Reviews (page 4 of 7)
I was born just a little too late to really have a chance with Incubus, but I definitely see how this would've hooked teens at the turn of the millennia. I'm not going to pretend that I know anything about the genre, but what I will say is that I had a good time listening to what Incubus put together for. Nostalgia is undoubtedly a factor, despite having only heard one or two songs from the band in the past. Brandon Boyd's vocals are just right, and it never really leans fully into metal, which is something that I appreciate at least. There's also a surprising amount of interesting instrumentation and more record scratching than I'd expect from this genre. Is it life changing stuff? No, not at this part of my life. But think it does capture a period of time fairly well, and is accessible enough even today to keep me fully engaged with it for the entire 48 minutes, which is more than a handful of albums I've had have done recently. Really starting to wish half stars were a thing so I could differentiate my rankings a bit more, but for now I'll make due. 3.5/5 Highlight: Drive Lowlight: Battlestar Scralatchtica Highlight #2: Nowhere Fast
decent
Je pensais connaitre le groupe, mais en fait il s'agissait du premier groupe Incubus qui faisait du Death Metal vers la fin des 80s, puis a fait une pause pendant 10 ans. Quand ils ont voulu reprendre, Incubus (2) était bien plus connu, les anciens ont changé de nom pour 'Opprobrium'. Bref, j'ai été surpris par cet album, m'attendant vraiment à autre chose ! 'Make Yourself' est du nu-metal assez classique, avec des morceaux qui groovent bien, mais avec aussi quelques travers propres au style (les scratches qui n'apportent absolument rien ... Battlestar Scralatchtica (-1) a été un vrai calvaire pour moi). Il ne rejoindra donc pas ma collection, mais je le réécouterais avec plaisir ... en zappant Battlestar ... =>3/5
Decent, but nothing special. Gimmicky melodic tunes surrounding the monster hit. They sound a bit like Sick Puppies, minus the edge and snarl. This is something my 14 year-old self might enjoy.
Good album
Good vibes 👌 any song that was in Surf's Up is a good one to me. Though, maybe a little less record scratching would be nice...
Solidly middlin'. Feels kind of Canadian.
Not heard this one for a long time!
did the copy green day or the other way around ? Not bad thogh
My rating 3.0. Loud guitars and bass along with catchy lyrics and drums. Not bad.
What a strange one. A lot of this album is full of interesting and engaging ideas in regards to changes, melodies, rhythmic patterns and lyrics sometimes, too. Somehow, at least for me, none of that seeps into most of the choruses on the album. What's supposed to be the most hooky, memorable part of the track somehow just ends up pretty generic and sauceless. Verses, pre-choruses, bridges, breakdowns, vamps sometimes. Literally all of the other parts of each song were often really really cool, making me wanna move or get my stank face on or whatever. Just keeping me genuinely interested. But with a few exceptions, most of the choruses sound just like what I may hear as a snippet on a "Now That's What I Call Music" commercial. I dunno if that's a nitpick or what, but starting off a track really strong just to drop into the same old basic big ass wall of sound, whiny shouting, and no rhythmic intrigue for the chorus kinda bummed me out. When the chorus of most of these hits, I'm sitting here waiting for the good part to come back, going "no no go back to that other shit, that had a little funk on it". So, hard 3? Great ideas and execution in a lot of it, but cmon man. Can't fuck up the chorus, I gotta sing that later.
Man this is a nostalgia hit. I thought Drive was an absolute worldie and managed every word on this relisten. Its a brilliant song with a beautiful melody and real heart. I had this album back in the day based on this track and was disappointed to find it was rock, nu metal and RHCP funk. I think it has aged fine, but its still not my bag.
3.5
If this isn't butt rock, it's very butt rock adjacent. Mainly is the post grunge style that keeps it in the butt rock territory for me. If there's anything that keeps it from butt rock it's the mother lovin' funky bass lines. His vocals aren't as huckstery as most butt rock groups, but he definitely has some tendencies. But if I'm going to be honest, if I'm going to pick a butt rock album of 1999, it'd be *My Own Prison*. I do love "Drive" one that still holds up for me today. I liked "Pardon Me" and "Stellar" a bit more back then, but definitely feels dated today. I guess if I were more nostalgic of Y2K music this might hit me better today. But all in all, I guess it was worth a revisit. (6.75) ★★★
Not essential. Not bad, but a bit boring. 3 stars
Not as good as i recall. A bit bloated and meanders
Had a great time listening to this tbh, but we all know I like crap like this!!
honestly had never listened to them but this was very kick of the ass
Might be the nostalgia for me here. Likes: Nowhere fast, Stellar, Drive
3.4 2x used to love this but got a little too overplayed. still saved a couple for my spotify like.
I like Boyd's voice. He is an interesting painter too. Quite the creative. The band forged a signature sound and did well with it for several albums. I don't play Incubus but I am usually glad when I hear something by them. It's a solid album.
Ok - but nothing special, inoffensive, listenable, but nothing to really grab you
faith no mid
2.5
I am very surprised at how not terrible this is. Like it’s still not great, but it’s way more tolerable than I ever would’ve thought
The first song made me think, no way, not another band like that. Over time, however, I started to appreciate it more and more.
I just think other bands do this sound better but I thoroughly enjoy
With a name like Incubus they were never going to be flower-pop so I was thrilled to get this. However, it was generic 1990s American Rock.
Wow these hits really take me to a very specific, very fun time in high school. Incubus helped get me into the actual, good grunge and some other metal type music. I have fond memories of their radio hits. Listening to this entire album didn't do it for me like I thought but can't help but enjoy the blast from the past.
As something that is neither an hour long nor extremely embarrassing to be caught listening to, I think this is easily the best nu-metal album I've ever heard. Of course, I still don't actually like nu-metal?
3.5 stars
Alright
I grew up listening to rock radio in this era, so I heard this band a lot, and the 3 singles from this album a lot. After listening to the full album, I can say that I still enjoy the hits. It definitely sounds 'of its time' with the scratching and production. Overall, I liked it, but kind of as a guilty pleasure.
Out of any group to see on the 1001 albums to hear before you die list I don't think I ever would have expected to see Incubus, but hey I take it as a welcome surprise and am curious to see what they bring to the table. I honestly thought this would be some very slightly above average Alt Rock/Nu Metal but surprisingly Make Yourself is an extremely lush and noisy project that really had me jamming all throughout the entire 48 minute runtime without a dull moment in sight. Incubus sure doesn't have some of the shaprest lyrics I have ever heard, but they way they present themselves as a band and how they play off each other's strengths when it comes to each individual instrument/note I can't help but be impressed. Everyone is on the same page about the vision of this album, and that vision is a very fun time from front to back. Even with some of the more popular tracks like Drive, Stellar, and Pardon Me, this album still feels very connected and consistent which makes me wonder why it isn't brought up more in discussions about best Nu-Metal projects because it really doesn't have any weak spots. Really impressed by this album and I now totally stand by it being included on this list even if it isn't one of the "greatest" projects here, it stands out in a genre of mediocracy as one with style and substance worth deep discussion.
Wasn’t looking forward to this but it was actually pretty good
I knew a couple of the hits and they were good. The rest was fine. One of those albums I don’t have anything construction or interesting to say because it was just kind of there.
Incubus is a band I would expect to hear in a “C-tier” venue in front of hundreds, not thousands (*See Toad’s Place). I recognized Drive, Pardon Me, and Stellar in advance of listening to the album (hat tip to all those nights playing Guitar Hero) and really enjoy all of those songs. The rest of the album is good background music on a Saturday night of socializing with friends. Nothing more, nothing less. Side note: If having a couple of hits constitutes making this list of 1001, then I’m really looking forward to reviewing Milli Vanilli soon.
