Incubus Returns - "If Not Now, When?"

After years of not seeing any new music from the alternative rock superstar, Incubus has just released their 7th album, titled "If Not Now, When?" High, high expectations from this one.

Incubus' last album(not including the greatest hits album), "Light Grenades," was released in 2006. After that the band went on tour for a couple years but then decided to take a break from touring and recording in 2008. The absence of such a band was saddening but the world cant expect them to constantly tour their entire lives right? Everyone needs time to spend with family and friends and just relax a bit, also this time was used to come up with new song ideas and music. And after about 2 1/2 years the band decided to continue recording and started work on "If Not Now, When?"

The new album has charted #2 on the Billboard Top 200 and debut #1 Billboard Rock Albums. So I just had to go and see just how good it really was.

After listening to the album a few times, I'm torn. About half of the album is ok but the other half just seemed a little blah. The songs "Friends and Lovers," "Promises, Promises," and "The Original," are quite good. They are interesting, original, and the lyrics are not bad. Most of the lyrics are pretty good. The whole album has good lyrics but the delivery of those lyrics in some songs is kind of poor. A rare miss for Incubus. The song builds up and some sort of change in tempo or something is expected but isn't really there. There are good melodies, good lyrics, good vocals, and its all very interesting but it just lacks that feeling. Incubus generally has fairly slower paced songs but there was always that song on their albums that just rocks it out in a way only Incubus can. A song like Drive, Nice to Know You, and Love Hurts. But this new album lacks a song just gets your heart pumping and is addictive like they always had in the past.

"If Not Now, When" Tracklist:
1. "If Not Now, When?"                   5:05
2. "Promises, Promises"                 4:26
3. "Friends and Lovers"                   4:07
4. "Thieves"                                    4:17
5. "Isadore"                                    4:35
6. "The Original"                             5:05
7. "Defiance"                                  2:19
8. "In the Company of Wolves"       7:35
9. "Switchblade"                              3:27
10. "Adolescents"                           4:48
11. "Tomorrow's Food"                    4:19
Total length:                                  50:03

Tune Junkie's overall score for "If Not Now, When"

3.5 out of 5 stars. Although "If Not Now, When" has very well written songs and some of them are nice to listen to, and a couple are good, I just cannot give this album 5 stars. It obviously is Incubus but it just doesn't feel like Incubus. Wheres the awesome, wheres he excitement?

Suggested tracks from "If Not Now, When":
2. "Promises, Promises"
3. "Friends and Lovers"
4. "Thieves"
6. "The Original"

Incubus - "Promises, Promises" music video:


Post By: Tune Junkie