Reviews (page 5 of 8)
Love Incubus ! Drive is one of the best songs of the generation.
2.5
This music is just mid. It’s pablum. It’s vanilla. I’m not aware of anyone stating this band or any of their albums were pivotal or important. I do not get why this is on the list.
Wenn man einer KI sagen würde, erstelle mal ein Nu-Metal Musikalbum was nach Ende der 90er Jahre klingt würde das wohl genauso klingen. Und nackter Oberköper darf nur Iggy Pop.
“When I was a boy I was coming up through the 60’s and thought my adulthood was going to be the most radical years of my life, but when I got there it’s Pete Frampton in a kimono and I’m like cmon man.” - Mike Watt, Minutemen. American Hardcore documentary. I feel I can relate as someone coming up through the 90’s and when you get to that age you start exploring music and alternative culture this is what was happening. What a weird time. Incubus is one of those bands fondly remembered by those of us coming around in the turn to the 21st century as the thing to move forward rock music. Kurt Cobain died 5 years ago and all these alternative hard rock bands were coming up. You had the post grunge bands of Foo Fighters, Bush, and the whole lollapalooza thing going on. You had the nu metal and rap rock bands like Korn, Limp Bizkit, coal chamber, deftones. You had the funky rock bands like faith no more, Red Hot Chili Peppers, or sublime. This album is 1999 so Metallica’s already been stripped down to a shell of their former selves, cutting their hair, battling drug addictions and suffering the success of being the biggest hard rock band on the planet after still making #1 on billboard with the likes of Load and Reload. Creed’s first couple albums came out and we had Human Clay and the song Higher all over the place, so butt rock wasn’t too far off. Incubus didn’t fall comfortably into any of these and fell by the wayside. I feel like by 2003 or 2004 the band was pretty much forgotten as a relic of that period in the 90’s when gen x was of age, and the oldest millennials weee following along ready to take over their spot in the generational limelight just as quickly with their weird middle children of modern history and pop culture. Before y2k and the world was turned on its hinges. A time of peace and possible stability as humanity marches forward into the new climax of the species. But come on guys, this album didn’t age well in that regard and is one of the things that will go on to be a footnote once gen x and elder millennials let go of their nostalgia, and I get it. I heard Stellar and Drive on the radio a ton back then, my reminiscence of youth when my first girlfriend played the ballad “I miss you” when we weren’t hanging out and told me about it on our landlines. The nostalgia is ripe to be there but overall this album is a snooze fest and the songs aren’t particularly notable to me any more. This whole era of music was just a sterile facility of friendly enough rock bands that didn’t need to take a risk to sell albums and incorporate the most banal and mundane pieces of the grunge wave of the earliest part of the decade or creative works of Mike Patton. It’s the equivalent of Godsmack to me who took such a legendary band like Alice In Chains (who managed to escape a lifestyle as a washed up glam cover band and made a distinct style for themselves incorporating Black Sabbath’s riffs, harmonized vocals into the Seattle grunge scene to make it a bit heavier) and found the worst parts of their music to form their own career off of (honestly, even the song god smack off dirt is the one song I like to skip when I play that record). Linkin park was hot on their heels and would eventually out do Incubus with their debut album Hybrid Theory in sales and just being a more consistent vision, but you can hear the parallels. Some of the ballads, the rapping sections in a few middle the album tracks and even the DJ turntable instrumental that was basically copied by LP on their first album with Mr Hahn’s Cure for the Itch. Still, that’s not enough to save Incubus and this album while commercially successful wasn’t enough for this band to survive modern relevance and I think younger people won’t really find the appeal they had. Also the band name is probably one of the greatest missed shots in band name history. Incubus would be perfect for one of their 80’s goth rock, dark wave, industrial kind of bands, even taking note of the hit song from Xmal deutschland’s incubus succubus song, but alas it became the band that was a foot note in alternative rock and never really fit into any of the scenes burgeoning around them at the time, even lamented by the members who weren’t punk enough for warped and not metal enough for Ozzfest. One and done.
A bit too on the heavy side but Drive is a killer 90's rock track. I feel like I Miss You got a bit of rotation back in the day too, it rang a bell. I know this is one of my brother's favourite albums; for me it's pretty solidly right in the middle.
I didn't much care for this when it came out and still don't. It's...fine.
3/5
Better than I was expecting
I'm not sure what the hell this is? Incubus appears to be a metal band, that has some kind of personalty crisis and definitely not in a good way. Each song takes on a different genre/style, with alt-rock, metal overtones on some songs, along with a grungy, poor-man's Pearl Jam thing and to top it off, a sadly awful hip-hoppy number that I thought honestly was a different artist. It ties it altogether for a underwhelming experience of confusion and boredom and I know I've overused the term "generic", but truly this is the real deal. Step aside for some albums that actually deserve to be on this list, please!
cara, eu só conhecia drive e me apaixonei.
I like how the songs start soft and then come crashing through!
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.
I'm honestly shocked that the author went with this album over Morning View (which in my opinion is far better than this one). Oh well, I still like this one. It comes out of the gates with 2 bangers, Privilege and Nowhere Fast, the latter being impressive with the guitar and bass work especially. Brandon Boyd definitely has a lot of emotion in his voice and songs, and this album features it on a lot of songs. Good Incubus album, but I highly recommend you listen to Morning View before you die, it's 1000x better than this one.
