Monuments and Melodies

Pardon Me but the California-native rock band, Incubus, wants to know, "Are You In?" for the "Drive" down a "Stellar" memory lane ? I know, I know it's cheesy, but I couldn't resist. Well, if you are, you can join in with "Monuments and Melodies," the artsy band's two-disc greatest hits album released in June 2009.

I find it hard to believe that Incubus has been at it for 18 years now. In that time they have recorded six studio albums and sold 18 million worldwide, so it really was time for one. Although they reached their pinnacle in 2001 with the No. 1 single, "Drive," from the 1999 album, "Make Yourself," Incubus has continued to produce hits like "Megalomaniac," "Anna Molly" and "Love Hurts," all of which have hit No. 1 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks.

The first disc, which is designated the "Monuments" disc, compiles 13 of their best, in addition to two new tracks, "Black Heart Inertia," and "Midnight Swim." While "Black Heart Inertia" is mildly paced and poetic, and "Midnight Swim" is an intense jam, the two newbies, separated by the 13 classics, strongly open and close an incredible collection.

The "Melodies" disc, conversely, gives the listener quality material they may have never heard, including unreleased tracks and a few that have been retooled. "Neither of Us Can See" was a duet released on the soundtrack to "Stealth" and remains intact as is, minus the Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde. An acoustic version of "A Certain Shade of Green" is the only track taken from their 1997 album, "S.C.I.E.N.C.E.," and is interestingly classified as B-side material.

The only complaint for Incubus junkies might be that the first disc doesn't include any singles from their first two albums, "Fungus Amongus" or "S.C.I.E.N.C.E." However, considering the band only developed into the alternative-rock success we see today with their 1999 release, limiting their greatest hits to "Make Yourself" and foreward does makes sense. Prior to, they were essentially a Red Hot Chili Peppers cover band with a funk rock sound that produced limited success.

That isn't to say that emulating the Chili Peppers sound is a bad thing, but it didn't entirely suit this band. The funk sound they used during that period has evolved into the hip-hop twist that they bring with the use of DJ Kilmore, setting a unique atmosphere to many of their songs. Like the Chili Peppers though, they are hard to classify because they incorporate so many different styles and instruments, which is something that has kept their sound fresh and their popularity on an incline over the years.

Also on the "Melodies" disc is a cover of Prince's "Let's Go Crazy," rounding out a two-disc album that satisfies from top to bottom, disc to disc.