The effect on the guitar you pointed out on " Blood On the Ground " is called a phaser. Do a RU-vid search for " phaser pedal demo " for more information
The next two albums where they get Ben Kinney on bass are really great. A Crow Left of the Murder (my favorite Incubus album) and Light Grenades. I felt they really came into their own during this time. Their 7th album: If Not Now, When? i actually never bought, just an oversight, most likely. Their 8th album "8" i did buy, but felt it was missing something dynamic across it's run time. I'm not sure what, but it is a record i rarely get back to.
A classic of my adolescence. They never topped this and Make Yourself IMO, but A Crow Left of the Murder is worth a listen. Still waiting on you to get to The Black Queen!
Their next album after this, A Crow Left Of The Murder was actually my introduction to the band, never regretted it, one of the most beautiful albums out there for sure.
If I can, I highly suggest listining aqueous transmission but in live version. It's sharpen and vocals are better matching song and vibe is on the other level. 😊
Incubus, Live!, Silverchair, etc. are part of the more radio friendly, college rock oriented, post-grunge reaction. Not that they didn't produce the odd good song, however the edge and the creativity are missing. You should check out Melvins: Melvins - Houdini; A Senile Animal, Melvins Kurt Cobain was a roadie for them for a while, and is credited with producing some of their songs, although he was fired as a producer. Melvins are credited to being the fathers of sludge metal. - Green River Green River - Rehab Doll/Dry As A Bone Think: a darker and more evil Pearl Jam. Green River eventually split up into Mudhoney and Pearl Jam. Compared to the two, Pearl Jam is already a dad band. Or Yacht Rock. :) - TAD TAD - 8-Way Santa; Infrared Riding Hood; Live Alien Broadcasts TAD was probably the most innovative, and heaviest live. Best bass player. And great friends with Kurt Cobain, who supported them on his tour. Catchy pop songs, hidden behind a wall of metal and industrial sounds.
Such an absolute classic. Incubus created something truly special here. If I could put a song in a museum, it'd be Aqueous Transmission. Gorgeous piece. Whenever you're looking to listen to some slightly different stuff, Dance Gavin Dance is a really cool band if you don't mind "unclean" vocals (screaming/growling/yelling). Downtown Battle Mountain is their first album and a great jumping off point. They get really technical with their instruments and their vocalists are all super talented
‘Louder Than Love’ is my favorite Soundgarden album. But this is an easy second favorite. Their earlier albums had more energy. Chris Cornell reminded me of a young Robert Plant.
Surprised no one asked you to check Heavener by Invent Animate, it was heavily praised 2023 album that was amongst AOTY talks with people who generally like sleep token and currents.
One of my favorite albums! I’ve seen them twice back when Make Yourself came out n then in 2011 when If Not Now, When..was released n both performances were amazing especially when they closed with the song Tomorrows Food, I was blown away. The drummer Jose Pasillas is phenomenal n one of my favorite drummers! Great reaction!
I love this album! So many great tracks and such creativity in the music. And obviously Brandon's vocals and lyrics are perfect. Light Grenades is an excellent underrated album by them that I think you would enjoy
Not sure if it's been mentioned already but, they just re-recorded this whole album this year for the 23rd anniversary called Morning View XXIII. It's definitely worth listening to to hear the differences in production value and what the new bassist brings to the table
Morning View was my last Incubus album that I bought when it came out. Starting with the following release, I kind of got away from them because I was getting into much heavier music, and so I didn't revisit them until Light Grenades. As for Morning View, I enjoyed how some of the songs were kind of reminiscent of Make Yourself, but also played to the future direction that the band would end up taking. I always come back to 11Am, Warning, and Under My Umbrella, as though not to say that the "big singles" weren't good, I just liked some of the deeper cuts better. Another wonderful video, Molly, cannot wait to see what you listen to next!
Sometimes, sometimes not... I'm weirdly really picky about music videos and often find they detract from the song. If there are some really good videos from Incubus that I should check out though let me know! :)
I'm going to come out of left field with an album you may have never been suggested, but immediately came to mind after hearing this again for the first time in years: "Dig" by the band I Mother Earth. I used to love that album as well...
That signature sound, Molly, that toy mention in Blood On The Ground, lies less in his tunings but more in the tones and effects he choose. What you're hearing specificially there in that song is an effect called a flanger, which tuned to a really shallow wave and a slow repeat cycle that gives it this massive swirling quality. He also plays distortion using the neck position pickup on the guitar, which gives it a warmer, bassier, but fuzzier tone. Sounds so lush. Oh and the instrument in Aqueous Transmission is a Chinese instrument called a Pipa.
Thank you so much for the info, I appreciate it! That flanger effect is so cool, such a unique sound that really adds that special 'Incubus touch' to their music.
My wife and I saw Incubus on this tour (I've seen them a few times) but it was before we ever met. We still talk about the "Aqueous Transmissions" ending to the show. Great album!
After listening to this album, I'm curious how you would hear the rerecorded XXIII anniversary album they just released. I think it doesn't hit as hard as the original. Boyd's vocal richness I felt is what made the original. After his recent surgery, the changes in his voice make it sound like a step back in some ways. It's overall an interesting revisit, but I thought they pulled off their original effort better overall, as it feels so much more raw. You can still tell they're passionate about these songs, but there's a little more to be desired from a rerecord. Not enough changed to justify it, IMO. Glad to see this is your first listen! I was in high school and downloading this album 3 months before it came out on KaZaa. Those were the times! Haha Now I own 3 different versions of this album. Incubus is my all time favorite band. They can pretty much do no wrong. It's always interesting what they are doing. Can't wait til you get to later albums!
What an amazing album. One of my fave albums. A unique album from a very unique band. In my opinion, "a crow left of the murder" is the next album worth checking, although different in style. I love your album reactions 👍
Room a Thousand Years Wide and Holy Water I think are my 2 favorite Soundgarden songs of all time. Badmotorfinger is the most metallic and also most unique project of all the Seattle bands, I absolutely love it
I saw these guys multiple times back in the day. They still sound amazing live. They played this album in full live in the beach house they recorded it in a few years ago. Very worth checking out.
One of the best albums I’ve ever heard! Please do A Crow Left of the Murder. It contains a song (won’t say which one) that might be one of the greatest songs ever created!