Dissappointing. The three singles on this album are really good, the rest not so much. This is great example of good players being terrible songwriters. The songs are just bad, easy listening version of nu metal.
There are a couple of good songs and the rest sounds like pretty much every other nu-metal song released around that time. It's good, not great.
Not bad. It feels like all the genres of the 90s in one package: drums giving grunge, his voice sounds kinda punky sometimes, and the guitar is like alt rock/metal. Drive was the only song I knew still the only song I remember.
I like the genre but the artist is eh
Okay so this is a fun discovery, I actually enjoy this kind of music. 15 year old me would never guess. The very first song and the way of singing made me think that maybe, just maybe, artic monkeys got some inspiration from this album. I don’t know but something made me think of them when the first song was playing.
I'm giving this 3 stars instead of 2 because I have a friend who really likes incubus whose spirit would be crushed if I gave this a negative score.
Better than punk
OK, but more metal than I like.
Typical late 90s wanna be edgy, kinda good, kinda bad, rock. Feels like I need a soul patch or to be bald with a long beard to enjoy this.
Honestly, I remember this album being a lot better as a kid. A lot of songs don’t seem fully fleshed out but then you listen to something like drive, which just sounds totally different than the rest of the album and it’s just an incredible song.
Decent album, but the lyrics are absurdly bad
I'm actually kind of positively surprised by this. I don't think it's incredible or anything but it's fine for what it is. It's an okay pop-alt-rock record. It's just alright. Like a solid 6/10. It's nothing mind-blowing and there's quite a few things I could point out with a critical lens, like the lyrics, which are from a technical perspective very rudimentary (though I appreciate the themes and message behind them for the most part). There's also some things which are worthy of merit (e.g. the guitar parts on some of the songs were interesting) and overall it's still enjoyable enough and an easy listen. Maybe my opinion's kind of coloured by nostalgia, as I was born the same year this came out and this kind of music was very much the sound of the early 2000's. I don't know, and I'm not sure if it really matters. I'm not sure if it belongs on this list though. It seems like this is technically classified as nu-metal (though it really doesn't feel like so to me, at least), and while I don't feel like this is an egregious pick, you could do better in that genre. I know for example 'Toxicity' by System Of A Down isn't on the main list, which is a massive shame. But you could also do much, much, MUCH worse, so it's whatever. 3/5
3.5
Better than Coldplay
As far as nu metal goes, this probably as good as it gets. However, that is not exactly a high bar.
Drive is about the only song that’s worth listening to once. I think there’s a lot more albums even in the nu metal genre worth being on this list over Incubus because I can’t imagine there’s a whole lot more
Niu-metal, average has some banger classics though
Kolejny metal, który niezbyt kojarzy mi się z metalem. Taki popmetal z lekko placebowskim wokalem. Nie wiem, słuchało mi się przyjemnie, ale mam wrażenie, że to jest wybór metalopodobny, jakieś to za lekkie dla mnie. Nie żebym lubiła metal, ale jak ciężkie granie jest na diecie to średnio mi to leży. 6.5/10 równane w dół.
This was a pleasant surprise. It took me several weeks to force myself, groaning in protest, to finally listen. I was the definition of low expectations which can, usually, only favor a record. I thought it would be relentless screaming death metal. Instead, it is that much-parodied, late-‘90s fad of funk/rap/metal/rock fusion. But you know what? Today, I fuck with it. The lead singer has a great voice. He’s melodic. The band gets funky, they groove, and they can headbang too when needed. I even enjoyed the scratching, the warmth of specific ‘90s nostalgia working for me. And the romantic in me was pleased to hear a couple of straight out romance songs. The lyrics show a writer who is not afraid to say that he has fallen in love. It’s not going into the rotation, I can’t quite give it a 4. But it’s on the borderline. High 3
Lowkey hate the vocals. Not that I usually enjoy them anyway. This album is just a rare example where I think straight up removing the vocals would’ve made the record better. And there’s a lot to like here. I mean, there’s one thing to like—the riffs—there’s just a lot of that one thing. I’m biased. Heavy alternative rock is one of the most consistently entertaining music styles for me. And this album was still fun. I just don’t like how great some of these riffs are while the vocals are straight from a Panic at the Disco single. 7/10
There is a lot of good work in this album. Nice melody's and the DJ adds so much but it falls short of being what it could.
No private session used for Spotify. I have this CD somewhere and Drive was played constantly. After listening it to again after a couple of decades or so, I understand why I don't know where the CD is. Is has a couple of great songs and some filler.
Liked this more than I thought I would.
like alanis morisette but not as good
I’ve heard this once before and remembered it was very different overall than the single, “Drive,” which was one of my favorite popular songs from a year I didn’t like very much radio music. The album starts off pretty engaging but starts to sag in the middle until Drive, which still sounds good a quarter century later. The only terrible part of the album was the last two songs. Pardon Me has an irritating delivery, and Out From Under an incredibly stupid lyric they felt the need to repeat. I probably won’t go too long without playing Drive, but I might never play the rest again.
Ni idea del grupo. Está guay. Me recordó mucho a System of a Down o algo del palo, aunque estos tienen un DJ. Una vez más me hizo pensar en lo curiosísimo del panorama de finales de los 90 principios de los 2000, con el nu-metal o lo que sea que sea esto dominando, y el surgimiendo de los Strokes en un escenario como este. Wild. ¿Se podría rastrear todo a la influencia de Nirvana o algo? El teen angst comercializado a cholón de los 2000 es un fenómeno raro. Menos mal que algunos tiraron por otros géneros (y otras masculinidades).
Incubus makes kind of dumb music but sometimes it hits and that's truly incredible
Held up decently well.
Nice revisit. Love the hits on here, but the rest just doesn’t resonate with me.
This was a cusp one for me. I remember liking it a lot more when it was released, most likely due to the strength of the singles, especially Drive. Hearing it again today, it’s not bad. It’s just kinda one dimensional. They do a good job of separating themselves from other fellow bands at the time, but in the end the lyrics are surprisingly kinda elementary and the scratching starts to be gimmicky. Still, this album definitely stands out as one that ushered in the 2000s. I think I grew a bad goatee just listening to it.
Incubus... i feel like i should know who they are but i can't recall a single track they've ever done from memory. either this is a fresh listen for me or my memory is going to shit Privilege - 3/5 Nowhere Fast - 4/5 Consequence - 3/5 The Warmth - 1/5 When It Comes - 1/5 Stellar - 3/5 Make Yourself - 4/5 Drive - 4/5 Clean - 3/5 Battlestar Scralatchtica - 1/5 I Miss You - 3/5 Pardon Me - 5/5 Out From Under - 3/5 Average score: 2.9/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ oooooh, i remember them now! i vaguely remember hearing Drive and Pardon me on the radio and/or from movies a lot growing up but i never really was an active listener sadly, this album was otherwise just so-so. maybe my opinion would be different if i were exposed to this as a teen or something but it just doesn't do much for me now
I thought for sure I would like this more, but it showed why I never really got into Incubus.
Not my favorite music. Appreciate their lyrics…or, at least, their messages. I’ll give them a 3 just for their lyrics.
