When Incubus released their genre-bending album S.C.I.E.N.C.E. in 1997, it truly blew any mind lucky enough to hear it. A volatile mix of funk, metal, alt-rock, hip-hop, and even subtle jazz influences, the record (and the band’s constant touring) put them on many radars to see (well, hear) what they’d do next. It remains one of the most creative and interesting albums of the era, but there was much more to come.
Enter Make Yourself. A more streamlined affair than their previous material, the record boasted two of the band’s biggest tracks in “Drive” and “Pardon Me”. Subtle turntables and keyboards from Chris Kilmore helped flesh out the record, while vocalist Brandon Boyd provided vocal hooks and abilities that any band would kill to have. To say Jose Pasillas (drums), Mike Einziger (guitars), and former bassist Dirk Lance were all on point here is an understatement, as they’re all in lockstep no matter what tempo Make Yourself is at.
As an evolution of their sound, it remains an impressive piece of work. While the record could have easily just focused on Brandon Boyd’s massive vocal abilities and been a hit, it’s the focus on the band’s instrumentation that really shows their stellar talent.
