in·cu·bus - (ink-you-bus)
noun plural/ in·cu·bus·es or in·cu·bi.
def.
1. An evil spirit supposed to descend upon and have sexual intercourse with women as they sleep. / 2. A nightmare. / 3. An oppressive or nightmarish burden.
That's the definition of an Incubus and it's not pretty.
A Crow Left Of The Murder is the bands latest album and returns in a state of depression. The album is much different than Morning View. The band returns from a short break to release this. The album is really dark, the songs sound like they're being driven by saddness. But that doesn't prevent it from being great.
Incubus have always had their signature sound. The bass lines are amazing as always and the guitar has a funky rhythm to it. All of this in front of a turntable that has some of the best sounds to offer at exactly the right times. This sound has been with them all their career. Slightly prog with some heavier and faster songs to boot, is how I would describe them. Anyway, here's my review of...
Incubus - A Crow Left Of The Murder
Megalomaniac is the first song on the album. It has a really long intro, but it's all good. It has some of the coolest riffs on the album. Then to chorus begins and here we begin. The verses are slow and occupied with some really cool turntable noises. But the chorus is what carries the song though. The bridge is a slow and is full of echoes. Back into thechourus we go as the song closes after another :30 chorus. The next song is the title track,
The Crow Left Of The Murder begins and is slow and acoustic. It has a really prog beginning but the song changes almost completley in the middle. It gets faster with diifferent lyrics and pace. But this is one of the band's generic songs. Nothing too special here. Just the basic goodness. Well onto the next track,
Agoraphobia is the next song and it's one of the slower songs on the album but I love every bit of it. It's like an anthem of love. It's one of my favorite songs on the album. It carries this great pace, that is relaxing and almost mesmerizing. I love in the end, instead of saying 'for good' over and over, he throws you off with a swift '*** off'. Too bad that had to end, but up next we have
Talk Shows On Mute. It was one of the singles and it's pretty slow. From what I remember, the video is really messed up. It's extremely creepy with all of the people in bunny masks. Anyway, the song is really mesmerizing, as was the last. The voice of the singer carries the song with a beautiful rhythm. All I can say is wow, the chorus is addictive. But the only con to this song is that it gets pretty boring really quickly. Just sit back and let the stunning lyrics soak in and drift into a twilight sleep as the next song begins...
Your little catnap is interrupted by
Beware! Criminal. This song is slow too but it has a creepy vibe to it. The bassline is pretty impressive too. In the chorus, the song picks up some pace but it's still a dreary and dull beat. The sleeping tone. But the song has gotta wake you up by the time you get to the final chorus because it's non-chalantly screamed at you. But enough of this, let's go to the next track.
Sick Sad Little World begins, and this is some of the fastest bass I've ever heard. The riff is simple but it's like, 32nd notes (if there are such a thing). Anyway, the bass carries you through the six minute reomp that this song is. It changes tempo throughout and has really slow pre-choruses which lead to some yelling. Once again, the only con is that the song gets a little repetative after the 3rd or so chorus. But the bridge is really relaxing, it's guitar over a wah-peddal, behind the turntable. But they throw you right back in, like Winona Ryder getting out of jail. Then the song fades out and we enter the ultimate.
Pistola starts off with some really awesome sound effects, then goes into some slow guitar. The lyrics here are the best on the album and this song also carries the biggest adrenaline rush. "Yeah, my pen is a Pistola/I don't need to fear, fear you/Yeah, my pen is a Pistola". This song is obviously about writing. But it's still effing great. The bridge has one of the awesomest riffs on the whole album. Then the song fades out as you sit in shock (and in need of a sappy love song)...
Southern Girl starts and has a pretty cool intro, but the song is pretty corny. "We'll behave like animals..." are the lyrics of choice for the verses. Oh great, now I'm having bad Bloodhound Gang flashbacks! Oh well, this song does have pretty good lyrics but they are a tad corny. Anyway, it's pretty short for Incubus.
Priceless can be about anything you want it to. With the lyrics "The look on your face was priceless", it could be anything. Beside that, the opening riff is pretty cool. Nevermind, this is the biggest adrenaline rush on the album (sorry Pistola). It has that great feel the cool drum beat on the toms that sounds like running. It's all good stuff and the bridge has a really kickass guitar solo in it. Then back to the craziness and we hit the end. The next song on the album appears to be
Zee Deveel. It's pretty annoying because of the knock-around drum beat, if that makes any sense. The singing is pretty cool. Now that I think about it, I guess the definition is catching up with the band after all. The bridge is suprisingly creepy and heavy. It actually turns into a better song as it progresses. It gets heavier and then fades away.
Made For TV Movie is really slow. It has the biggest prog feel on the album. It sounds a little too generic but the chorus is amazing. It's a little fast with heavy guitar. The bridge is nothing special either. It's just the chorus, but slower. I guess this is one of the only 'mehh' tracks on the album. It ends as it began, slow and steady. You better get happy bacause a great one is up next...
Smile Lines begins and sounds a little like 'Beautiful Day' by U2. But it goes into a very nice and melodic song. It has a really cool bassline too. This is a love song also, but not a corny as 'Southern Girl'. The lyrics are all about innocence and depression over a dame (to quote Marv from Sin City). The song stops out of no where in the middle and goes back into the same pace as before. The guitar is a really big addition to this track, it's really good after the pause. Then the song fades out and, I smell something that smells like corn. Except this corn starts with a 'K'.
Here In My Room starts up and is pretty slow. KoRn is a guest in this song so we [should] give some respect. I mean, the song isn't that bad. It's really melodic and peaceful sounding. It has this great tempo that carries the song all the way through. It's pretty generic, but good for a listen or two. Next up is the last song on the album and is one of the best by far.
Leech is the closer for this album and it is effing great (thanks, effing Mariana!). Anyway, the song has this really great rhythm and the bass stands out too. This track also has some of the best lyrics on the album. The song is a great anthem against the lowlife screwovers. The people that are hopeless jerks that you care for until they stab you in the back. This is a fantastic closer to the album and is one of the best songs. period. The rides over. The rides over. The rides over...
Conclusion
This was a different turn for Incubus. They went a little darker toned, with some great bass/guitar parts. The lyrics were outstanding, as always. I guess any hardcore Incubus fan would say that Morning View owns this album. Personally, I liked this one better. But Morning View still kicks ass. Some great songs here, but some mehhs. I give this album what I feel it deserves.
Pros
+ Great Bass
+ Great Lyrics
+ A lot of great songs
Cons
- Minor Repetitivity
- Southern Girl
Recommended Tracks | AKA: The Fantastic Four
Magalomaniac
Agoraphobia
Pistola
Leech