"Make Yourself" is the third studio album by American rock band Incubus. Alternative metal, nu metal, alternative rock and funk rock are the Wiki-listed genres. The album was produced by Scott Litt of R.EM. fame. Bandmembers included Brandon Boyd (vocals, percussion), Mike Einziger (guitar), DJ Kilmore (turntables), Dirk Lance (bass) and Jose Pasillas (drums). Commercially, the album reached #47 on the US Billboard 200 and #83 on the UK Albums Chart. It received generally positive reviews. A heavy guitar and bass riff open the album in "Privilege." A hard rock beat with very tinny drums. Scratching added and we're definitely in the nu metal category. Oh, boy. Boyd vocals more in the hair metal era as he sings about the weight of freedom and natural born rights. The guitar goes away from the metal sound being high-pitched, echoing and reverbing in "The Warmth." A funky, off-kilter bass and drums. This is more like it. About having hope against the world's cynicism. The second single "Stellar" starts with synth outer space noises, a slow melodic guitar and a ticking percussion. Boyd opens whispering and then we get the soft-loud-soft dynamic. A nice hard rock sound in the loud part. Nice bass fills too. A song inspired by Boyd's new girlfriend Jo. The band's breakthrough single into the pop world was "Drive." More of a ballad with an acoustic guitar lead. Scratching fills and a phased guitar solo. Layered Boyd vocals as he reckons with fear and uncertainty. The first-released single was "Pardon Me." Scratching, percussion and a reverbing guitar. More soft-loud-soft. More of a hard rock than nu metal guitar in the loud parts. Thank You! Boyd rapping-singing combo as he needs to expel his pressures and transform by bursting into flames. I've always liked this song. This is an album that combines styles, some that work and one that doesn't. Let's start out with the negative; nu metal and nu metal guitar sounds are just plain annoying. When the band goes there, I hate it. Almost everything else here works. Boyd was challenged to be more personal and he is with deep lyrics sung emotionally. The band does a good job with the soft-loud-soft dynamic. The guitar is great when higher-pitched, echoing and reverbing. The rhythm section is solid and at times great. The limited scratching works fine. The three singles released are all excellent songs. Overall, this is an album worth listening to while trying to avoid or gritting your teeth through the nu metal-sounding parts.
A perfectly adequate post-grunge, nu-metal album. Not as good as other better-known records in the genre but definitely fine.
Zuhause, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Die drei Punkte gibts nur, weil Weihnachten ist. Lahmes Album!
I enjoyed this album listen! This was a solid alt rock album with a few bangers sprinkled in. I haven’t listened to much Incubus but this made me want to check out more of their music. Overall, I enjoyed this album and would listen to it again.
Not a fan of these folks, but a couple of good songs. I'm going to deduct a star for the lame scratching stuff.
Wow so 90's. Don't like his voice. And a good example of why anything that came from Sublime sucks.
This passed me by in 1999, maybe I was busy with Millenium Bug preparations. Anyway, here we are 26 years later and I've seen references made that this is the beginnings of nu metal....is it though? They do is to make a decent alt rock noise, which to my ear gives this a strong 3-star rating. However, after prolonged listening time the vocals develop a whiny sameness that detracts from the music. Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ❌️ ★★★☆☆ (6/10)
ok
another Indie Radio darling
To think, this was cool back in the 90s.
not bad, nice rock
nice enough
That's not my taste in music - But ok
Decent
Easily something me and my friends could have listened to around that time.
Wasn’t a big fan of the vocals but there were some okay moments on the album
I don’t remember when the concert was but remember seeing the Killers opening at RedRocks before the Roofie kicked in. I also don’t remember getting home that night. For the record, it was not voluntarily. The funny part is I when I relisten to this album I get flashes of that night, particularly the song Make Yourself. Incubus was right there in the pocket with bands like 311, Hed PE, and Sugar Ray, but they had something unique. It was more focused, more serious, and lyrically it didn’t rhyme, which was different. This album has a personal effect because I was caught in a big friend change up/divorce at the time and this album was the only thing that was commonly agreed on. It’s funny how some albums remind you of certain times in life. This one was definitely quarter life crisis. However, the music was great. The songs Drive and Make Yourself made the annual soundtrack and still resonate today. Someday I should go see them. This time I’ll bring my own drink….
Random thoughts: * Incubus contains multitudes. There is so much going on this album: metal, alternative, ska, scratching. * the hit song sounds very little like the rest of the album. I think I would have really liked this if I had bought/owned the album when this came out. But the hit song didn’t pull me in. I wonder how much of a disservice that song actually did for them. * I need to revisit this album. It requires multiple listens. I think I could end up liking this one better.
I don't have strong feelings, but apparently 'Drive' was on my liked songs playlist.
Another album I've always wanted to hear in its entirety. Pretty fun. Gets repetitive after a while. 7/10
I ran out of time and was only able to listen to about half of the album, but I liked it better than expected. Nothing that I would need to hear again, though. It’s another 3 star album for me.
I'm sorry — this is metal? And, y'know, I didn't even wanna ask that question. Ultimately, it's not that important; I'm not enough of a "metal purist" to where that sort of thing matters to me. I mean, genre labels can be bullshit anyway, and I've read that Incubus weren't even trying to make metal, let alone aim for any other specific genre. But: this being labelled as metal. And nu metal at that. I can hear why it would be labeled as such. There are some heavy guitars throughout this thing. Real kinda "chug chug" distortion kind stuff. Plus, in terms of this being nu metal, the vocals and lyrics sure fit. Goodness, some of the stuff that gets said during "When It Comes"? That's some nu metal angst for sure alright. Also: turntables! I didn't expect to hear 'em, so I sure got my shit slapped when they popped up on the first song. I'm not just not sure it's all **enough**, is my problem. Sure, the guitars are heavy, but are we gonna act like that's all metal is? Heavy guitars? I'm no metal head, but I feel I've heard enough to know there's more to the genre. This album just feels like it doesn't go as hard into metal as it could have — if it'd **wanted** to be metal, anyway. Actually, y'know what this album **really** is, to me? Like, if it ain't metal it has to be **something**, and I can tell you just what: this is rock radio shit. This is the kind of stuff where, if you'd clicked on rock radio in the early 2000's, this is what you'd hear. This is material hard enough to "rock" while also being light enough so as to not scare too many people off. Like, yeah, you've got the guitars, but they're not as loud as they'd be on a typical metal song — and most of these songs are lighter alt. rock anyway. I mean, goodness, the band said they were inspired by ambient music as they were making this thing, and I can hear it. And is it a bad thing? Y'know, being an album of rock radio fodder? I'll tell you that at the very least I'm not about to start crowing about how Incubus "sold out." You wanna talk about concepts that matter to me as much as a hill of beans ... but seriously, for being stuff you'd hear on rock radio, it's not bad. Not at all. I'm sure this album killed it. But, I'unno. For my tastes, I'd rather listen to straight-up rock or straight-up metal. This middle-ground thing it's doing ain't the worst, but it ain't doin' too much either. I'd even take Limp Bizkit over this; at least they're metal through and through. You hear that bassline on "Nookie", by the way? Crazy shit. I'm not sure why I **needed** to listen to this. What did I honestly gain from this that I didn't have before? That this is the kinda shit that plays on rock radio? I already know what Theory Of A Deadman sounds like. But seriously. There were probably worse ways to spend 48 minutes — but there were much better ways, too. Jus' how it is.
2.5
I do like the music, but I can't listen to much of it because the lyrics are bad and they all sound the same. It gets a 3 instead of 2 because I do think it was innovative for it's time.
I don't really like this sort of MOR metal, rock, grunge?, whatever this is. The vocals are MOR, the lyrics are MOR, the playing just seem MOR. I couldn't pick these guys out of a late 20th/early 21st band lineup. Maybe in the day this was exciting, edge. But now it just seems like a dime a dozen grungy thing. Very MOR 3 stars.
Sneaky 3. I was ready to give a 2 but as an album it works better than the individual songs. Doubtful I'll listen again though which is normally a prerequisite for a 3.
