Incubus’ unique sound returns on latest album
‘Light Grenades’ displays band’s evolution, progress from early ’90s
By Jess Novak, staff writer
Posted on November 30, 2006

Upon first listen of Incubus’ newest release, only one thought comes to mind: instant likeability. It’s the type of record bound to burn a hole in any CD player and make it a top song on iTunes effortlessly. With its signature sound back and evolving as always, Incubus delivers the same captivating mix of poetically adept lyrics and singable melodies with talent-drenched guitar-riffs, bass lines, vocals and drum beats in their latest album, Light Grenades.

The fairy-tale story of this once-independent label group made double platinum is an encouraging success for hopeful musicians everywhere and the members of Incubus continue to prove the dream can be real. Though they began as a high school jam band, their most recent CD proves their potential and progress since the garage rehearsals and backyard gigs of the early ’90s. With a sound incomparable to any other modern artists gracing the airwaves today, Incubus continues to set itself apart from the mainstream while simultaneously conquering it, a feat rarely accomplished in the industry.

The album opens quietly with a hum and growing progression of synthesized tones gradually mixed with lead singer Brandon Boyd’s definitive voice. The song “Quicksand” introduces the album slowly with a burst of emotional vocals and a beating piano, followed by a quick descent into the much livelier “Kiss to Send Us Off,” a song reminiscent of “Megalomaniac” off of 2004’s A Crow Left to the Murder.

The band slips into a more sentimental, yet still powerful track, with “Dig” with the lyrics, “If I turn into another/ dig me up from under what is covering/ the better part of me/ Sing this song!/ Remind me that we’ll always have each other/ when everything else is gone,” serving as a reminder that one of Incubus’ greatest attributes is the honesty and hopeful edge to its lyrics.

The following track and first single to be released, “Anna Molly,” immediately defines itself as one of the best and most memorable tracks of the entire album with the first bars. The driving guitar and pumping bass line soon accompanied by a widerange of vocals push the song with an undeniably catchy groove.

The rest of the album progresses close to faultless minus the cliché lyrics and title of “Love Hurts,” but redeems itself with the incredible guitar riffs of “Light Grenades” and the unforgettable, and perhaps best song of the album, “Pendulous Threads.” Following in the same vein as “Warning” of 2001’s Morning View, the band also continues dishing its advice on life in “Earth to Bella” with words of wisdom worth attention.

However, one of the most memorable tracks of the album, “Diamonds and Coal,” stands alone for a separate reason. Though Incubus continues to shine throughout the track, it sounds undeniably traditional compared to most of the group’s experimental variations on common rock ’n’ roll themes. Though complete with Boyd’s signature sound and intriguing lyrics assuring “even diamonds start as coal,” there’s something almost eerie about hearing Incubus sounding so tame.

Light Grenades does well to continue the dream for this California band and its fans. The biggest disappointment of the whole record may be when it ends, but listeners should have no problem going right back to the beginning again and again.