Track Listing

1. Nice To Know You
2. Circles
3. Wish You Were Here
4. Just A Phase
5. 11am
6. Blood On The Ground
7. Mexico
8. Warning
9. Echo
10. Have You Ever
11. Are You In?
12. Under My Umbrella
13. Aqueous Transmission

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7959 in Music
• Brand: Sony
• Released on: 2001-10-23
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Amazon.com
Though Morning View follows hot on the heels of Incubus's breakthrough single, "Drive," it doesn't feel rushed. After all, their previous album, Make Yourself, was released nearly two years ago. Like fellow Los Angeles metal pioneers System of a Down, Incubus find themselves lumped in with the nu-metal fraternity merely because they're young(ish), angry, and very loud. That's more than a little unfair, because their sound owes more to the clever and creative funk-metal of Faith No More and the Red Hot Chili Peppers than the faux-rap posturing of Limp Bizkit. In fact, songs like "Nice to Know You," "Circles," and the excellent "Blood on the Ground" display real maturity. But that's not all that sets Incubus apart: on "I Wish You Were Here," "Just a Phase," "11 a.m.," and "Mexico," they show an uncharacteristic willingness to tread softly, using acoustic guitars and touches of strings to make less noise, but more impact. Some could call it selling out, but it sounds more like growing up. Morning View is a leap forward for a band that continues to get better with each release. --Robert Burrow

Customer Reviews

S.C.I.E.N.T.I.F.I.C. Pop
I love Incubus. You know what song made me a fan?..*gasp*.."Drive"! I know there's a tendency with Incubus fans to think that everything they did before "Drive" became popular was awesome (which it was), and everything they've done since then has been terrible (which is hasn't). When "Morning View" came out in October of 2001, lots of people accused them of "selling out" or "going soft". The album definetly has a consistent mellow tone that their previous albums lacked, but it was expected; the album was recorded at a beach house in Malibu (or some exotic location). It's kinda tough to be angry in that type of picturesque setting. People also accused them of purposely trying to replicate the sound of "Drive" by writing softer songs, but "Drive" didn't blow up in popularity until spring/summer of 2001, when this album was probably 90% completed already.

The point is, it's a natural evolution in sound. Either embrace it, or go listen to S.C.I.E.N.C.E and stop whining. I'd much rather see a band evolve and expand their sound, as opposed to making the same album over and over again (kind of like Godsmack, Linkin Park, and other modern rock mainstays do).

Anyway..

1. Nice To Know You

The second single, IIRC. And it's a perfect example of what makes Incubus such a great band - here's a song with an unusual mixed time rhythm, lots of tempo changes, and weird lyrics (about lead singer Brandon Boyd regaining feeling in his arm again after an extended period). Yet, the chorus has an incredible hook, making the song totally radio friendly.

2. Circles

Heavy verses with a heavy melodic chorus. Nice harmonies in the "What would it mean to you" part. Like another reviewer said, it's reminiscent of the Chili Peppers.

3. Wish You Were Here

The first single. Not a Pink Floyd cover either. The verses are mellow, and full of metaphorical imagery by Brandon Boyd (a highly creative and underrated lyricist), which lead into the catchy, anthematic chorus.

4. Just a Phase

The best Incubus song ever, in my view. After an extended turntable/piano led intro, the song switches tempo (from 4/4 into 6/8) for the verse. Then it switches tempo again for the pre-chorus, etc. Basically, the song builds and builds, then the final chorus explodes with a wall of guitars. It's a wildly successful experimental song.

5. 11 AM

I kinda expected this to be a single. Like "Wish You Were Here", another mellow mid-tempo song with a memorable chorus.

6. Blood on the Ground

This sounds like something from "Make Yourself". Brandon Boyd rapidly spits out great lyrics in the verses, leading into the explosive, angry chorus.

7. Mexico

A totally accoustic number - no percussion or anything. It's actually a pretty heartbreaking ballad, with great emotional vocal delivery.

8. Warning

This was another big hit single. Again, it's radio friendly and catchy, but unlike other rock bands that get heavy rotation today, it's not full of generic power chords and angst-filled lyrics.

9. Echo

I didn't care for this one initially, but after 4 or 5 listens, it became one of my favorites. It's actually a little reminiscent of "Stellar", but mellow the whole way through.

10. Have You Ever

A heavy song..probably my least favorite on the album. Musically, it doesn't stand out much, but the lyrics are really good.