Nothing bad or great but pretty enjoyable. 3.5
Incubus gives the same vibes as Nickelback meaning they don't deserve to be on here but also I don't hate it
privilege- 5. i don't like his voice nowhere fast- 5 consequence- 5 the warmth- 5 when it comes- 5 stellar- make yourself- drive- clean- whatever man
Sounds like Radiohead had a kid with Arctic Monkeys. Most songs are very similar to each other.
Creed meets Faith No More. This album is so of its time, and it’s very samey. His voice is a whiny affectation, and the lyrics are a weak spot, but there is nothing truly terrible about it. Although Battlestar Scralachtica comes quite close. I’m not sure this album really deserves to be in the book, it is fairly standard Nu Metal. There’s nothing innovative about it, and nothing that really differentiates it from any other ‘metal’ band of the late 90s/early 2000s. I will never deliberately listen to this album again, I also hope not to hear it by accident.
I don't think it deserves tons of hate, but it's also not like, the best album ever. Drive, The Warmth and a few others were pretty enjoyable songs. I feel like a solid 3.
So late nineties it hurt. I only knew the big hit before hearing this and didn’t really find anything else memorable except the random psychedelic jam thrown in towards the end.
This album was my introduction to Incubus, specifically my good friend ranting about how much they sold out on this album. Why did they pick this album instead of S.C.I.E.N.C.E.? There are some decent songs on this album, but it's all like radio-friendly mids. Personal enjoyment: 3/5 Relevance to this list: 2/5
Exactly a three star album. Some good tracks. Well produced. However, for me, this is very of the time and I think too many alternative bands tried to be like this. They were never as good/successful but it can come off as a little samey at times because of that.
Surprised by this one.
Definitely Alternative. Had Foo Fighters elements mixed with Red Hot Chili Peppers-type singing. Pretty good.
5/10 Chugga-chugga rock for the late 90s. Didn't do anything for me back then, doesn't age any better
3.5 🙂
I respect this album more than I enjoy it. The band clearly knows dynamics and has serious chops, but a lot of it feels loud for loud’s sake. Drive stands out as the one I’d return to, but most of it just isn’t my style—too distorted and busy to pull me in, especially when I’m working.
This is surprisingly good. A little prog rock/ grunge and dated however it rides the wave set by Pearl Jam with hints of Rage Against the Machine and Linkin Park which isn't a bad mix. I don't mind it it's well put together and flies well good vocals and thrashy sounds however it's not good enough to have a place in this list it is wishy washy and a little meh at times despite all its good points.
Solid band, not my favorite though. Personally do not like the lead singer's voice
Once again, not as bad as I expected. Really liked Battlestar Scralatchica. But basically they are a modern heavy band in the same mold of so many others, but not a bad job. Worth a 3.
It’s actually ok. Found it very listenable, and they got some nice grooves going. Not sure I’m going to become a fan of them any day soon, but I’m glad I invested a little of my time to enjoy it.
This isn’t metal. It’s alternative rock. This album seems a strange choice to make this list, but my guess is the authors felt it was representative of the immensely popular metal-adjacent alt-rock sound of the late 90s/early 00s. As for the music, it’s actually significantly better than a lot of albums from that era. There’s a lot of cool/interesting things going on, and they make up for the terrible lyrics. The vocal melodies are also surprisingly good (I was dreading them based on similar artists I’d heard). Despite all this, the second half of the album is significantly worse, and drags the score down. In truth, there’s a massive amount of Tool-worship going on in this album, which makes me wonder why the authors didn’t just put Tool on the list instead, which would’ve been much more enjoyable. 3.0/5.0: Good
*1999. *Lots of big hits here, and interestingly most of them are in the second half of the album. *There's some meh stuff here, but Incubus is in my wheelhouse, and they get some nostalgia points. RATING - 7/10
Feels weird to call this one metal. It’s solid, but I’m not sure this really belongs on the list. The songs that were hits that I’ve heard a million times are still good though. Favorite songs were Consequence, Stellar, Drive, and Pardon Me.
Middle-schooler music for people born in the 80s. Nowhere Fast plays with some pretty cool sounds but the vocals really ruin it for me. And honestly that sentence sums up the entire album for me, some really cool instrumentals ruined by the vocal equivalent of this emoji combo: 🎤🤓 Battlestar Scralatchtica, if you excuse the horrendous name, is also a pretty cool track. This album just suffers from too much angsty vocals and lyricism to make it relistenable.
★★★½
They’re not my favorite, but there is some cool musical stuff going on.
Where's my goddamn mustache man from the other Incubus covers?!
I really liked the guitar work on this album, it is punchy and we'll crafted. But the vocals are subpar and don't match the intensity (or intentionality?) of the guitar work. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this so it's somewhere between a 3 and a 4. I do think it's funny that Spotify started playing Deftones after this album ended because both bands were active during the same period, but Deftones was vastly more influential to the genre than Incubus. So I'm going with a 3 rating.
When it's good, it's good. But when it descends into parody (Battlestar Scralatchitca) or self-parody (the title track's lyric "I'll fuck me in my own way." is nothing if not laughable), it is laughable and knocks a 4-star album down to a 3-star.
I must confess I've never listened to this whole album, because I thought people who listened to incubus were corny. But, wow. Privilege shook me tbh. It did get decidedly less exciting after this because the sound was largely the same through the album; like I couldn't tell when one song ended and another began until we hit drive. but i do think that what they were doing was novel enough for 1991 this deserves some acknowledgement, so i'm going to give a 3.5 and round up to four.
The hits hit. Probably like a 6.5/7
More than just Drive I suppose
Just a wild amount of variety in genres going on here, almost to a concerning degree. Some of it is decent to very good, but quite a few duds that are just noisy guitars for me. 5/10
Rating: 3.2 This is the first album on the list I’ve heard that I can reliably call BUTT ROCK. I did not know Incubus had so many concentrated hits on this one album. I would like to write more but I’m currently 8 beers deep and a cop is about to pull me over after this red light.
Incubus is metal?! I guess it goes harder than rock? I was only familiar with their hits like drive, which is a much softer vibe. The rest of the album was ok. 3* Highlights: drive
Singers haunting voice helps drive the 'hip' melody.
3.5 Ngl, this album probably has no place being on this list, but I’m pleasantly surprised to see it nonetheless. I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for Incubus (shoutout to the Pandora game with Will), and while I probably wouldn’t call them massively influential or a must-listen band myself, I think they have a handful of good songs. Turns out, a few of them are found here. Yep, the hits are all bangers. Drive is admittedly a bit overplayed, but I still usually tend to enjoy it whenever I hear it, and Stellar and Pardon Me are two songs that rarely fail to amp me up, the catchy bolts of energy they are. That said, a lot of the deeper cuts here are really solid as well, with Privilege, I Miss You, and Out From Under all being favorites. Hell, I even dug the instrumental, Battlestar Scralatchica, a song that I think highlights the uniqueness of this album, in that it’s rock music with a DJ turntable twist. I was a little surprised to see the genre listed as nu metal, as I’ve always kind of thought of Incubus as more of a generic ‘90s alternative rock group, but the more I listened to this, the more apt that label felt. Enjoyable listen, but I walked away from this with the same general sentiment I had going in - Incubus are good, but not any kind of all-time greats. The sound and production are solid, and songwriting oftentimes catchy, but if it weren’t for the hits, I think this album would largely blend together. Tbh, it nearly does as is. Fun fact I learned though - this album was recorded in my neighborhood. I actually walked past the studio as I was listening without even realizing it. It also happens to be the same studio Linkin Park recorded all of their albums in, including Hybrid Theory. Never realized I was next to a place of musical history.
