Incubus Mines Hits, Rarities For 'Monuments And Melodies'

Incubus' "Monuments And Melodies" started out as "a contractual obligation," according to guitarist Michael Einziger, who tells Billboard.com that he and his bandmates "weren't really excited at first" about putting together a best-of collection. But they eventually changed their tune.

"It was almost like we were trying to come up with an excuse to go on tour for the summer," Einziger explains, "and we started really thinking about the idea of putting out a greatest hits album and having that as the excuse to accompany the tour we were planning. And then as we started planning it, it became really obvious that greatest hits records are really important to the legacy of any band. I was introduced to most of the groups I grew up listening to - artists like Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley and the Doors - through their greatest hits records.

"So we began realizing that it's in fact really an honor to be able to put together a greatest hits package, and it started becoming nostalgic, like watching a home movie. It's really cool to take a step back and look at this collection of music we've spent all these years writing and playing. It's humbling."

"Monuments And Melodies" includes one disc of hits from Incubus' six studio albums as well as two new songs, "Black Heart Inertia" and "Midnight Swim," recorded in Los Angeles during Einziger's last winter break from Harvard University, where he's been "just taking courses for personal enjoyment." The second disc features rarities, including a newly recorded cover of Prince's "Let's Go Crazy." The set is also available on four vinyl LPs, and copies of the album come with a unique code that will allow buyers to access a new section of exclusive music, photos and other material at a special section called The Vault on the enjoyincubus.com web site.

Incubus' tour for "Monuments And Melodies" gets under way July 9 in San Diego. Einziger says he expects getting back on the road will get the band started on writing for its next album - the follow-up to 2006's "Light Grenades" - though any firm plans for that remain open-ended.

"We're kind of playing it by ear," Einziger explains. "We've put records out with almost boring consistency every two years since '96 or something like that. It's nice to just sort of have no defined plan and be able to take our time. We're at a point now in our career where we can kind of just do what we want. There really isn't any pressure on us outside of the pressure we put on ourselves, so we'll see."

Thanks for the report to Billboard.com.

Comments

[Quicksand15]

i don't like greatest hits cds at all.
but im excited about their new record, hope they continue writing stuff like "beach blanket beatdown" and "golden" on the "look alive" cd - much better than rather poppy songs like "love hurts" in my opinion. i liked light grenades, though.

[leprecon90]

Got into Incubus years ago..
So much fun to jam their songs.
Really looking forward to this release =)

[vans1170]

i'm hopefully going to see them in killadelphia! i love that they play amphitheaters. i'll probably only buy this for the b-sides.

[-[NiL]-]

God,I hope the rarities disc includes some of that funky older stuff they never released, lots of covers too. It amazes me how much they've changed.

[Anarchy_Ant]

Such an awesome band, love pretty much very song they've done. Looking forward to the new album =D.

[happytimeharry]

Incredible band. I can't wait to see them at the City Market in KC again! One of the best shows I've ever been to.

[koolio427]

They really are class acts! =) I'm looking forward to the new stuff! They are an awesome band and my favorite along with that!

[JordanRiding]

the bonus disc has a Light Grenades B side, a Morning View B Side, new versions of pantomime and neither of us can see, the 4th song they recorded for the 'Stealth' soundtrack, the song was never released. It's also got some other b sides that were released, but some hard to come by.

[VLVTRVOLVR13]

I cant wait to see them in Philly at Penns Landing... Anyone else going? Should be a sick show

[Bluesrocker5150]

Such an incredibly versatile band.

[ghoztofcasper]

I don't mind Greatest Hits albums at all, but I just don't like it when bands keep putting out more and more Greatest Hits albums. One is just fine.

Anyway, I got into some bands due to their GH records so I tend to agree with Einziger.

[SydBareass]

The greatest hits half of this package is an incomplete joke, as it does not include a single song from Enjoy Incubus or S.C.I.E.N.C.E. Unfortunately, as a huge fan, I'll still buy it for the second disc, but I wish they would just sell them separately.

[raidernixon]

These guys have some great stuff coming...check out the 30 second snippet from their new song "Midnight Swim"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSgsT2ijKYw

[newaccount]

I have all their cd's but I can't bring myself to listen to light grenades and the cd before that one while knowing they have so much better cds such as SCIENCE.

[DingoDance]

-[NiL]- wrote:

God,I hope the rarities disc includes some of that funky older stuff they never released, lots of covers too. It amazes me how much they've changed.

Yeah but at least it happened over time. I mean you can trace exactly how their style changed with each album, and I for one am glad that no two are the same

[DrPooh]

I love a crow left of the murder and make yourself personally, but they are a great band and can't wait to hear unheard and new material xxx

[failsaferemedy]

They weren't too proud of Fungus, from what I gathered. They even said "we were 15 and wanted to sound like Mr. Bungle, Primus, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers". I think they are more proud of their sound now as opposed to then, so I can understand why S.C.I.E.N.C.E and Fungus aren't included. They probably feel as though their evolution started at Make Yourself and so those rarities and B-sides are more worthy.
I'm seeing them on August 12th in Charlotte. I can't wait.

[soapalot]

newaccount wrote:

I have all their cd's but I can't bring myself to listen to light grenades and the cd before that one while knowing they have so much better cds such as SCIENCE.

You're seriously missing out dude. Some of their best work is on A Crow Left of the Murder and Light Grenades. I understand your love for SCIENCE though, that album is pretty much perfect.

As much as I didn't want my favourite band to release a greatest hits, they are the perfect band to have one. A lot of people know the songs on the radio but have no idea how versatile they really are. However I hope their popularity doesn't swell too much, Incubus kind of feel like my little secret band so I don't want everybody getting into them.

[JPScralatchtica]

I CAN NOT WAIT FOR THIS TOUR!

[LaT3raluS]

THIS JUST MADE MY DAY!

[RayToroIsAGod]

I will buy this simply for the Let's Go Crazy cover.

Incubus are awesome.

[JuiceMogly]

I have not seen one single bad comment about these guys... this just proves that when i got into these guys when i was 8 years old... over 8 years ago... it was an act of god and fate that led me to Incubus. ha

[kurtshapedbox]

Incubus are easily one of the most classy bands to have ever exist. i hope a album full of new music follows this release soon. July 22nd!!!!

[bigjohnsta]

i bought myself July 21st Chicago tickets during the pre-sale.

these guys are gods in concert.

[scarfacesuit]

vans1170You're seriously missing out dude. Some of their best work is on A Crow Left of the Murder and Light Grenades. I understand your love for SCIENCE though, that album is pretty much perfect.

As much as I didn't want my favourite band to release a greatest hits, they are the perfect band to have one. A lot of people know the songs on the radio but have no idea how versatile they really are. However I hope their popularity doesn't swell too much, Incubus kind of feel like my little secret band so I don't want everybody getting into them.

I feel the same way