Song Of The Week: 1/13/13

Song: "Crowded Elevator"

Artist: Incubus

Album: "When Incubus Attacks Volume 1" EP

Year: 2000



"Crowded Elevator" appears to be about wanting to profess something to someone, perhaps a secret or his love for her, but being in a situation where they are amongst strangers. The two are in a crowded elevator with many people and many floors to go and he's trying to decide if he is just going to blurt out everything he wants to say to her despite all the "unknowing" eyes that would be placed on him, or if he should just wait till they get to the lobby to tell her. Incubus, from California, formed as a band back in 1991. They started out having a funk/trip hop type of sound to their music. In 1995, Incubus released their very first full length album called "Fungus Amongus". As the band was developing a following, they caught the ear of Immortal Records which would go on to become Epic Records. Through Epic, the band released the EP "Enjoy Incubus" then in 1997, released their second album "S.C.I.E.N.C.E.". The band secured an unusual spot on that year's Ozzfest as well as a spot on the Family Values Tour alongside such bands as Korn and Limp Bizkit. Unusual tours in that there was definitely nothing metal about Incubus. 1999 is when I feel that Incubus finally captured the sound they were looking for as a band. While still incorporating a DJ, and having some funk elements, the songs on their next album, "Make Yourself", were much more straight forward rock songs as shown by their hit singles, "Pardon Me", "Stellar", "Drive" and "Privilege". "Drive" would actually be the band's first song to reach number 1 on Billboard's Modern Rock Charts. In 2001, the band continued to ride the roller coaster upwards when they released "Morning View". This album debuted at number two on the Billboard Top 200 charts thanks in part to the hit singles "Wish You Were Here" and "Nice To Know You". In 2004, the band decided to work with famed producer Brendan O'Brien, who worked with such acts as Pearl Jam and Stone Temple Pilots. The band decided to record their new album live instead of working on the guitar, bass and drum tracks seperately. The outcome was a heavier, in your face feel to an album that was "A Crow Left Of The Murder". The lead single "Megalomaniac" definitely had that feel of urgency and chaos to it. Definitely one of the band's heavier tracks. In 2006, Incubus was showing no signs of slowing down. Their next album, "Light Grenades", debuted at number one on the Billboard Top 200 charts. "Anna Molly" was yet another successful single for the band as well. After touring in support of "Light Grenades", Incubus took a bit of a hiatus from writing and performing music together. In 2009, the band released their very first greatest hits compilation called "Monuments And Melodies". The compilation did contain a few new tracks such as "Black Heart Inertia" and "Midnight Swim". Finally, in 2011 Incubus returned to the music scene with new material with the release of "If Not Now, When?". The band spent the rest of 2011 touring in support of the new album. In 2012, however, the band decided to a year long break. Currently, Incubus has put it out there that after their break in 2012, expect new material from the band in 2013.