Incubus still innovating

In today's modern rock scene, Incubus has long been locked into the fairly specific genre of alt-metal with such acts as Korn, the Deftones, Staind, and many other prominent, but in-and-out, loud bands. Because of this often restricting label, Incubus has largely failed to attain the recognition and laudation that they otherwise might have achieved as an intelligent, innovative rock presence. Their first full-length studio album, S.C.I.E.N.C.E., released in 1997, had a loud, rabunctious jolt to it, (in an era where now clean-cut and Gap-endorsed Brandon Boyd was regularly shirtless and dreadlocked) but was eclectic in its instrumentation. Following this impressive debut, Incubus released two more restrained discs, Make Yourself and Morning View, partially lending themselves to the power of pop. At this point, many may have considered the band to have reached its peak. That being the case, these California boys could rightfully consider themselves in an exciting but vulnerable position with the release of their latest album, Light Grenades.

The album begins in typical Incubus fashion, and how the band opens all of its shows: with a pounding, but thoughtful bang. The first track, "Quicksand," is essentially a brief, floating, yet interesting introduction to the bone-rattling "A Kiss to Send Us Off." In many ways, this song echoes many other harder Incubus hits, such as "Wish You Were Here" and "Nice to Know You," with its roaming, pensive verses that elevate to a pounding chorus of the song's repeated title. The track is worthy of a sincere head bang.

The next three songs are quite possibly the best of the album. The reflective "Dig" is perhaps the band's finest pop track since "Drive," and is sure to soon be a media favorite. Particularly notable is Boyd's striking vocal abilities, with his range, vibrato, and power forming the meat and emotion of the song. Though leaning almost trite in parts, Boyd's lyrics are also quite poignant and give the tune a heart-wrenching depth. The intense single "Anna Molly" is deserving of the prize and prominently features guitarist Mike Einziger's quick fingers, and the bizarre, intergalactic imagery ("wounded satellite," "de-fragmenting the attic") that characterizes so many Incubus songs. Cheesy metaphors and adolescent pains abound in "Love Hurts." Boyd possibly admits to this, however, singing "tonight we drink to youth," and musically, Boyd and company seem to throw a surprisingly adult spin on the tune.

Much of the second half of Light Grenades, including the title track, is a plunge back into the fast-paced, hardcore, alt-punk/metal mood of S.C.I.E.N.C.E. Although it is not an unwelcome sound, a few of the tracks are a bit bland and lack the ingenuity and punch of other Incubus harder favorites. "Earth to Bella, Part I & II" are fairly disappointing, occupying crucial slots at seven and 13 (the final song). Though the songs have interesting moments, they are too short to pick up any significant momentum and seem to be fillers. With the exception of "Oil and Water," a smooth power ballad, the other few songs are good, but are really only that.

As a whole, Light Grenades represents a further artistic endeavor by Incubus, spinning its two-sided personality of calm and unsettled, smooth and thrashing, into an intriguing dialect of rock. Lyrically as well, it is clear that the band is thinking creatively. Though I expected a bit more, Light Grenades was by no means a disappointment. There are moments on the disc finer than on any other Incubus album.