11. Are You In?

This one makes you feel like you're in the midst of a party with all your friends. Catchy, cool, and very jazzy (jazz pop I suppose). It gets a little repetitive after awhile, but still a good song.

12. Under My Umbrella

Of all the heavier songs on the album, this is my favorite. It works the soft/loud dynamic perfectly, and the bridge is really cool.

13. Aqueous Transmission

Along with "Just a Phase", the most experimental song on here. And it's another success. It's 8 minutes long, *extremely* mellow (you'll feel like you're floating down a river at night as you listen to it), and features a sitar (the main "riff"), a Japanese pan flute (giving it a very oriental feel), strings, and even crickets chirping at the end. It's totally ethereal and wonderful.

And that wraps up "Morning View". Don't listen to some of the harsh criticism for this album. It's a fantastic collection of songs that takes creative guitar licks (from the also highly underrated Mike Einziger), creative lyrics, and overall creative musical ideas, and combines them with lots of memorable melodies and hooks. Thus, it *is* a radio friendly (or "mainstream") album..but it's also innovative and experimental at the same time. That's what makes "Morning View" such a great success.

Best Songs: Just a Phase, Echo, Under My Umbrella, Aqueous Transmission.

A pleasant suprise
Well, after some of the reviews I have read, I see that alot of people failo to notice the real musicality of this album compared to their previous efforts. Sure, Make Yourself (M.Y.) was their breakthrough album, which is good, but Morning View (M.V., for short) stands high above the rest. Although cheesy, I'll do a run down of the songs in a 0-5 basis.

1. Nice to Know You (4.9/5) This was the perfect opener, it shows that DJ Kilmore is more about sculling the water, not necessarily making splashes.

2. Circles (5/5) I love the guitar line.

3. I Wish You Were Here (4/5) Good song, too much airplay ruins this song for me. The same thing happened with Hash Pipe (Weezer). It's a great song, but with MTV and the radio networks, it gets overplayed, and when you hear it on the album, it isn't the same. Oh well.

4. Just A Phase (5/5) Finally, something experimental. The first 3 songs basicall followed the Incubus tried-n'-true method, which is good. Phase uses different elements that the previous albums haven't.

5. 11 A.M. (5/5) No explanation necesasary.

6. Blood on the Ground (6/5) This is byfar the best song on the album. Its upbeat, it displays all of their talents, especially Brandon's singing and songwriting abilities. I'm such a loser that I write the lyrics of this song on my text books when I get bored....

7. Mexico (5/5) Similar to Drive, but better, because once again, it displays Brandon's improvement of being a songwriter and a singer, not a screamer/yeller, like what happens in most rock bands nowadays. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but this album takes the road less traveled.

8.Warning! (4/5) This song is pretty cool, but it gets kind of annoying after awhile for me, and compared to the other songs, its not as high caliber as the other tracks...

9.Echo (5/5) This is close to pop, but I like it all the same. It's catchy!

10.Have You Ever? (4/5) Trying to get a little back to their roots, this song is pretty cool... I like the other "hard" songs on the album better.

11. Are You In? (5/5) The other poppish songs, I like this one too, it is relaxing, but not as much as others...

12. Under My Umbrella (5.5/6) This is my 3rd favorite track... It just sounds awesome. 'Nuf said.

13. Aqueous Transmission (7/5) Props to being original, and really pushing the envelope. This is one of my favorite songs on the album. The kyoto makes you want to fall asleep, and the string section adds the perfect touch. It's a beautiful thing.

When the smoke has cleared, if you respect yourself at all, you'll go buy this album...

Okay so rock with DJ's isn't ALWAYS a bad idea...
I never thought I would be able to say that with a straight face, I guess the pigs are flying now...But anyways, Incubus really achieved their pinnacle of success last year with the hit "Drive", and though I did enjoy the song I never thought to buy the album. Until one fateful day in the record store, there was "Morning View"...hmm interesting hey why not...so I picked it up and gave it a listen. Lyrically very impressive, unlike other "Rap Metal" bands (I don't put Incubus in their category, being that there is no rap involved besides the DJ influence) Incubus puts effort into what they do, not garbage. Brandon Boyd's vocals are definetly something to be admired, the guitar and bass playing will also delight any rock fan. And believe it or not, the sampling and scratching mixes in quite nicely and adds to the unique sound of Incubus. 2001 was rocks come back year, and Incubus was there to help see it through