last week
and scrubbed like a good lad I like to stink just a little bit
just to keep you on your toes yes.
The more I stink the more I think
that you smell like a rose.
Not too pleasant, not too bad... Medium.
Just enough to hurt my dad... Medium.
Not too pleasant, not too bad... Medium.
Just enough to hurt my dad... Medium.
Medium. Medium. Medium.
Medium. Medium. Medium.
06 Speak Free (04:54)
You took our lives away
To increase your self esteem
An underlie in the public eye
Your dubbed insane if and when you try to speak your mind
In your own way
Ignore the past and speak free!
You smashed glass eyes
Just to say, "It all is all that I need."
An underlie in the public eye
Your dubbed insane if and when you try to speak your mind
In your own way
Ignore the past and speak free!
What you see is a reflection of my choice
And what it means to me.
Trapped in your cell
A mindless plot against own eyes to simplify your hell!
Just ease my pain!
An underlie in the public eye
Your dubbed insane if and when you try to speak your mind
In your own way
Ignore the past and speak free!
07 The Answer (03:02)
(MMMMmmmmmmmm........ hemp?!)
Step outside the bounds and take a
big look at the times we live in.
Who appointed you?
You're just an avid image on my screen.
So take your bias point of view away from
my organic institution.
And now we D.A.R.E. to think ourselves!
The answer's waiting content.
(Look into your mind and guide.)
The answer's clear as day open your eyes!
Now kill me.
You killed the very thing that keeps us
hanging on to our dear lives.
So, in a sense you bit the hand that feeds us
just to kill your prophet now.
And with the coming generation at the torn seems
this is what you call progress..
I call it shame!
The answer's waiting content.
(Look into your mind and guide.)
The answers clear as day open your eyes!
Now kill me.
What his law says.
What his law says.
What his law says may not be the stepping stone for you!
You killed the very thing that keeps us hanging on to our dear lives!
08 Psychopsilocybin (04:19)
Psychopsilocybin runnin' horny muther fucker
Trippin on his shoelace, searchin for the hairy sucker
He dont need no funny money, his love is all his power
Half-naked and full witted, and two weeks less a shower
Psilocybin, muther fucker
Psilocybin, oh...
Psychopsilocybin
Psychopsilocybin
Psychopsilocybin
You'll see me, I'll be there
With my nose in the grass
One for me, one for you
Two for me, one for you
Three for me, one for you
End of the sack, now the fungi's they are bloom, yeh
Cut, go
Oh... all the colors, here, wow...
Cut, go
Psychopsilocybin runnin' horny muther fucker
Trippin on his shoelace, searchin for the hairy sucker
He dont need no funny money, 'cause his love is all his power
Half-naked and full witted and two weeks less a shower
Who is in his sofa, back you tell him what's a locker
He is a psychopsilocybin, runnin' horny muther fucker
Cut, go
Yeah... all the colors, here, wow...
Cut, go
Psychopsilocybin
Psychopsilocybin
Psychopsilocybin
Awl
10 Hilikus (03:15)
About a hundred years ago now
Thought I was left for dead
Soliloquy, she was my...
A picture, a wake, my metaphoric friend
So then I fell in love with an irony named life
It taught me this from that and...
A picture, a wake, you're gonna be hilikus.
History has a tendency to block out
The popular beliefs about the leaders of the time
So glisten with my syllables and ponder the thought
Maybe they should have had to dedicate more to it go!
You've got to be, so good to be
You've got to be HILIKUS!
So I took a walk out side with my new found friend and the knowledge imbibe
I figured I'd find another with the same attitude
Yes, then maybe I could talk to someone other than myself!
The doors are swinging wide open, a positive attitude and the ilk in my pocket
Had a lot to do with my new found friend, the hilikus.
History has a tendency to block out
The popular beliefs about the leaders of the time
So glisten with my syllables and ponder the thought
Maybe they should have had to dedicate more to it, go!
You've got to be, So good to be
You've got to be HILIKUS!
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