Listened Before? Y This was a staple of my early 2000s CD player. I love this album and it seems to have held up pretty well. Nice vocals and guitar-driven music. Added to Library? Y Songs added to playlist: Stellar
Start with the good things about this album. 1. I am finally rid of the expierence of having to listen to such garbage. 2. When the song came out, I briefly liked Drive On to the bad things about this album 1. Privilege 2. Nowhere Fast 3. Concequence 4. The Warmth 5. When it Comes 6. Stellar 7. Make Yourself 8. Drive (I said "breifly" and "liked") 9. Clean 10. Battlestar Scralatchtica 11. I Miss You 12. Pardon Me 13. Out From Under
Всё вроде бы гладко и интересно, но предубеждение к стилю побороть не могу.
Really like the vibes and the energetic music 4/5
Okei tää herätti mun mielenkiinnon, pitää ehdottomasti kuunnella lisää Incubussia. Tosi semmoista rokkia mistä mää pitäisin. Kitarariffit kuulostaa hyviltä. Isoin hitti Drive tällä levyllä, mutta musta se ei ollut lähellekkään paras. Vaikea sanoo suosikkeja kun kaikessa on oikeestaan jotain hyvää. Parhaat: The Warmth, Clean, Pardon Me
fuck off 😂
A lot of skipped tracks.Only good song is drive. Battlestar starlactaca was interesting compared to the rest.
Very underwhelming 90 rock. Not bad enough to warrant a 1- just unremarkably bad.
4 - Good, but just good
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
Drive's got a pretty great hook. The drums manage to be low energy nu metal somehow. Some innovation for the time maybe though I'm pretty sure turntables had been incorporated to rock before. The lyrics are truly atrocious. Experience the warmth before you grow old, bro.
This was my third 90s rock album in a row, but this one was definitely my favorite of the three. I already was familiar with Incubus and knew (and liked) a number of songs on the album. I had not heard the vast majority, however. While the style was very clearly late-90s rock/metal, it still had some uniqueness and freshness more than two decades after release. It also had varied themes, and felt a bit abstract in how it presented different topics. The vocals were good and kept you engaged. I also like the instrumentality and how it added some different elements than you might normally hear on a rock album. It ranged from the loudness you'd look for to some more quiet, nuanced moments. I think the weakest song was its most popular, "Drive". Not that it was bad, but it just didn't grab me like the rest did. Maybe it felt a little out of place, even though I did like that it changed up the pace a bit from the rest of the album. It could be one of those songs that is strong on its own, but is hard to place on an album. I could see myself coming back to this one and enjoying it every time. I'd say it was at the high end of good. Overall: 3.9/5
3,25
Pretty cool.
Boring.
Not really my style anymore but in middle school this was my shit. Some jams on here.
Absolutely crap. The music itself is grand but that singing does my head in. Stand out song (cause he's not singing) - Scalachthica
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.
Found this pretty meh overall.
i just don’t get the appeal of this type of music. annoying gym bro pump up music. the instrumental record scratching track was cool though
P good emo-ish rock, 3.5
What genre is this?
Listenable.
Бе
It wants to rage, it wants to rock and I suspect it does to teenage boys, whose hormonal surges distort their hearing. One senses it wants to be seen as serious and edgy, as well as clever and provocative, but it cops out with the same tired tropes and transitions on every song – the formula is intense bit/contemplative bit/intense bit (the only variation being that some songs go contemplative/intense/contemplative). There’s a reason that funk metal (or nu metal, whatever) has gone from sub-genre with a bullet to micro-genre approaching invisibility in just a few decades. Rather than hearing before one dies (or ever again), one'll be content to actively ignore and seek better listening for one's remaining days.
Oh my God such a great album! Such a good album to vibe to! I just love listening to this and zoning out, I'm also going to see them this summer for the 20th anniversary of morning view which is always a fantastic album as well! Classic band classic album!
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.
Great album. Stellar, Drive, and Pardon Me should make any rock play list.
This gives me some good nostalgia. Felt like I was watching the old trippy graphics on windows media player. Good times. I think the album still holds up, but I may be biased because of the impact on my personal life
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.
Not my jam. Started badly - did improve a little throughout the album and at least there was some variation (battleship scralatchtica was a surprise). Only listened once and could not face a repeat.
Make Yourself ‘I’m not eating the bullshit that’s being fed to me’ You may not be eating the bullshit, but we’re all listening to it. It’s not as abject as Linkin Park, which is a very low bar, and there are occasionally some vaguely interesting instrumentation and melodies, but it’s still just not very good. The utter unfunkiness of their funk-metal just absolutely reeks of ankle length jorts, wallet chains and soul patches, and the whole album starts to feel very stagnant after 3 or 4 songs, and is a slog to get through. It's on the cusp of 1 and 2, I’ll go 2 as relative to some metal we’ve had it’s not horrifically terrible, but ultimately it is a very uninspiring collection of dated, re-hashed metal tropes, DJ noises, adolescent lyrics and whiny vocals. 👿👿 Playlist submission: I Miss You
After the tender, if murderous, charms of Willie Nelson, this is about as welcome as a fart in a boiler suit. It has a stuck-in-treacle tempo throughout. It really becomes the very definition of dirgey. Although the last track nearly wiped out all my good will, it's saved from a one-star by 'Drive'.
Ikke rigtig noget specielt, Jesse Pinkman rock, lidt metal men ikke rigtig
I enjoyed this album more than I expected to. I kind had this band lobbed into the dud man bro era of late 90’s rock, but the rhythm section really brings a lot to the table. Lead singer has a lovely voice but it’s kind of that era and gets on my nerves a little
I was wondering, while this was ruining my day, how someone who had never heard music before would feel if they suddenly encountered this. It's possible they would be amazed and moved by the beauty of sound. But I tend to think that even they would clock the turgid soullessness of it all, and never have an urge to listen to music again.
