Track Listing

1. Megalomaniac
2. A Crow Left Of The Murder
3. Agoraphobia
4. Talk Shows On Mute
5. Beware! Criminal
6. Sick Sad Little World
7. Pistola
8. Southern Girl
9. Priceless
10. Zee Deveel
11. Made For TV Movie
12. Smile Lines
13. Here In My Room
14. Leech

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10110 in Music
• Released on: 2004-02-02
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced

Amazon.co.uk Review
Kicking in like a compellingly acrimonious version of Rush ("Megalomaniac") before meandering through what can rather uncomfortably be termed noodly, time-signature lottery jazz-metal terrain A Crow Left of Murder probably identifies Incubus as the average Pearl Jam fan's second-choice for chin-stroking mosh action. Brendon O'Brien (Soundgarden, Pearl Jam) produces and singer Brandon Boyd possibly fancies himself as a bit of a Vedder-esque sage, even blustering "My secret arsenal is an infinite ageless ink well" on the otherwise acceptable metal squawk of "Pistola".

Boyd obviously has big issues with the ills of the world but the lyrics to "Talk Show on Mute" (reality TV is bad, especially Big Brother) and "Zee Deveel" (nice cars, nice clothes and other status symbols are bad) say nothing to enhance mankind's understanding of these twin evils. Incubus are probably on firmer ground with "Made for TV Movie" (like "Megalomaniac" it's an anti-War-on-Terror diatribe) and musically they're to be applauded for sidestepping the prescripted expectations of the metal genre they've been saddled with. Ultimately, however, one's enjoyment of this record swings on whether one considers Brandon Boyd's societal musings to be deeply venerable discourse or just soppy waffle. --Kevin Maidment

CD Description
Fifth album from platinum-selling California alt-metal bandfollows 2001's 'Morning View'. Recording with longtime Pearl Jam producer Brendan O'Brien, they have created an album which reconciles all the different styles they have experimented with over the years, from crunchy nu-metal to jazzy prog, and displays a new found maturity. Includes the single 'Megalomaniac'.

Customer Reviews

Incubus move on.
Incubus have obviously grown slightly weary of the sunny sound that made them so popular. 'A Crow Left Of The Murder' is rawer, more organic and substantially darker than the shining optimism of 'Morning View', as if the titles alone were not an indication ('Agoraphobia', 'Sick Sad Little World', etc.). Also, while their change in sound is not the level of say, Cave In, Incubus have altered (but don't be mistaken into thinking this is a return to the maniacal Mike Patton-isms of 'S.C.I.E.N.C.E.'). Whereas before DJ Kilmore would simply scratch away, he now layers sound, often to stunning effect ('Beware! Criminal' & 'Talk Shows On Mute'), while guitarist and Art Garfunkel-lookalike Mike Einziger has let the flashes of genius he had shown on previous releases flourish, especially on the gorgeous final three minutes of 'Sick Sad Little World'. Brandon Boyd, meanwhile, has progressed lyrically, as he proves on the twisted 'Zee Deveel' and the despairing verses of 'Made For TV Movie', and a new bassist (Ben Kenney, stolen from genius hip-hop crew The Roots) seems to have worked wonders, and it shows on the punk-metal of 'Pistola' and the title-track. Pushing further out is the aching 'Here In My Room' and the aforementioned 'Sick Sad Little World', a piano-infused psychedelic amalgamation of all the best points of 'A Crow Left Of The Murder'.

Incubus were obviously not going to reproduce 'Make Yourself' or 'S.C.I.E.N.C.E.' (or 'Megalomaniac' fourteen times over, which is seemingly what many of the other reviewers seem to want), and those that were expecting it are evidently the ones who will be disappointed. While 'A Crow Left Of The Murder' is obviously a great step forward for the band, they are not fully evolved quite yet. On occasion they feel the need to repeat themselves (the album could almost have been perfect had the below-average 'Megalomaniac' and 'Leech' not been included), but once these problems are resolved, by the next album we should be looking at a very different Incubus.

Moments of Brilliance
Morning View was a very tough act to follow, and unfortunately ACLOTM didn't quite live up to the expectation. "Megalomaniac", "Agoraphobia", "Beware, Criminal" and "Pistola" are the highlights of the album, although "Southern Girl" and "Zee Deveel" are also good. One of the only issues I have with the album are the long, twiddly solos in tracks such as "Sick, Sad Little World" which just go on forever. All in all, a good effort.

Sparks
I hated this album when I first heard it; I was disappointed and furious about what seemed a huge jump backwards. Unfortunately I'd already bought tickets to see Incubus so I felt obliged to listen a little bit. In my listening and at the gig last night, I discovered some gems. Here in my room was incredible live, and is now one of my favourites Incubus songs - its up there with Drive and the almost untouchable Anti-Gravity. I always loved Talk shows on mute, zee deveel has a great ploddy (it isn't but I cant think of a better word :-( ) undercurrent, Sick sad little word is genius, and megalomaniac is pure adrenaline. Do not dismiss this album, as I very nearly did, it does have sparkly spots. I'm off to find some more.