Monuments and Melodies

Incubus inhabits a space between pop and metal, but they have never been a pop metal band. After jumping into the alternative radio landscape with “Stellar” and “Pardon Me,” the band took a cue from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and gradually morphed their sound into a mellow, passionate, groovy take on modern hard rock music, exemplified by “Drive,” “Love Hurts,” and “Dig.” If there is a corollary to Anthony Kiedis’s soaring unblemished vocals, it is Brandon Boyd, and similarly Incubus shift easily from softer songs into the agitated riffs of “Megalomaniac,” “Anna Molly,” and “Midnight Swim” (a new track produced by Brendan O’Brien). Even at 27 tracks, *Monuments and Melodies* is surprisingly consistent. The first 15 songs cover the band’s chart hits, while the final 11 tracks cover rarities, with “Look Alive,” “Martini,” and an acoustic version of “A Certain Shade of Green,” standing out among the pack. Two new songs (“Black Heart Inertia” and “Midnight Swim”) suggest that Incubus’ best work might still be ahead of them, although the surprisingly credible cover of Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy” will be icing on the cake for longtime fans.

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