Definitely a certain time period
not bad
Я ніколи не був великим фанатом Incubus, а тим паче їх третього альбому. Річ у тому, що у часи коли я слухав Nu Metal, я не шукав в музиці якоїсь еклектики, глибини чи ліричності, а усе що мене тоді по-справжньому зачіпало, я із легкістю знаходив у Slipknot чи S.O.A.D. Навіть з минулим альбомом Incubus - S.C.I.E.N.C.E. я ознайомився відносно нещодавно. Мені безумовно подобається його приємний #funk металічний звук, та і якщо порівнювати його з іншим ню металом того періоду, його було цікаво слухати. Але якщо він і виділяється більш різноманітними музичними ходами, включаючи вищезгаданий фанк та DJ скретчі, у його основі так само лежала та сама примітивна ню металічна структура. Чи робить це S.C.I.E.N.C.E. поганим альбомом? Звісно що ні, в рамках цього жанру він просто чудовий. Проте Make Yourself, вигідно вирізняється на його фоні, адже він був не просто "чудовим альбомом" - він був особливим. На ньому, гурт залишив лише "легкі натяки" на те, яку музику вони грали до цього. Тут також присутні грувові фанкові моменти та трохи звичних ню металевих рифів. В усьому іншому, за структурою та за вайбом, це була вже зовсім інша музика. Музиканти відчували, що їм тісно у цьому ню металічному "чоловічому" світі. Їм хотілося грати музику, яка б не була такою однозначною та залишала простір для інтерпретації. А що стосується "важкості", Incubus вирішили, що вона має бути присутня коли це доречно, а не бути самою ціллю. Make Yourself став значно мелодійнішим, ліричним, поетичнім та банально красивішим ніж уся попередня творчість гурту. При цьому, музика не перетворилась у якійсь постгранж аля Nickelback. Аранжування стали витонченими та менш "прямолінійними", а фанкові мотиви працюють на поглиблення у якусь дабово-містичну атмосферу, а не слугують "розкачкою" перед черговим брейк-дауном. Простіше кажучи, сонрайтинг тут справді був дивовижний та привів Incubus до комерційного успіху. З "дивного ню метал гурта, що додає фанк", вони стали успішним гуртом, що грає "поетичний та еклектичний альтернативний рок", хоча подекуди та роблять референси у сторону попереднього альбому. В тім, це працює їм тільки на користь та створює образ гурту, якій вдало звертається до популярного жанру, беручи тільки необхідне, аби тільки підкреслити певні моменти та додати відповідних емоцій.
5 stars because i owned this album and have listened to it a ton. Listened to it twice since it popped up on here
Not really my thing
Nao gostei
Did not know that one - to noisy, to much crossover, to much late 90s for me today
I can't listen to it - it doesn't make sense
It wasn’t bad but I won’t listen again.
By far their most twee album, but still great
Stellar reminds me of Guitar Hero and the rest is pretty interesting. Nu Metal for grown ups
A cool sonic journey
Wow another mid album. Are we sure this isn’t a list of the most mid albums of all time? Singer sounds super generic/ bad. There were some interesting guitar riffs and songs. Some songs literally sounded the exact same as others.
This was kind of interesting, but not my thing. I appreciate the musicianship at least, and that guy could scratch!
Meh, it's fine. Wouldn't listen to any song other than 'Drive' again.
Thought I'd enjoy this one but couldn't get into it . 2/5
Cool
The inevitability of reviewing an album twice when you have two projects at the same time is dawning on me rather hard lately. I reviewed this exactly 2 weeks ago. I was shocked at the amount of 1 star reviews it received, was going to give a 4, but gave a 5 because, “it needs it (and ultimately deserves more than the 1s and 2s that it seems to be getting)”. So, I’m doing the same. Sue me.
I didn't even like this music at the time. Hasn't improved with age.
I really enjoyed this. But, I'm a bit confused about the metal label. This belongs on mixtapes with Goo Goo Dolls, Third Eye Blind and Matchbox 20, not Deftones, Korn, Limp Bizkit.
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.
Absolutely mid
2 for the one song I know
Rock, not too heavy. OK
👌🏻 ….it stinks!
A YouTube commenter said this album helped him detox from fentanyl so at least it did something worthwhile for someone.
I'm kind of glad I got this as #1050 because if I got it early on I might not have persevered. Completely fine and unremarkable. Consequence was alright. Another poorly chosen record to make the site lie and say that metal is one of my least favourite genres. "It feels like trading brains with an imbecile". Hmm, yes. Some of it reminds me of RHCP, which is not good news for the rating. I can almost see a Randy Orton Vs Triple H pre-match rivalry recap package as this plays.
Seminal album for me and still goes really dang hard
2-3
I really like this album, always have
Very late 90s sounding, but good
Ok, a couple albums ago I gave a newer album a 1. I didn't like it and stand by that. But I'm gonna do the hypocritical thing and give this album a 4. Does it deserve that? No, there's some cringey stuff that maybe doesn't hold up but it's a nostalgic banger that came out during my formative years. I'm not a critic, these ratings are how much I enjoyed it. It's not a classic by any stretch of the imagination and I don't know why I'm typing so much to justify this to no one in particular. Whatevs
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.
I don't know why I never got more into Incubus as a teenager. I bought "A Crow Left of the Murder..." on CD because I loved "Megalomaniac," and I listened to that album a bunch. It's been years since I've heard it but I remember liking it front to back. Somehow, I just never ended up listening to more of them. Happy to correct that today. The band's style is a stew of different genres. They blend alt-rock and hardcore, with a touch of grunge, a dash of dub, and plenty of record scratches. It makes for a nice, diverse listen. I love Brandon Boyd's singing. He brings the emotional hooks to these songs. I love those big, soaring vocals.
