Incubus-adolescents: review

Surprisingly unimaginative and uninspired musically, the new Incubus single will blend into the ether and leave no mark. It sounds like it came about in an unforced environment of stale minds who have ceased to push forward and redefine themselves. This wouldn't be a problem if this was a decent pop-rock song that packs an emotional punch which the lyrics call for. But it doesn't. At a low point, Brandon Boyd still seems occupied with the agenda of combining his sensuality and purposefulness into every level of his expression, filtering the vocals into a shape far more regulated and clean than it needs to be. The fact that a topic is a cliche isn't an issue, the fact that it's presented as if it isn't, is. The instrumental end of the song is on the par with it's front man; intentionally meandering, meek, well arranged and flavourless.

The band have, so it seems, slipped into a comfort zone they, if one would take the single as an indicator, have no intention to step out of. In a fansite interview guitarist Michael Einziger suggested that the single was the last to be recorded, and has been chosen for a push by the record label, perhaps hinting at his own awareness of its inspidness. Talking about the upcoming album the band's main composer speaks of a coherent piece, spatious and elegant, suggesting that  Boyd has reached a new level of lyrical honesty and depth which emotionally charges the songs more so than ever. If the single is just the cover, the book may be a good read yet, however, a genre outing front often filters out it's audience for a good reason.