In general, I’m not exactly into the idea of bands re-recording their seminal albums from 20-something years ago. Typically, those albums have grown into being a part of your musical psyche over the years, so tampering with them is a highly dubious and risky endeavor. Thus, when I found out that one of the best Californian alternative-rock exports ever, INCUBUS, was going to rejuvenate their breakthrough outing “Morning View” from 2001, my heart skipped a beat. Although some of the band’s biggest bangers aren’t even from this particular album, this selection made a huge difference for me at the time of its release. It was rock solid – and it still is. Why would they need to revamp something so flawless? Titled “Morning View XXIII” and released on May 10th, 2024, via Virgin Music, this new album is a faithful re-hash of the original, front to back. It begs the question, why would anyone need this album, perhaps a few die-hard fanboys notwithstanding? Besides being a handy excuse to rediscover the greatness of these unsung heroes of sun-kissed, Californian alternative rock from yesteryear, why should I buy this album again? We’re not talking about PINK FLOYD‘s “Dark Side of the Moon” here, for goodness sake!
Well, there’s a logic as to why the band decided to make this move. First, the band was merely days away from kicking off their US tour in support of the original album, their fourth overall, when the September 2001 attack occurred and the whole world tailspinned into chaos. Then, upon releasing “Trust Fall (Side B)” EP in 2020, the band’s plans to take “Morning View” on the road for a 20th anniversary tour were ruined because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In retrospect, it almost seems as if the very album that propelled INCUBUS to their peak was cursed or something. So, considering all the bad karma attached to it, if there were one album worth re-hashing, it would be this one! Sure, the 23rd anniversary sounds nowhere near as sexy as the nice, round number, twenty, but better late than never. A simple reissue would have done, perhaps, but this reconstruction approach provides us with the possibility of discovery while maintaining the legacy of the original. Over the years, the songs have evolved in subtle ways on stage. Now, we have a chance to listen to the good old bangers with fresh embellishments.
That said, the reworked opener, “Nice to Know You” throws a bit of a surprise jab right off the bat. It almost seems as though the song has brushed off its somewhat angry edge over the years. The 2001 version brilliantly conveyed the knotty feelings of vocalist Brandon Boyd who was going through a heartbreak at the time of the original recordings. The chorus still has that slightly sarcastic undercurrent but sounds nowhere near as biting as the original. I guess it’s hard to relate to heartbreak from 20-something years ago with the same pissed-off conviction. The more atmospheric approach to the song’s arrangement and mix works, though. It kind of turns the song’s message to something like, ”Hey, life sucks but so what?”
The years seem to have smoothed the rough edges of the follow-up track, “Circles,” as well. The original is a funky riffer with a rather “dry” approach to the mix, whereas the re-recorded version has a more spacious feel throughout the song. The years have mellowed out these Californian gents, it seems. A few more tracks deeper into the album, this impression only gets stronger. Take the hit, “Wish You Were Here,” for example – the original was pretty laid-back, to begin with, but, on this album, INCUBUS morphs the song into an even more laissez-faire affair. So far, it works wonders, but…
Now, it is the moment of truth – what have they done with my absolute favorite track on the album, “Just a Phase?” Dare I proceed? What if the band has ruined the song for me forever?! Does it work with this novel laid-back hippie sort of groove?
Well…
It bloody well does! The main guitar motif is left intact but in the re-recording, the acoustic guitar has given way to the electric, drenched in the bubbly ocean of phaser, in the best Robin Trower fashion. Guitarist Mike Einziger steps on the phaser pedal in a few more tracks to come as well. You wouldn’t think, perhaps, that such a subtle move could dramatically change the vibe of a song – but when it’s done with style, it sure can! In this selection, the change of vibe is the most apparent in the first half of the album; the latter half was poignantly atmospheric already on the original album – thanks to tracks such as “Echo,” “Are You In?,” and “Aqueous Transmission.” Unsurprisingly, the added ambiance in the reworked versions of these songs works like magic, although it does not bring much of a novelty appeal to the songs. The re-recording of “Under My Umbrella” is a killer, though. I would even go as far as to claim this version to be better than the original. The added atmospherics create a nice contrast to the tight riffing. Me likes!
I’m not sure if this reworked selection appeals much to the casual alt-rock fan who is familiar with only the few radio hits INCUBUS had long ago. These new versions are not drastically different but, if you pay attention, the vibe is quite different for all the aforementioned reasons. So, I’m guessing this is a special treat for the die-hard fanboys, first and foremost. Then again, an unsuspecting listener who has never heard a single note from this band could just as well start from the mellow vibes of these re-recorded songs and then proceed to the feisty original. It would be like hanging out with your jazz-cabbage enthusiast uncle before going to a headbangers’ ball.
Written by Jani Lehtinen
Tracklist
- Nice to Know You
- Circles
- Wish You Were Here
- Just a Phase
- 11am
- Blood on the Ground
- Mexico
- Warning
- Echo
- Have You Ever?
- Are You In?
- Under My Umbrella
- Aqueous Transmission
Lineup
Brandon Boyd – vocals
Mike Einziger – guitars
José Pasillas – drums
Chris Kilmore – turntables, keyboards
Nicole Row – bass
Label
Virgin Music