I'm really surprised that this is the first Incubus popping up on the list in our rotation. I could have sworn that we had "Morning View" already but it didn't show up when I searched. This album is incredible. "Stellar", "Drive", and "Pardon Me" are three amazing songs and propel the album to a pretty clear 5/5, and getting an addition onto my "favorite albums of all time" list, coming in somewhere between #10 and 25. "Stellar" is a beautiful song with one of my favorite guitar riffs. I always keep that guitar part in my back pocket whenever I want to impress my wife or get a quick "ooooo I love that song!" at random times in day to day life. There's such a great spacey vibe in this one; and not only with the "meet me in outer space" line- it's in the guitars and bass and backing synth(s) and production. I love it. "Pardon Me" has some of the best energy of any rock song I've ever heard. You can feel the angst seething through Brandon Boyd's vocals. I always loved the lyrics in this one too. I'm pretty sure I'll have them memorized for my entire life. "Drive" is an extra special song with some pretty on-the-nose lyrics about letting fear and uncertainty control your life. If I recall, a lot of these songs were written when Brandon Boyd was in his very early 20's and going through a lot. I love the slight pitch~y problem the first time you hear the lyric "steer" (00:39) between his voice and the bass guitar. It's perfectly imperfect from someone who I consider a vocal god. His voice really shines in the chorus of this one. Great long notes, and equally great little runs and spoken rhythmic sequences. What a joy to listen to. Something I love about this album and Incubus on a bigger level is the way that they are able to add so much depth to all of their songs and not just their big hits. They respect every song on their records and are able to concoct these really interesting little musical spaces with each other. "The Warmth" for example has a really distinct groove and a repetitive guitar part that is heightened by some great haunting delay/reverb effect on the guitar. The bass also kicks on a distortion (sansamp style I think?) later in the track that makes the groove hit you like a punch. That effect elevates the song and makes it distinct from every other track, and they seemingly do this with every single track. They have perfect taste for what a voice or instrument needs production-wise that I will forever appreciate. Each one has it's own little vocabulary that is homogeneous with the language of Incubus while also existing by itself. Easy 5/5 for me- so good!
Ei mennyt lemppareiden joukkoon. Soundit on aika öö hämmentävät. Täs on jotain kaikuja grungesta, mutta paikoitellen tää nyökkää enemmän numetallin puolelle. 2/5
Tavallaan ihan menevä levy, mutta tylsän turvallista. 2.5/5
Better than I expected or remember from back in the day. Overplayed singles made me forget how cool some of their deep cuts were at the time.
Although not a big fan this is a great album, shocked at the 1 star reviews. “Drive” is a great track and there are so many others. Once one of MetallicA’s favourite bands. I was going to give it a 4, but I gave it 5 because it needs it (and ultimately deserves more than the 1s and 2s that it seems to be getting).
Drive is still a great song… hard for me to get into anything else here. I know this album was huge and well liked by people with similar tastes to me, I guess I don’t vibe with it much.
I suppose if you came of age musically in the 90s, you might think this album/band something special (‘incredible! Just incredible’! gushed one reviewer😒), but to me, a child of the 60/70s, they just sound like a dozen other bands of the same genre. The lead can sing sort-of, and had an almost-distinctive voice, not quite cos he really sounds like someone else better known, but that's the high point of this sound. One more angst/not angst but cool band doing what they did back then. 2 for the voice and it didn't hurt my ears. Second thoughts, its too teenage male doing what teenage males do, regardless of decade, so 1. I’m not, and never was, a teenage boy.
4.5/5
This is just awful.
Lowkey thought it’d be better
This album felt like pretty gutless rock for a large part of it, thankfully it really picked up pace at the end. I wouldn't say this is a very good album but its a good example of what commercial rock was like at the end of the 90's. Make Yourself and the last 3 tracks I really enjoyed. Don't think I will ever really revisit this album but there's some worthwile singles on here. Still woefully generic though.
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.
This was absolute garbage. I already wasted 48 minutes listening to this, I'm not going to spend any more time talking about it here.
Not much for me beyond Drive which is a great song. Rest is sorta samey samey.
OK LOOOOVE, album saved and will be in rotation from now on 💅 4.5! Favs: Privilege Consequence Nowhere fast Make yourself Drive Clean I miss you- crying rn idk Pardon me
(Oh no, another diary entry disguised as a review) One of the best albums of all time, phenomenal - such a lovely surprise that this on the list, even though it very much belongs here. I could write so much about this album but my words couldn't do it justice - all I know is Incubus' music has been there for me during so many pivotal times in my life. I expected it to be, as I have seen both of my older brothers singing Pardon Me at the top of their lungs when they were 23, and knew that was coming for me too (thank u pandemic and second year of uni, love u lots...) Standout tracks - every single song is 5/5, and hardly any albums are like that for me. BUT I will list songs that I hold dearer to my heart instead: - Drive (I have loved this song since I was 3, and also started fancying Brandon Boyd then too LOL. V important song for me in 2018, soundtrack to falling on the floor and getting back up to start my life over). - Stellar (love u Jack) - Nowhere Fast (LOL deffo not crying rn) - Privilege (always think about this song when I am overwhelmed) - Make Yourself (wow) - When It Comes (would be a perf wrestler's entrance theme) - PARDON ME <3 <3 <3
Hell yeah. This is the evolutionary peak of metal. It’s hard enough to say “I mean it” but it’s nuanced and musical in a way so many metal acts ignore. It’s pleasant instead of pure anger/evil/dark and I think that brings the emotion across even more powerfully. I cannot describe how important that is to a listener who wants music to be, well, enjoyable to listen to. I love the writing. They paint a scenes of challenges and situations that resonate across anyone that’s ever been in a relationship, lost focus, needed motivation, been neglectful, been young, been angry, been hurt, lacked direction, grown up, loved, lost… so yes, everyone. 5/5. One of my absolute favorites. This is the first Incubus entry I’ve had on the list but I hope it’s not the last. This is a great one; a band hitting its stride on their third album before an absolute incredible stretch 2001-2011. This one kicked Incubus to another level. I’m writing this in 2025 but if you get a chance to see them, do it. They crush.
