(This is a previously written review, so the rating scale and review style is different than the usual out of 5 scale)
RELEASED: September 9th, 1997
SCIENCE is by far one of my favorite albums of all time. This album mixes in relatively simplistic distorted guitar work that is a trademark of 90's numetal with jazz, funk, and latin elements that very few bands have been able to do without sounding ridiculously cheesy or forced. They do well with the type of styles most of us musicians play in high school jazz bands, which is a large part of the Incubus fan base.
Redefine – Tries too hard to be heavy hitting. Staccato notes aren't enough to really keep your attention all the way through and neither does the over use of the turntables. Just kind of seems like a distorted guitar mess. 4/10
Vitamin – The phaser effect is put to good use. Really cool use of themes and gratifying use of synths in very appropriate places. Very trance like, conveys a certain state of mind that was likely the one the guys were in when writing it. 9/10
New Skin – Effective vocals that don't sound like a rap, but more of an incoherent druggie talking about how the media brainwashes us. Catchy chorus, more simple distorted guitar work that serves its purpose when it's being played. 9/10
Idiot Box – Funky jam. Really good transitions between musical styles. Really nice minimalist type bridge littered with sound effects, again, nicely transitioned into a heavy bridge. 10/10
Glass – Really great harmonization in the chorus. Really catchy while maintaining the trance like verses most of the album has. Great use of the 2-4 second heavy sections. Bass lines can't get any better than this on a rock album. 9/10
Magic Medicine - “On this page, you see a little girl giggling at a hippopotamus..I wonder why?” All that needs to be said..
A Certain Shade of Green – More simple distorted guitar riffs, this time littered throughout. A little boring most of the way through. Vocals really aren't all that exciting and the music doesn't carry this song. Relatively catchy chorus. Bridge solo is the most redeeming quality about the song. Decent fade-away ending. 6/10
Favorite Things – Fan favorite for good reasons. Good guitar work with nicely mixed in synths that provide a nice sustaining background for the entire song. Vocals, lead guitars, and lead synths insanely catchy all the way through. “Too bad the things that make you mad are my favorite things” 10/10
Summer Romance – Vocals are just so perfectly performed for this type of music. Funky, spanish, just overall the type of feel you would expect from kids that played for their high school jazz band. Very well put together musically with obvious attention paid to detail that makes the song and its individual components as stylistically appropriate as you could possibly imagine them being. Saxophone solo at the end of the song is remarkably fitting for the song that the first time you hear the song it's almost expected, although, I really would've preferred a better choice for sax player. The section could've been much more epic that way. Very very nice song. One of Incubus' best. 10/10
Nebula - Very interesting feel. Almost hypnotic at times. Staccato vocals again add a depth to the style that they're going for that any other vocalist might've made this song completely ineffective. Definitely seems like its another tune that tries to translate a state of being. Synth and guitar work definitely seem to be played with that goal in mind. 10/10
Deep Inside РAnother funky jam. This is another stylistically well performed song. This song is really indicative of the direction these guys should've taken with their music rather than the messes albums like "Crow" was. They definitely excel with a funky, more free flowing jazz feel. Clich̩ guitar work and vocals for this style mixed in with a couple of very short heavy spots are surprisingly effective. Great bridge solo. Deep inside we're all stoned and can't see straight, apparently. 10/10
Calgone - Incredible piece rhythmically. Uses virtually all the same elements of the rest of the album, but seems this song has more emphasis on rhythm and rhythmic changes. It's essentially what you would get if you put the entire S.C.I.E.N.C.E. album into one song, although not as memorable as some of the other tracks. 8/10
Overall 9/10
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