Hello.

Welcome to Enjoy Incubus?, a blog dedicated to the discussion of the band Incubus and their music. This blog actually began life as a podcast of the same name, in which a friend and I would discuss one of the band’s albums for an episode at a time. At time of writing we only managed to get organised enough to record two episodes, but the project had the upshot of really getting me thinking about the band. A lot.

Anyone who has more than a passing relationship with music will know what it is to have that one special artist who stands above the rest. That artist who becomes entwined in your identity, whose music is an inextricable part of your personal testimony. For me that band is Incubus, and they became my obsession around the time of my 12th birthday. For several years as far as I was concerned they were the absolute pinnacle of musicianship, songwriting, creativity, artistry. They helped me navigate all of those uncharted teenage emotions, gave form to the kind of person I could become during such a malleable stage. Incubus changed my life.

Needless to say however, time marches on, tastes change. I discovered different music, and though Incubus have always remained close to my heart, I no longer hold them in such unimpeachable standing. With the benefit of hindsight I can see more clearly their flaws and pitfalls, but also can appreciate what made them and still makes great.

And so it feels like I’m at an interesting point in which I can truly work through how I feel about the band and the many years of history I have with them. My plan with this blog is to write about each individual song in order of their release. On the one hand I will be discussing the songs critically, but will also be reflecting on what they meant to me as a teenager, what they mean to me now, and recalling all the memories that I associate with the band. And I won’t be limiting myself strictly to the songs, I will likely throw in some pieces about concerts, band history, etc etc.

Ultimately my aim is to approach this blog simply as a fan. As you can already tell, I am no writer, though this does provide a great opportunity to practice that skill and I hope that if you choose to follow this blog you will see improvement. Whether or not I have particularly profound thoughts on the output of Incubus is to be seen, but hopefully I will encapsulate the heart of what it means to love a band and in that you may find something that resonates with you. I’m going to aim to be generously positivite – it’s far more fun to read something enthusiastic and open than it is to read someone’s complaints. That being said, I also want to be honest and wrestle with any disappointments I may have.

There are bound to be contradictions and thoughts that don’t quite make sense. That’s just what happens when you have a longstanding emotional connection with art. Frankly I love those little inconsistencies and arbitrary lines we draw, and while you’re welcome to call them out and discuss them with me, don’t expect any apologies.

If you love Incubus, or music in general, then I hope you find value in these thoughts. Please interact and offer your own opinions, I welcome any chance to chat about this band.

It’s so much better when everyone is in. Are you in?