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.
OK album. I don't see what Incubus brings to the table that puts on the 1001 list. The only song I was familiar with before listening for this review is "Drive" and, for whatever reason, I thought is was the guys from Alice in Chains singing.
album had two good songs and 10 boring ones The good ones: Pardon me, Drive
I have some major nostalgia for this album, notably because Drive was one of my moody, depressive teenager anthems, which held a sacred spot on my iPod and was often set on repeat. Brandon Boyd has one of the best rock voices of the late-90s, early-aughts period of alt rock. With Make Yourself, they’ve tamped down some of their RHCP funk rock worship and focus on hard rock driven riffs, aided by the occasional turntable and funky bass line. Aside from Drive, Pardon Me and Stellar were both mega hits in their own right. The non-single tracks are pretty mid, which is why this album doesn’t make it into the fours, but it’s a solid listen, especially if you lived through it. 3.8/5
Only song I really liked was the one with no singing.
This sucks.
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!
5.0 - Awesome
I kinda liked it
Make Yourself is Incubus' third album, and was their breakthrough work. They combined metal, rap, and timing and transitions from alt-rock, with extensive turntable work from DJ Kilmore. The album's success was driven by a few of the band's early singles, like "Drive" and "Pardon Me," great examples of the interesting mixture that band produces.
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.
1 Star (2/15)
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.
The musical definition of the phrase “take a chill pill.” Bombastic rap rock by bros that takes themselves way too seriously. One of these songs, with their multi-layered assault of power chords + hip-hop scratching might have been interesting. But a whole album? It all sounds the same — predictable and way too earnest.
Yep
I miss this 2000s era
Generic 90’s rock which I unfortunately am a fan of
Drive is amazing and perfection. The rest of the album is nothing special. Rounding up to 2 stars because Drive exists.
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
If I had to explain what modern rock music is to someone, this album would be a good example. It’s well-made, but there’s nothing here that truly surprises me or resonates with me emotionally. So far, my favourite track is Drive.
“To resist is to piss in the wind Anyone who does will end up smelling“ Wow. So true…
It was alright. Simpsons: No
Really enjoyed this, need to listen to Incubus more. Drive is a great tune.
I enjoyed this, recognised a few tunes from it as well. I was expecting it to be heavier, but it was just about right.
For being music I don’t really like it wasn’t all that bad. I kind of liked Battlestar Scralatchica
Excellent album!!
2/5/25. Admittedly it's the first time I've listened to the entire album, but still very nostalgic and a standout in its time. Very consistent!
I am not a fan of Incubus. The first track had me curious, but before the song was over, I had a feeling that this was going to be a disappointment. All of the signature 90s alt/grunge/rock are there, but they feel generic and unconvincing.
I am not a fan of Incubus. The first track had me curious, but before the song was over, I had a feeling that this was going to be a disappointment. All of the signature 90s alt/grunge/rock are there, but they feel generic and unconvincing.
Probably a 4.5 but slightly bias rating up
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.
My jr high crush loved this band.
started out ok got weeeeaaaakkkkkk
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 is one of the best rock albums of the 90s. I still contend that S.C.I.E.N.C.E. is their magnum opus, but I concede that this is the album that made them all very, very rich. Make yourself is a massive departure from the albums that came before it. Fungus Amongus and the aforementioned S.C.I.E.N.C.E. were harder, more underground, and leaned more heavily into scratches and the rock-rap stylings that were the hallmark of the grossly named nu-metal movement. With this album, Brandon Boyd cut his dreadlocks, became a heartthrob, leaned more into his incredibly impressive singing voice, and became one of the biggest rock bands of the era. 5 stars, no notes, incredible, incredible album.
I haven't listened to this since high school and surprisingly it holds up better than I thought it would, with Privilege and Consequence being my favorite tracks. Not sure why this is on here when Morning View and S.C.I.E.N.C.E. are definitely better, and almost polar opposites of each other when it comes to Incubus' sound. It was fun to revisit this album
It is not awful. 2/5.
heard Drive and Pardon me on the radio my whole life and this is them in context. nice.
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
I refuse to listen to this. If you're going to do grungey metal, do it properly - this doesn't. Plus, the first minute of the first song gave me a headache.
Starts good but gets repetitive
This sounds like the opening to an early 2000’s action movie. You know the exact scene I’m talking about too. With that being said, this album is a banger, the hits HIT and it’s just some feel good crooning on silly beats.
A bit samey to other genre-specific bands. Yawn, wish they had an original thought between them.......
Singles are great. Rest was just solid rock.
