Morning View [CD]

Part of our Two CDs for £9 offer*

The album starts on a high note with 'Nice To Know You' which cleverly combines delicate guitar work with brutally heavy riffs. 'Circles' is equally as heavy with a raging main riff and chugging guitars while 'Wish You Were Here' is a true classic and really captures the spirit of their 'morning view' with its captivating lyrics: 'the ocean looks like a thousand diamonds strewn across a blue blanket'. Following these three heavy tunes come two softer, profound offerings which are truly excellent. 'Just A Phase' has a beautiful instrumental intro and passionate vocals while 11am is lyrically brilliant and is sung with such emotive sincerity.

'Blood On The Ground' is perhaps the most heavy song on the album but it does not escape Incubus' now trademark softer stamp, which is certainly not a bad thing. This is a wallop of raw emotion with slanted, chugging riffs and Brandon Boyd's distinctive yowling vocals. Although weaker lyrically, 'Mexico' deserves its status as one of this album's best tracks. Intricate guitar work from Michael Einziger and sweeping strings give this song a tone of sadness while Brandon's competent vocals complete this excellent song. Utter brilliance. 'Warning' is another excellent track with great harmonies around the 2.15 mark and poignant lyrics: 'don't ever let life pass you by'. 'Echo' is one of the gentlest songs on the album and is in my opinion stunningly beautiful with its optimistic tone, sparkling guitar work and passionate lyrics.

However 'Have You Ever' is completely the opposite so be warned as it starts with a heavy metal wallop of furious guitars. 'Are You In' is something a bit different and shows an experimental side of Incubus. There are some funky 'woooooooo's' and Brandon's vocals get quite trancing in places 'are you, are you, are you, are you, are you iiin'! 'Under My Umbrella' has a great riff, similar to that in 'Circles'. Brandon's vocals are quite bland in the verses then erupt along with the guitars into a heavy blow of distorted noise. Great stuff. And finally, 'Aqueous Transmission' which is an all-round good song and works surprisingly well with the rest of the album. It is the longest track at 7.47 which demonstrates the complexity of its fusion of oriental woodwinds and strings.

Compare this last song to the first and you would be forgiven for thinking you were listening to two entirely different bands. Yet this could be said for every song on the album which reflects Incubus' maturity and willingness to experiment with a number of different sounds and effects. Now that doesn't sound like a band selling out, does it.