Haven't heard much before, it's definitively washed-down rock. But has potential
Fine
Kinda generic, and probably not worthy of the list, but pretty decent nu-metal. 6/10
Incubus gave way to numetal which gave way to butt rock - so thanks, incubus.
I might have to return my 90s kid card, but I never really cared for Incubus. Not bad but just not something I would pick to listen to.
I enjoyed this, having never listened to it properly before. It was fun, but not something I’m likely to revisit. Except for Drive. That song is still fantastic.
Strong
Ah, yes, a whole two songs that I know and feel indifferent about.
Good sound, catchy. Not overly complex but plays around with sound some. I remember Drive getting radioplay. Sure, put it on the list
With a name like incubus I had assumed they were a harder band. I was surprised by how pop they sound and that I knew some of the songs through cultural osmosis. It's a very 1990s rock sound, with a little odd reggae sound that pops in. It's fine, easy enough to listen to. Doesn't get repetitive. Left me wondering why so many 1990s rock vocalists have a similar cadence. I wouldn't seek it out again.
Heavy 90s vibes here. I definitely have a soft spot for this sort of sound. It’s pretty safe in terms of production. I recognized drive, and I really liked pardon me. Working through this list has made me realize I am more partial to the nu metal sound than traditional metal. Which maybe means I don’t like metal but I did enjoy this haha.
I've never listened to this album (3). It's well done but not my style.
gonna party like it's 1999. this was grand but made me feel queasily 17 again. not sure how i feel about that
Oh this is like good nu metal limp bizkit eat your heart out. Arguably a lot more multi faceted than that designation, very good drum work and song orchestration, very smooth vocals
Ну ок, альтернатива, которых много, от которой ни холодно ни жарко.
music that a really cool older cousin would have playing in their sedan in the 2000s
Decent sound but most of the songs all sounded the same, except the huge hit, Drive, which took me back to when I was 10 years old
Correcto
This is peak 1999 sound, and not always in a good way. An interesting listening nonetheless.
Alternative metal funksters take a step towards project mersh - bigger choruses, catchier hooks, reduced zaniness, wider palatability. Still relying on nimble groovy rhythms, spacey guitar for verses and heavy distorted guitars for choruses, scratching to add a hip-hop flair, electronics to maintain some ambiance and noise, and Boyd’s clear, booming, melodic vocals to bring it all together. But it loses lots of the fun, heavy, turn-on-a-dime experimentalism of previous release S.C.I.E.N.C.E., which basically makes it all around less interesting and unique.
# Album Name: Make yourself # Artist: Incubus # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: Very average album. Three decent singles and thats it. Still, was better than the limp bizkit album. # Top Tunes: Stellar / Drive / Pardon Me # Would I listen to it again? Just the singles.
Great rock album for the end of the century!
J’avais jamais pris le temps d’écouter autre que Drive, B side est orignal c’est fun. Bon vieux début 2000
Better than I anticipated.
Loved the funky song, overall it's well done
"Drive" makes me feel like I'm 12 years old again. I never got into Incubus outside their singles when I was younger, so this is effectively my first time hearing them. I was pleasantly surprised in the first few tracks, then the songs just became rather repetitive, formulaic. A better sound than a lot of nu-metal but a bit generic and mainstream after a while. Overall I'd say this is middle-of-the-road and dated to Y2K.
I got off on the wrong foot with Incubus a long time ago, and I don’t really think it’s Incubus’ fault. Back before this record came out, I had a buddy tell me that I’d love this band because “they sound just like Faith No More,” but no, they don’t. And I’ve struggled to get over that comparison for years. Make Yourself doesn’t sound at all like Faith No More, but it’s ok. Not every track is a winner, but there are a few really solid songs on this record. Brandon Boyd’s voice/lyrics can be a little much sometimes, and I don’t know how the late 90’s fad of throwing a scratch dj into a rock band ever really took off, but there is some stuff to appreciate here. A few of the songs are legit catchy, and I always liked Incubus’ guitars and bass alright (the guitar tones are usually interesting and big, and the guitar player knows his way around some weird chord voicings). 3.2/5 Incubus still doesn’t set the world alight for me, but this record does have some redeeming qualities. I’m not altogether sure why Make Yourself is on the list, but there are way more egregious inclusions.
I am too old for this much angst. I imagine listening to this is how my parents felt having to deal with me during my teenage years. Drive was good though
Drive is great and generally enjoyed the rest of the album, but not a standout for me.
I remember Incubus being the butt of lots of jokes growing up, but it’s not that bad. It’s not for me - I don’t love Brandon Boyd’s voice, but it does take me back to some of my more grunge focused middle school favorites (sum 41, blink 182, fallout boy). 2.5-3 for me. I guess it should also be said, I don’t love the Red Hot Chili Peppers who Incubus took some inspiration from. I do like Drive but it seemed like an anomaly on the album.
"An ominous landscape of never-ending calamity" Listened to B4? No Tracks Already Saved on Spotify: 3 - Pardon Me, Drive, Stellar Standout Tracks: Pardon Me, Drive, Stellar, Make Yourself It's fine. The 3 hit singles plus Make Yourself make for great radio rock. The rest of the album is fine. I'll likely never listen to it as a whole again, but the standout tracks are great. (61/100)
Good enough Alternative Rock background music.
Not my favorite, but good for what it is.
I think there were some pretty good songs on this, but it's spread apart. The middle is of the album is quite good. Not a huge fan of the vocals.
This was an absolute favorite of mine about 15 years ago and it mostly holds up. Incubus really sound like no one else to my ears. The more structured songs are the best. Incubus and Brandon in particular have a tendency to veer into noodly melodies that remind me of Rogers and Hammerstein, which isn’t a good thing.
This got a really bad rap iny review group. I had never heard the entire album but have heard the singles and maybe a few other tracks many times. I am not surprised that I liked this album. It is labeled as Nu Metal but is much more mellow and has some Sublime vibes but doesn't sound like Sublime.
Estaba listo para masacrarlo. ¿Nu-metal de finales de los 90? Seguro que es un bodrio. Y, la verdad, tampoco es el mejor álbum de todos los tiempos y no creo que merezca estar en esta lista. Su tónica general está hecha para ser disfrutada por adolescentes enfadados, con un drone de guitarras cuasi-agresivo, toques electrónicos y scratches de DJ esporádicos, y esos cambios dinámicos tan bruscos que te llevan de una balada a puros gritos dentro de un mismo tema. Pero es un álbum muy divertido. Más interesante que la mayoría de los de su estilo y época, con temas muy melódicos a la vez que enérgicos, y, como ya dije, muy cambiantes. La voz es tan limpia que casi suena a pop, y la producción trata de ser “indie” sin engañar a nadie. Uno de esos placeres culpables. Pop-rock alternativo para adolescentes demasiado cool como para escuchar pop-rock. Y eso no tiene nada de malo. Un álbum que representa una época, una fase de la vida, y un estado de ánimo colectivo.
I don't hate Incubus, in the way that I hate a lot of other Nu Metal bands, they don't have that same twatty frat boy energy - even if some of their lyrics are a pubescent poet's idea of profundity. However, listening to this album still feels like quite a bit of work for not very much reward. I like Drive, but that's pretty much where it ends. I wouldn't turn this album off if I was in the middle of doing something else, but I would never choose to put it on either. For me, that's the definition of a three.