This streamlined and rather glossy strand of nu-metal aged like milk, even if I readily recognize that the main guitar riff in opener "Privilege" is still ten times better than anything from Linkin Park's *Hybrid Theory*. The thing is, Incubus' music manages to be less offensively risible than Linkin Park only because their melodies are *less* memorable. It's an interesting paradox: would you prefer to have an annoying song stuck in your head all day, or just go through a somewhat bland example of that sort of song and just forget about it right away? As of now, I choose the second option. Not that the vocal lines can't feel hackneyed or pointless in this album: that lead singer, as competent as he is on a "technical" level, is circling around the same bag of tricks most of the time, and therefore going "nowhere fast" indeed. Speaking of that second song in the LP: there are interesting arrangements going out of the usual nu-metal formula in that particular cut, so I can't deny Incubus isn't *trying* hard once in a while. But going through the rest, you can't help lamenting about how ultimately vacuous and devoid of real stakes this sort of music is. Basically put, it's like a nu-metal version of Pearl Jam going through the motions without putting much imagination into the latter. So it's gonna be a one-star review for *Make Yourself" no matter what, even if it's gonna be one less overtly critical than my own review of *Hybrid Theory*. Everyone with an open mind for nineties nu-metal-adjacent music should check out Deftones first (masters of gloomy tones and atmosphere, with a knack for emotional intensity and stellar studio performances -- either vocally and instrumentally). THEN, maybe, you can go through stuff like Incubus. When you attempt to write a list such as the one of the 1001 Albums book, you should indeed first single out acts that sound like no other one on earth, and think about the middle fry later. And this in *any* given genre. 1/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums. 6/10 for more general purposes (5 + 1) Number of albums left to review: around forty, as I've gone over the 1000 line and this generator is including albums from all editions of the book Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 459 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 271 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 332 (including this one)
I didn't want to listen to this on holiday, because I forgot who Incubus were and thought it was going to be a lot of nu-metal shouting. It's actually very, very good. Made me try and fail to lift some heavy weights. Obviously it's not really good, like a lovely quiet female singer-songwriter or a fey Scottish indie band or something, but in the context of American late 90s rock, it's about as good as it gets
Surprised I'd never heard this one before. Pretty decent proto-nu metal with some funkiness/grunge mixed in, but not exactly my style. A couple gems.
The cover of Hallelujah is good. The rest is ok.
Inte min grej, men ändå lite okej groov 3/10
Very 90's - couple classics in here. Not bad. Solid 3.
I was a big fan of this band! I know most of their stuff. I would say that this is probably their essential record to listen to for a beginner, but it is not my favourite outting by them. Listening to this, I have flashbulb memories of jamming it on my old CD Walkman as I worked weekends at my old high school job. This is good listening for a directionless, apathetic teenager. I like the guitar parts in Drive. I think Brandon Boyd has an underrated voice for this genre. Mike Einziger is a talented musician and producer.
This is pretty solid rock. I recognize a few tracks but mostly didn't know this band.
meh
Not my favourite Incubus album but still very nice
Pretty good album I remember well from my teenage years. Innovative sound, heavy in lots of places. Solid vocals. DJ scratching is additive in some areas, not all.
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.
2 because drive, 1 for the rest. It feels like everyone is uncomfortable with the sound they make.
You know what? Like it or not Nu Metal got us where we are today in music. This wasn't as insufferable as nu metal can be, and I honestly enjoyed listening to this while drinking my coffee on a Monday morning.
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 shit was everywhere when i was in junior high - it's honestly much worse than i remember
It's absolutely wild little I can enjoy this album now, when it formed such a crucial piece of my life circa 2000. There is no nostalgia. *i listened to this album probably twice a day for a year.* it arguably got me into music, it got me into the internet and internet culture. Incubus was the first band i saw in concert. And yet today ... nothing. Shout out to the incredibly active Incubus message board of the year 2000.
this was not as bad as the esteem in which i held it from memory, but i really cannot stand the vocal stylings of incubus
This violently sent me back to an angsty version of myself living in my parents' house and I didn't appreciate it
I’ve always loved this album and Morning view
A mix of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Faith No More and Limp Bizkit in the worst possible way.
This is the kind of music that makes me say the 90s sucks.
This sound like all of the alternative metal fillers of every band from the 90s put together.
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.
This album suffers from being both post-grunge and nu-metal at the same time. Really cheesy, unappealing, dated songs other than a few exceptions. 2/5
Boring and a bit shit
Proper early 2000s fare. Kerrang-core. Enjoyable enough but not standout. Inky bus.
I can’t say this really deserves a spot here. The hits are ok, but the rest is pretty bad.
+: Privilege, When It Comes +-: Nowhere Fast, Consequence, The Warmth, Clean, Battlestar Scralatchica, Pardon Me, Out from Under -: Stellar, Make Yourself, Drive, I Miss You 3,7/10
This was really neat when I was in middle school. What is this list?
Pas eu le temps de tout écouter, mais c'est clairement un style qui le parle moins.
y'a de bons riffs, notamment dans Nowhere Fast par exemple, mais je ne suis pas fan. Je ne pense pas réécouter de titre de cet album (même ptet de ce groupe). c'est pas mon truc !
Didn't get it then. Don't get it now.
Good album if looking for some 90s/00s rock. Has some hits. Doesn't beat daughtry tho
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.
surprisingly, white guys with whiny voices make great albums way more than you would expect
This album was pretty good. The best songs on here are Drive and Pardon Me. The worst was Battlestar Scralatchtica.
It was nice to hear some of these songs. I hadn't ever heard the whole album before, just whatever they played on the radio. And boy did it take me back to that time in my life. It was a tough spot. I was still trying to figure out myself while at the same time dealing with the most manipulative person I've ever met. It was rough. But I digress. As far as the album goes, it's getting a 4 from me.
Thanks to the penny arcade podcast I know that Incubus means "to lay on top of" (compare succubus, to lay under). This kind of sucks. I want to give it credit but I can't. I grew more and more annoyed the longer it went on.
I’m not a fan, some of the instrumentation isn’t bad, but the majority of the scratching seems out of place. Overall it’s just not a very compelling album for me.
Pre: is this another nu-metal band? Post: ugh, yes it is. Really glad I was checked out of the metal scene while this phase was happening
Never really though about Incubus much at all, beyond a vague feeling that I wouldn't like them -- we will see that happens today. During: yeah they are ok -- sounds like POD or so many other Nu-metal, alt-metal bands from the 90s, lots of lyrics tailor made for teenagers. After: Meh, forgot they had a DJ. On the songs that I heard the DJ -- the scratching felt way out of place.
