Back in the 1990s, pop music was overrun by teenage seductresses like Britney Spears and nu-metal like Limp Bizkit. But there was always something that set Incubus apart from that specific brand of rock, and with its release Light Grenades, it is apparent its success comes from the heart behind its music.
With singer Brandon Boyd leading the pack, Incubus has created an album entirely of songs about love and loss, such as the straightforward track “Love Hurts.”
The tone is set immediately with the opening track, “Quicksand,” in which Boyd sings, “Some people fall in love and touch the sky/ Some people fall in love and find quicksand/ I hover somewhere in between/ I swear, I can’t make up my mind.” Although Light Grenades is mature at times, this latest effort by Incubus pales in comparison to its other albums, especially as their funk-metal influences seem to have disappeared since bassist Dirk Lance left the band in 2002.
The confused perceptions of romance in “Quicksand” seep to the rest of the album, especially in the first single, “Anna Molly.” In the straightforward rock song, Boyd vividly imagines and loves a woman who probably doesn’t even exist: “I picture your face at the back of my eyes/ A fire in the attic, proof of the prize/ Anna Molly.” While the track stands out from the rest of the album, it is not as good as Incubus’ previous work.
It is on the Light Grenade’s ballads that Incubus push themselves as musicians, sounding strangely like Radiohead on tracks like “Paper Shoes,” “Pendulous Threads” and “Earth to Bella.” Guitarist Mike Einziger shines by avoiding modern rock clichés, and Chris Kilmore branches out from his DJ status to experiment with the Moog Synthesizer, Hammond B3 organ and the scary-movie-soundtrack staple Theremin.
But even though these songs sound interesting, they don’t make a great album. Although Incubus succeeds in opening up possibilities for future musical offerings, Light Grenade isn’t a hit out the park – it’s just good. Either way, it’s still better than anything Limp Bizkit has done recently.
Contact reporter Jesse Fox at
diversions@dbk.umd.edu.