Sonidos entre Red Hot Chili Peppers, Faith No More, Rage Against The Machine, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains o Nirvana. Buenos instrumentistas, buenas voces y buenas melodías. Son un grupo con merecido éxito a finales de los 90 principios del 00, sobre todo con el siguiente disco Morning View. Se podría decir que son los Ocean Colour Scene del rock duro californiano, solventes y de calidad contrastable.
I don´t like it, too much rock
Not very artistically good but still catchy
Ein stilistisch vielseitiges Album zwischen Alternative Rock und Funk-Metal. „Drive“ bleibt ein Hit, doch nicht jeder Track zündet. Klanglich solide, aber inhaltlich oft zu vage. Zeitgeist pur – mit Höhen und ein paar Längen.
3.4
I really like this album, even though it's not like super brilliant, so I'm biased and as a result I've maybe marked it down compared to it's objective quality but I don't care to really rank this one and just enjoy it
Was skeptical at first but it has its moments for sure
Trashy 90s metal, hell yeah
Cover 7 Some good songs. Maybe one or two great songs. Overall, ok.
Very well produced. However, while the production works overall, it’s highly produced and it doesn’t sound right when the distorted guitars come in. Everything else sounds great, but the guitars are too sleek and clean even though they’re distorted. The bass, drums, and electronics sound incredible. There’s a lot of cool ideas on this album, even if the songs end up being mostly just ok. And then there’s the lyrics. The lyrics on here are bad. The metaphors and similes, of which there are more than you’d expect, range from comical to nonsensical. It would t be as big of a deal but this is a lyric heavy album. So while the musicians are technically adept, songwriting is where they still need some work.
This one falls in the category of albums I'm glad I listened to, but wouldn't listen to outside of this project. Just not my genre. If there was less noise guitar reverb and shouting, I would love this. But every song has to climax with noise and that's not enjoyable to me. TLDR; enjoyed it, don't need to hear it again - Motocross noise rock. Yay. Vocals are clear at least, even if he's not actually singing... - Wait, maybe this is actually decent
I really like some of this
Not bad but it fitted the zeitgeist of the early 2000s. Back then it was great, now it sounds a bit outdated. The guitars though were incredibly good.
enjoyed!!
3/5. Honestly, not a bad album, the refusal to stick to any one genre gives this album a bit of a novelty that they are just making whatever they feel sounds good. And that is respectful. Now to be fair, there is definitely some aggressively corny 90s rock but the mixture of tabletop scratches, metal, and softer ballads makes this a fun and interesting listening experience. I wouldn't say it wow'd me but it was definitely good. Best Song: Drive, Stellar, Battlestar Scralatchtica, Consequence
6/10 - we had one incubus song in music league and I thought it was good. This album was only decent.
It was fine. Not very memorable
3.5
battlestr scratchlactica temazo mal
Fine enough album, don’t like the meta commentary in the first track, it just gave me the ick. Pretty creative though
I have always really enjoyed this album. Im not sure how "great" it is. I do think incubus is a little more complex than a lot kf their contemporaries. But still.
Всё вроде бы гладко и интересно, но предубеждение к стилю побороть не могу.
ooh wow, a new contender for worst album art of all time. And I really really cannot imagine that an Incubus album is going to sound like the vibe that this cover elicits. I'm a little embarrassed at how much I enjoyed this. This album has more shades of Nu Metal than I expected. The guitar tones, with twang and reverb have more angst and character than I thought Incubus would have. When It Comes almost sounds like Deftones. All the tracks that come before the mega hit "Drive" are so different to Drive, its quite strange. BUT nothing is as strange as "Battlestar Scralatchtica" - a record scratching funk rock jam band tune. Everything about this track is so odd, I think I kinda like it, but it is so out of place. Ok and then on Pardon Me we get some rap. This song has more of those Nu Metal shades of Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit, maybe even RATM a bit. What a weird album. Its not great, but it is quite interesting. It definitely kept me on my toes. I went back and looked into Incubus a bit more after listening and it seems they are pretty well known as a Nu Metal and Funk Rock band, so those elements perhaps shouldn't have been so surprising. I came into this album having only heard "Drive" and "Anna Molly" by Incubus, not Nu Metal or Funk Rock songs, but turns out those are the exceptions rather than the rule to Incubus' music. Fave Tracks: Privilege, Stellar, Drive 3.1/5
Goddamn the battlescracth galatica song sucks! It's like someone learned they can scratch on a turn table did it for the first time and recorded it. Apart from that, the rest of the album is fine, the hits are the stand outs (drive is a great song) but I think I expected more from it...high 3
3,25
Pretty cool.
Not really my style anymore but in middle school this was my shit. Some jams on here.
Thoughts before listening: Incubus was one of the better radio-friendly alt rock bands on their era...but does this really deserve to be on this list? Review: "Pardon Me" and "Drive" are bangers, and "Stellar" is okay. The rest are pretty middle of the road rap rock/nu metal. The dj scratches are hilarious and date this album terribly (are these the 90s equivalent of 80s synths?). I didn't like Incubus enough to buy their albums when I was 18 and I still feel the same way. This is a 3-star album.
P good emo-ish rock, 3.5
Listenable.
This was an alright album, nothing too exciting, it feels like they were experimenting a bit right at the end of the millenium. It sounds like the songs are just alright to have as background music.
I didn't hate this as much as I thought I would. This makes me believe that Morning View is also on here? I dunno if I NEED to listen to 2 incubus albums before I die, if so. I did see them live once and it was pretty sick though. This DJ needs to chill though.
Definitely a certain time period
not bad
Nao gostei
Stellar reminds me of Guitar Hero and the rest is pretty interesting. Nu Metal for grown ups
A cool sonic journey
This was kind of interesting, but not my thing. I appreciate the musicianship at least, and that guy could scratch!
I didn't even like this music at the time. Hasn't improved with age.
This was everywhere back in the late 90s and early 00s. Drive brings back memories of an ex girlfriend who used to play it in her car. We're still friends to this day. My love life is in shambles.
Rock, not too heavy. OK
This album sounds nostalgic to me. It definitely sounds late 90s/early 2000s. It reminds me of something you would hear in a Club Penguin music video or in old Youtube tutorial videos, haha. Maybe this is causing me to be a bit biased, though, so take my review with a grain of salt. The album is not really offensively bad or anything. I liked "Nowhere Fast," but I think that was the only one that stuck out the most to me. However, some songs are... I think an acquired taste. "Consequences" was sorta goofy, for example. I guess the lyrics made me laugh, which is better than the lyrics being boring, at least.
Lowkey thought it’d be better
Not bad
not really my thing, a decent album but i probably won't return to it
Standard rock from that time with added hip-hop elements and an early emo sound. I had only heard Drive before. (I think it was probably a cover of it on the game Donkey Konga 2.) I didn't get into it too much, but a couple of standout tracks were Battlestar Scralatchtica - which doesn't sound like anything else on the album - and Pardon Me.
Some pretty good songs on this album. The alt rock I remember from my youth (not specifically this band though). Good vocals and a sound that feels like it probably influenced a lot of later alt-rock bands since I feel like I have heard similar things to this but later than 1999. Definitely something I will listen to again, at least individual songs.
I was close to giving it a 4 but not quite. Drive is still a banger though.
That overly memorable on the first listen, but the kind of thing I might like more the more I here it
3/5 no takesies backsies!
I kinda liked it
I’m not the world’s greatest expert on metal sub-genres but I was expecting something labelled as Nu Metal to be a little more metal. To my aging ears it was somewhere between post grunge indie and a poppier, more accessible version of Nine Inch Nails. One track even has some deeply ill advised rapping and scratching included (and a surprisingly funky bass line too). The lyrics include some swears to get the coveted Parental Advisory sticker but while they are trying to be Dangerous they end up being Mostly Harmless.