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
Not as bad as I expected.
I'll pre-face this by saying I love this band, and wanted to give this 5* but I think 4 is fair. Make Yourself is such a breath of fresh air. In the late 90s/early 00s there was a lot of boring rock music doing the rounds. Incubus are nothing if not innovative. This record is eclectic, anchoring itself with that grungey guitar tone, but pinging off in every direction in order to keep things fresh. Songs like Stellar, Make Yourself and Pardon Me are the perfect rock songs, in my opinion. Battlestar Scralatchtica is an awesome interlude, and Drive is the perfect lead single for an album like this. I do however think that there are better Incubus Albums - if you liked this then definitely try Morning View. That's an easy-peasy 5* album. As a nu-metalhead I would also give S.C.I.E.N.C.E 5* but I know that's a more controversial opinion. At any rate I'm glad this album is on this list, and thoroughly enjoyed revisiting it!
Not the worst nu metal ever; a few songs are listenable, but still pretty bad overall. Decent production I guess, but the songs are meh, and the vocals are shrill, and nothing stands out as particularly interesting.
My son got me to listen to incubus when they first started and I love it.
This one took me back to some great times. Every song rocks. They never reached this level of success again.
Kinda boring. Nothing really grabbed me. Even the hit Drive.
I'd forgotten about incubus for 25 years, and this hasn't changed anything
Quite enjoyable.
One of my all-time favorites!
Pardon Me & Drive are classics. The rest is decent High 3
This sounds like Soundgarden, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Korn music was stuck in a blender, fed through a corporate “Edgy” filter at Shithole records and then shat into CD cases for mall kids to listen to. It is quite literally fecal matter for your ears.
I choose die
Some great tracks on there but not all are winners.
I hav always liked the instrumentation of Incubus: instead of keyboards, they use a turntable. My favorite song of theirs i snot on this album: "Nice To Know You" I know that "Drive" was played a LOT on the radio and MTV (remember MTV, kids?). But it works real well as a contrast from the title track; that primal scream to something a bit more chill. The drummer has great chops as well. I always like listening to what he plays, he isn't just doing boom boom pap. I don't think there was really any song I disliked or did not care for on this. Definitely some deeper tracks I will have to come back to... Top tracks: "Privilege," "The Warmth," "Make Yourself," "Batlestar Scralatchtica", "Drive"
I was not a fan of Incubus in the 2000's and I didn't know about them prior to this album. I did not associate them with the nu metal scene as I thought they were softer / poppier than that. But unlike their big selling follow-up to this album (Morningview) this album has more ties to their previous album and sound (SCIENCE). I'm not sure which is more original - their previous album and its clearly nu metal / turntable vibe (in a time when that was still not mainstream) or this album and its nuanced combination of nu metal and funk and alternative. I think the former has some more kickass, in your face beats (both guitar and turntable). But this album is better than I remember them for. It really grew on me on multiple listens. Some songs with cool guitar & bass grooves and DJ stylings are Privilege (great opening licks), Nowhere Fast (trippy opening), When It Comes (really mix instruments and turntable), Stellar (a single that I did always like), the title track (lays it on a little thick challenging the man, but I liked the attitude), Clean (funky intro), Pardon Me (another single that I always kind of liked), and Out from Under (I've heard better closers but it has its high amp moments). Still not the biggest fan of Drive, the most popular song from this album - a little too poppy. I Miss You was also a poppy softie, but I kind of liked it. And the lyrics and better than you might think across the entire album. More like a 3.5 but giving them a bump for the pleasant surprise.
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.
I hated everything about this record.
Terrible, just terrible.
Now, this is an excellent example of a band at the top of their game! Brilliant album full of excellent tunes! Privilege, The Warmth, Drive, Pardon Me and Make Yourself are all songs that would grace any album in this genre!
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
Boring
Not really my thing
Not so bad.
Meh
Why is this on here it’s just terrible marking the low point that pop grunge brought us to in the 90’s.
I dove into Incubus in preparation for the first Sick New World festival, and I was really surprised to find they were a funk/semi-metal band since I only knew Drive. One of my favorite things about this album is they have some really catchy choruses. Some of my favorite are: Privilege, Nowhere Fast, Make Yourself, and Pardon Me. Very fun album, funky and fun to sing along too. Low 5.
This album is da bomb
Yes, I love this album because it takes me back to a different, exciting time in my life. But, and I may be in the minority here, I also love how it sounds today. Great vocals, pounding guitar, even the DJ in the mix serves as a flourish and not relied upon too heavily.
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
Better than I thought it would be and the singles, while dated, were entertaining.
One from the time when Nu Metal hat all the street cred in the world. Now, that time is but a distant memory, thankfully.
Not bad!
A little heavy (like Muse)
Quite interesting record. I guess, had I listened in my teens, I'd be an Incubus fan. Cool.
A lot of this was pretty solid rock, but wasn't the most interesting. 3.5/5
Pardon me while my 42 year old self bursts into flames because my high school self was into this band.
Absolutely nothing rock, embarrassing that's its on this list.
Very good
Always had a soft spot for Incubus, since 'Stellar' from this album was in the first guitar hero game, their album SCIENCE was full of nu-metal bangers, and 'Wish You Were Here' was also a banger tune. Turns out this album is also just full of great alt-rock tunes front to back. Who could have guessed.
