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THE REVIEW
Since their debut "Fungus Amongus" in 1995, the Californian band Incubus has accustomed us to a well-evident evolution/maturation of their sound, album after album.
The powerful and captivating mix of alternative, funk rock, and rap from their early days, however, is now a faint memory: with "Make Yourself," released nearly ten years ago, Incubus began a process of maturation and softening of the proposed sounds, culminating in the almost-pop of the controversial "Morning View," which included international hits "Wish You Were Here" and "Are You In?". After a valid foray into post-grunge territory with "A Crow Left Of The Murder...," Boyd and company released this "Light Grenades" in 2006, their sixth studio album.
Many claim that Incubus plays at being the new Red Hot Chili Peppers, and to some extent it's true: just listen to the first (nice) single from this work, "Anna Molly". Even the careers of the two bands are similar: although Boyd and company's is shorter, a progressive shift to more "soft" tones is present in both groups' paths.
But Incubus is not the Red Hot, and it shows: the sincere and heartfelt (as well as shameless) homage to Radiohead in the opener "Quicksand" is pleasantly disorienting, even though the five then leave room for the aggressive "A Kiss To Send Us Off" and the dreamy "Dig" (the second single), which recovers the atmosphere of the best-selling "Morning View." A determined turn towards more distinctly alternative rock territory is evident, especially in tracks like "Rogues" and "Pendulous Threads". "Diamonds And Coal" sounds like a Foo Fighters song under sedation, the title track is pure and fast-paced punk rock, while the pop-groove of "Paper Shoes" is one of the best things on the album. The tear-jerking ballad for Brandon's many fans is not missing, namely "Love Hurts" (still very pleasant in its simplicity).
On a merely technical level, Ben Kenney's contribution (formerly of The Roots, at the time on his second album with Incubus) is standard fare, while the imaginative rhythms of the monumental Jose Pasillas are, as always, the house specialty.
"Light Grenades" is ultimately a more than good album, to be rediscovered while waiting for the new studio work from the American band expected by 2010 (in the meantime, the best "Monument And Melodies" coming out in a few weeks).
Key tracks: "Quicksand", "Light Grenades", "Paper Shoes", "Pendulous Threads", "Earth To Bella (part II)"
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Summary by Bot
Incubus' Light Grenades marks a significant evolution from their early funk and rap roots towards a mature alternative rock sound. The album offers a diverse palette of songs ranging from aggressive to dreamy, with standout tracks like "Anna Molly" and "Paper Shoes." While comparisons to Red Hot Chili Peppers arise, Incubus retains a unique identity with sincere homages and dynamic rhythms. This album is highly recommended for fans awaiting the band's next studio release.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Incubus
Incubus are an American rock band formed in 1991 in Calabasas, California, widely associated with alternative rock and (early on) funk- and metal-leaning crossover. Reviews emphasize their early experimental blend of funk/metal/hip-hop/jazz textures and later shifts toward more melodic, mainstream-friendly alt-rock.25 Reviews
Other reviews
By daduzza
This work is more successful simply because it is more stripped-down both in content and length.
An album I find entertaining, from a band that does not pretend to change rock but simply continues to make their music.
By Kk3
In the first track "Quicksand" the group makes us hear Radiohead influences never heard before, the result is terrible.
This Incubus album is certainly the worst CD from the Californian quintet, but still, at times, it delights us with songs like "A Kiss To Send Us Off", "Rogues" or "Anna Molly".