They played an honest alt-rock with heavy guitars and lots of samples at a time when this kind of things was pretty popular. It was -- and is -- relatively pleasant to listen to, it was also a bit refreshing to listen to them back in the day, perhaps because their music was much more positive than the bulk of the nu metal scene. The voice of the singer always annoyed me a bit -- it didn't change.
It has a couple of songs that got a lot of airplay. A mix of several genres with some catchy hooks.
Good at what it did, but I wasn’t too excited about what it did.
Yep
An okay album. Very much a representation of the Y2K era of music. Like it when they go a little heavier. 3/5 Might listen again
Incubus is definitely one of my guilty pleasures, and IMO has no business being on this list? I don't think they did anything revolutionary, or special, or different, from any of the other nu-metal bands at the turn of the millennium. Fun album though. 3/5
“To resist is to piss in the wind Anyone who does will end up smelling“ Wow. So true…
It was alright. Simpsons: No
For being music I don’t really like it wasn’t all that bad. I kind of liked Battlestar Scralatchica
3.5, upgrading cause I still have a soft spot for The Warmth. Early 2000s me would be horrified by this rating - I was obsessed with this album back in the day, but the shine has really worn off now. The bigger radio hits are unlistenable
Nowhere Fast has a nice groove. That was my favourite. Their sound is decent, but a bit weird at times.
I mostly enjoy this for nostalgic purposes; these days, if I’m gonna return to Incubus, it’s gonna be A Crow Left of the Murder. 3.5/5
This album is not based. It is the base for many albums that I like (or maybe it's not, history is not my strong suit. I don't believe the past has ever happened), and that is the reason I don't really like it much - I've already heard it done better by other bands. Still, the base is there and it's enjoyable
can never go wrong with a bit of t his stuff its a strong 3 but just below a weak 4
Interessanter Sound, hat mich richtig an den Anfang der 2000er erinnert. Hab die Band früher nie gehört, keine Ahnung wieso, aber war nicht schlecht, aber auch nicht überwältigend. Was zum Henker ist Battlestar Scralatchtica? Alleine wegen dem Song n ganzen Stern Abzug, für mich insg. bei 3 gelandet.
Ganz nettes Nu-Metal. War damals kein großer Fan. Interessante Stimme. Drive ist ein zeitloser Banger Battlestar Scratchlactica furchtbar. Songs der Playlist hinzugefügt: Drive
Starts good but gets repetitive
Singles are great. Rest was just solid rock.
The cover of Hallelujah is good. The rest is ok.
Very 90's - couple classics in here. Not bad. Solid 3.
This is pretty solid rock. I recognize a few tracks but mostly didn't know this band.
meh
was mij totaal onbekend... heeft wel wat Faith no More vibes, zeker ook dankzij de stem... er bestaan mindere vibes... was misschien net iets te lang om te blijven boeien
3+
I like melodrama, but this is too much for me. Some of the guitar is cool.
Outside of a couple of tracks, it's pretty non-description.
The only song that I knew going into this was Drive, which is a decent song but not exactly mind blowing. After listening to the rest of the songs it seems I haven't been missing out on too much. This is an average album with a fair amount of variety. This is the type of album that you latch onto as an angsty teenager, but beyond that it sounds fairly meh.
Back in my uni days, my mate Bob absolutely rinsed this album, so despite never owning it myself, I’m surprisingly familiar with the songs. At the time, Incubus often got lumped in with the nu-metal crowd, but by the time Make Yourself was released, they’d all but abandoned the aggressive, raw, and experimental routes of their earlier offerings in favour of something more radio-friendly. Commercially and critically, this shift paid off, allowing the band to carve out their own niche. Whereas Korn’s approach was brooding and intense, Limp Bizkit embraced chaos and raw aggression, and Deftones explored darker, more ethereal territory, Make Yourself maintained a melodic sensibility that appealed to a broader audience. Rather than focusing on angst or rebellion, Incubus emphasised personal growth, self-reflection, and empowerment. While most nu-metal bands stayed within the confines of rap-rock and metal, Incubus tried to incorporate elements of funk, electronic music, and alternative rock, making their sound more versatile. Brandon Boyd stood out as a frontman with a unique blend of charisma, versatility, and artistic depth. Unlike the aggressive, angst-driven personas of many of his contemporaries, Boyd exuded a calm, introspective energy, combining emotional vulnerability with spiritual undertones in his lyrics. His vocal range and style were distinct, seamlessly shifting between soulful melodies, soaring choruses, and dynamic intensity. Boyd’s bohemian presence—shirtless performances, artistic tattoos, and poetic lyrics—helped distinguish him from the hyper-masculine aesthetics of the era. That said, it’s not all glowing. While Make Yourself is a polished, accessible record, it lacks the bold experimentation that made some of their peers truly memorable. Bands like Deftones or System of a Down embraced risks, weaving unpredictable, boundary-pushing elements into their music. Incubus, by contrast, played it safe, opting for a cohesive but conventional alternative rock sound. Tracks like “Stellar” and "Pardon Me" highlight the band’s melodic strengths, but there’s a sense that occasionally the album could have ventured into more daring sonic territory. Chris Kilmore’s DJ work, while adding texture, feels like a missed opportunity. Rather than propelling the band into more innovative soundscapes, it serves as a holdover from nu-metal’s turntable trend, reinforcing the album’s reluctance to break new ground. Then there’s “Drive,” the band’s biggest hit and the track that defines their legacy for many. The reflective, acoustic-driven anthem captures Incubus at their most introspective and accessible, earning its place in the pantheon of early 2000s hits. Its universal message about taking control of one’s life spoke to people. Anchored by a simple yet elegant guitar riff and Boyd’s emotive delivery, “Drive” strikes a perfect balance between introspection and accessibility. Its mellow groove and clean production allow it to stand apart from the angst and heaviness of the nu-metal era, securing its longevity. Ultimately, Make Yourself is a solid, enjoyable record that marked Incubus’s transition into a more accessible, mainstream sound. While it lacks the experimentation or edge of the best releases from its era, its melodic sensibilities and introspective themes have earned it a lasting legacy. Tracks like “Pardon Me,” “Stellar,” and especially “Drive” showcase the band’s ability to craft songs that could appeal to a wide audience. It may not be essential listening, but it’s a testament to Incubus’s ability to forge their own path in a crowded late-’90s landscape. I wonder what Bob’s up to these days—and whether he still has this one on repeat. Did/Do I own this release? No, I likely had Drive on MP3 though. Does this release belong on the list? No. Would this release make my personal list? No. Will I be listening to it again? Why not.
This violently sent me back to an angsty version of myself living in my parents' house and I didn't appreciate it
A bit disappointing. The only song I'd heard from this was "drive" which I really like. The rest of the album is not very good at all. Oh well.
Proper early 2000s fare. Kerrang-core. Enjoyable enough but not standout. Inky bus.
Pas eu le temps de tout écouter, mais c'est clairement un style qui le parle moins.
Basic metal mostly uninspiring. The hidden gem saving it from the trash is Drive with a great acoustic melody and soothing rhythm. Good vocals and lyrical imagery.
When I was 11 or 12 one of the older dancers at my ballet studio was obsessed with Incubus and did a whole class for us with this album instead of the traditional classical music. It's my top association with the band. It's not really a great album and is very late-90s sounding, but it's not bad. I generally enjoyed listening to it.
Very late 90s, early 2000s. Cant say I missed it much.
Red Hot Chilli Peppers do metal. Not the biggest fan of the genre tbh, can't stand guitars making the noises they do in metal. However, this had a few songs that were quite nice actually. The Warmth and Drive were saved. I Miss You is okay too. I'd give it 58/100, I'll give it a (low) 3* so
My son got me to listen to incubus when they first started and I love it.