Make Yourself combines lots of the elements of late 90s radio rock - the heavy detuned grooves of Nu Metal, the whiney vocals and loud-quiet dynamics of emo, the influence of electronica, the hip hop DJ sounds, the post-grunge mid tempo sludge of butt rock yearning, the handsome guy singer of MTV rock, the DEEP emotional acoustic ballad, the aimless suburban rage of the time. I thought it sucked in the 90s and that their fans were a pathetic combination of frat morons, rollerbladers, and losers who couldn't commit to going full nu-metal goth. The music is maybe a bit better than I initially gave it credit for, but it is so tedious. 311 does the hip hop metal way better, Deftones do the serious emo stuff much better, Korn and Slipknot are way heavier hitting, and as much as they suck Limp Bizkit are more absurd and fun, so what's the point of this?
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.
Incubus was one of the first bands I really got into, I live the blend of funk and the use of turntables and I really love the singers voice
Always been a very hit or miss band for me, personally… This album didn’t totally have me rockin’ out - but the talent is undeniable!
One of my favorite albums from this time period.
Easy 5 star rating for this one. Peak 90s music that still holds up in today's world.
Excellent album. It's going into my Tidal library and getting five stars.
Maybe the most late 90s/early 2000s hard rock album ever. Punchy riffs, emotional and angry lyrics, but also some funky and proggy elements to keep it fresh and interesting. And so much fun to dance to. A top-tier fun album. Top tracks: Privilege, Drive, Battlestar Scralatchtica
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.
Crooner grunge, basically. I liked Incubus when I was a teenager, but it's honestly slowly faded in the intervening decades. It feels, I guess, a little childish and empty-hearted. But I also don't hate it.
I’ve known quite a few people who really liked Incubus. I mean, REALLY liked them. I’ve always thought their big hits off this album were pretty alright, but never so great I felt the need to listen to the whole album. I think I still feel that way. That said, the full on scratch track was pretty cool. I don't get to hear a lot of turntablism these days.
204/1001 Pero a ver, ¿porqué no había escuchado yo este disco antes??? 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
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
Nu metal was a disease
This was perfectly decent, perfectly middle of the road background music. Cannot possibly offend anyone, but no idea how it made this list.
Still a bop, tbh
Not my favorite band or genre of music, but I appreciate the lyrical talent, voice, and musicality of the members. Quite a few objectively good songs.
Love love love this album. Brandon Boyd’s voice is amazing and the power behind each song is evident.
-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
didn't listen
Pleasant surprise. good rock songs Never heard this album before , nor Incubus generally, but I like it. Very much a product of its late 90s nu metal times, but this is head and shoulders above some of the other players in that genre.
Takie se z grubsza to jakaś wariacja na temat Linkin Park, ale słabsza. 2/5
3/5
What to say other than "Meh".
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
This is #day49 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... the list has taken a linear path through the late 90s to early 2000s alternative rock recently. I discovered Incubus relatively late, thanks to my best friend, a die-hard Nirvana fan and grunge aficionado, who once shared some live version of Drive with me. Now, Make Yourself... My first Incubus album ever. It has to be one of the most cohesive mainstream alternative metal works I've heard. It blends funk rock, nu-metal grit, and alternative rock melody seamlessly. The scratching is a nice touch, giving it a Linkin Park feel, who blasted onto the scene only one year later, though. The juxtaposition of the vocals might seem out of place at first, but they enhance the overall experience as you go along. Some standouts for me include "Privilege," "The Warmth," "Drive," and "I Miss You," among others. Well done. This is a 5 out of 5. Looking forward to #day50.
Aldrig hört innan, positivt överraskad!
Put grunge, reggae/ska and hip hop into a blender and you get this. I think this is important music on one's journey to heavier music.
Carino dai. Minchia "Stellar" e pure "Drive". C'ha quelle vibes da emo/punk primi anni '00, ma mi sa che si becca un bel premio nostalgia.
This era of rock has a special, albiet extremely laced in nostalgia, spot in my heart. Sounds like the radio station I would drive to in my first car. Some songs in here are staples of that time, like Stellar, Drive, and Pardon Me. The rest is mostly new to me, but it still feels comfy. It's not an amazing album, but one that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Not for me. Couple of radio hits that are poppy, but I didn't even like those.
I appreciate somebody likes this but I don’t.
Fun in parts, but not a good album.
Incubus has always fallen into the Foo Fighters category for me: typically the only good songs on a given record are the ones you hear on the radio. With Make Yourself this is decently true, but there are some solid tracks in between the heavy hitters. I thought Clean and I Miss You were alright, and that Battlestar Scralatchtica should never have been made. I've heard the song Drive so many times by this point in my life that I could probably play it on every instrument. And Pardon Me is definitely one of their best songs ever, which is kind of my issue with the record: most of the songs sound like versions of Pardon Me where they didn't quite nail the dynamics, melodies, transitions, layering, etc. Not a bad album, but as a whole not better than the singles.
a softer linkin park. I like it.
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
I didn't really have to listen to this one, most all of the songs have been in a pretty consistent rotation for me since I bought the CD in my younger days
big ol nostalgia bomb
LOVE LOVE this album!
100% nostalgia
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.
Classic Incubus. Weird listening back to a whole album after such a long time - some of it seems a bit a bit twee almost! Like the rock/rap combo - feel like they were a precursor to Linkin Park. Battlestar Scralatchia is proper funky! Not heard it for a long time. Think Morning View is probably the better album, but this sums them up nicely.
Eh.....
These songs must feel incredible when performed live on guitar.
I did not enjoy this and do not think it belongs here, but I’ll give it two stars because of the scene in Stealth (a movie about a jet that becomes sentient and downloads every MP3 on the internet so you know it’s a bad guy) sets fire to a bunch of people while Pardon Me plays.
prince would've never written "1999" if he knew this was what was coming