I'd forgotten about incubus for 25 years, and this hasn't changed anything
Pardon Me & Drive are classics. The rest is decent High 3
Some great tracks on there but not all are winners.
Album 597 of 1001 Incubus -Make Yourself (1999) Rating : 3.75 / 5 Good album. Several tracks I remember well from heavy radio play. Not sure I'd seek out more from them, but this was a good listen.
Liked it 25 years ago, but one of the 1001 albums I must listen to? I don't think so.
Not listened to loads of Incubus in my time but I like the cut of their jib. I mean, I can take or leave the nu-metal rapping/scratching bits, but they do a strong line in melodic, angsty rock choruses for teenagers to belt along to. The band’s real differentiator, however, is their use of spacey, slidey, effects-laden guitar licks on tracks such as The Warmth and Stellar (as well as the likes of Echo and Are You In? from Morning View) to create cool glacial soundscapes. I’d have liked to hear them lean into this style even more. 3.5
Not really my thing
Not so bad.
I myself had never really sat down and listened to any of their albums, and had only heard their radio hits. After listening to the album, I can see why they've always been lumped into nu-metal. They Sugar Ray'd me! Overall, the bass grooves were great, the songs were overall pretty mid, and the record scratching was fun.
I'm torn by this album. I absolutely LOVE the drums. It's extremely groovy, kept me on my toes, kept my head bopping, incredible performance throughout. Some of the filler songs were absolutely saved by the drummer. However, speaking of filler songs, depending on how much you enjoy nu-metal, this album could be riddled with them. I thought there were a lot of very interesting parts scattered throughout the album, but there are also some lows that I don't particularly care for. Overall, I think I'd give this album a 3/5
Not bad!
A lot of this was pretty solid rock, but wasn't the most interesting. 3.5/5
So Incubus were one of my go to bands for a while and they were a good balance away from the toxicity of a lot of the jock metal music scene at the time. For that they stood out but listening to this album now - while still brings good memories - it just doesn’t cut it as a good record. Other incubus records might, who knows - but while I’d like to rate it higher - it just isn’t worth more than average.
In my angsty teen years I loved this record. Now? I was a bit underwhelmed. I think I prefer later Incubus (Morning View and Light Grenades are fantastic albums). This was a lot more same-y than I remembered too. While “Stellar” is one of my favorite songs and I’ve come around to “Drive” as time went on (I used to hate that song when it first came out), the rest is mostly just okay. “Pardon Me” and “I Miss You” are the other highlights, but my nostalgia glasses liked this more than I actually did. With all that said, I totally understand why this album is on this list and agree with its inclusion. But overall this was good, just not great, despite what teenage me would think.
I liked this album more than I thought I would. I knew "Drive" and "Pardon Me" before listening to this one and I don't really care for those songs, but it was the rest of the album that took me by surprise.
Recognized Drive, other than that nothing stood out
Like 311 but harder. Very clean, but too clean. It came across as sterile and soulless. I'd guess this is better in a live setting where there is more play. In the studio, the click track seemed to rule them.
I mean, yeah, it's not bad or anything. Just not amazing or life-changing enough to be on a list like this. I liked the sound of this album; the way a soundscape was carved was satisfying, and I like the somewhat unique tones and sounds created. But other than that, I didn't find it to be that interesting, in lyrical content and actual song composition. The vocals also bugged me on occasion. I found myself disliking the two 'hits' of the album ('Drive' and 'Pardon Me'), favouring 'The Warmth', 'Make Yourself' and 'Battlestar Scralatchtica' the most. This is my first time listening to Incubus and I'm honestly not very impressed. May or may not give another listen.
Stoner rock. Not so good, not so bad
This was perfectly decent, perfectly middle of the road background music. Cannot possibly offend anyone, but no idea how it made this list.
-i had genuinely no idea what to expect when I put this on other than “possibly corny”. it’s not too bad at all I don’t think, though not really something I would choose to listen to. The range of songs and instrumentation are definitely the highlights here, I’d give it a 3.5 maybe -Favorites are Nowhere Fast and Clean
3/5
Unremarkable, but not awful. Better than I expected.
hei metallia tältä ajalta joka uskaltaa osittain tehdä jotain erilaista. ei tarvitsekkaan pysyä siinä mutavyöryssä mikä on 90-lopun nu-metalli... ei tämä mikään hyvä albumi ole mutta piruvie piti kiinnostukseni alusta loppuun jota monet, mitä olen oppinut viime muutamansadan päivän aikana, eivät pysty tekemään. incubus on raiskaajaveikko haamuhahmo... ei ei tuomari ei ollut minä... oli incubus hyökkäys, se vintiö se.... hohhoijjaa joo jos toista albumia heitetään niskaan niin voi tulla vähän kritiikkiä... ihan täyttävä määrä tältä bändiltä... thank u, next... battlestar scralatchtica
Fun in parts, but not a good album.
I was ready to hate this. In my head I had incubus lumped in with Linkin Park and Limp Bizkit but after listening through the album that’s not really the right category for them. The tone is a lot lighter than those guys and something about the way they mix the heavy guitars and the scratching feels less forced than other rap-metal of that vintage. I likely won’t come back to it but I actually thought it was a pretty decent album
3.4 Starting to sound a little bit dated but a solid album, interesting throughout. There was a Incubus concert DVD at red rocks that was pretty sick back in the day
ground breaking
Okay. I was a teen when this came out. Hated it. Able to understand less emotion and more melody. What is a 2 star album? How do you find 1?! This exercise is making myself.
These songs must feel incredible when performed live on guitar.
The well-known "Drive" stands out. "Privilege" and "Pardon Me" are o.k. too. The rest of the album is just good, hard alternative rock but nothing special and a bit too same same for my taste.
Alright
Hmm... tricky one. Sounds quite 90s indeed. This sounds like a crossover between Linkin Park and Audioslave, both of which were later projects. Surely this must have been quite a major influence on those bands. I think there are some cool riffs and instrumental choices, heavy use of chorus etc. that works really well. Overall quite dark and dubious sounding, I like it. I am not sure I am fan of how the singer fits into it all. He sings very well and can deliver some power, but to me he just has a way too poppy voice. So for me, this whole album has a weird soft edge to it that doesn't feel fitting. It feels like this probably deserves a 4, but it doesn't gel completely with me, so I'll give it a strong 3. I think I could grow to like this though if I listened to it more.
Enjoyed that more than I thought I would - hints of Red Hot Chili Peppers at times, in some of the tracks. 3.5*
Didn't expect this to sound so cheesy. A few albums in this style from this period reek of this kind of sound getting commercial. And you must listen before you die!
Fortunately I don’t mind Incubus’ music. Especially since all of it sounds pretty much the same, so if I hated it I would hate every song. Very middle of the road.
Corny, dated, I still remember the lyrics, but it hasn't aged well. It's a product of it's time but not the parts that are worth preserving. It's missing something core.
One star for each song I love off this album
I'd say that of all the outdated 90s music, this fares rather well...
This is more of a 2.5 album, maybe even a two, and definitely should not be on this list; but I’m letting my nostalgia speak here. It reminds me of driving in my dad’s car when I was growing up. You could escape Incubus on alt rock radio from 99-09, they had a stranglehold on it. Honestly, I really enjoy the singer’s voice. It’s like if Anthony Kiedas could actually sing. I don’t know if they’d admit to it, but a lot of his tone and inflection seems to have influenced vocal styles of emo singers.
T'was alright.
3/5