Morning View XXIII

Album review

Originally intended to celebrate the 20th anniversary in 2021 of this pivotal Incubus album, Morning View XXIII was delayed a couple years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It all started when, during lockdown, the band decided to do a livestream from the living room of the original Morning View house in Malibu, California, which was so well-received that the band thought they could release the performance as a live album. However, being back in that setting and playing the songs again, Incubus decided to take it a step further and just re-record the entire thing. With over two decades of life and band experience under their belts, the resulting album is a fascinating display of self-awareness and growth that is a gift to longtime fans. Production is more layered and lush, while the years of playing these songs have caused some to naturally morph with the times. The band -- original players Mike Einziger, Chris Kilmore, and José Pasillas, along with new bassist Nicole Row -- is tighter and almost imperceptibly playing with more-polished intent. While he's still nailing certain notes (check the end of "Circles"), magnetic frontman Brandon Boyd's voice is noticeably different -- deeper and occasionally more strained than it was at the turn of the millennium -- and his delivery is more controlled. All of which is totally understandable and not a barrier to enjoying this refreshed version of a "nu-metal" classic. That "nu-metal" is in quotes since, at the time, they were still lumped in with a scene that never really fit their look and style. It was only after Morning View, with its mellow, almost psychedelic undercurrent, that their transition to more expansive and experimental alternative rock was apparent, showcasing an intentional evolution and not just a one-off fluke borne from the chill beach vibes of a recording-studio location. Hearing these songs 23 years after they first arrived in the world is a hit to the nostalgia center that's likely to have a certain age group deep in their feelings and core memories. However, outside that demographic, new listeners should still get to know the original album before diving into this version. The highs still rock ("Nice to Know You," "Wish You Were Here," "Blood on the Ground," "Warning"), and the grooves still get the body moving ("Echo," "Are You In?"), while the trippy, chilled-out moments like "Just a Phase" transport listeners right back to the same beach from 2001. The beautiful album closer "Aqueous Transmission" remains the secret star of the show, with its Chinese pipa, Japanese-styled orchestration, and hypnotizing trip-hop beat accenting the meandering flow of one of the best songs in the Incubus catalog. Since the original still exists and is easily accessible (this isn't an "Incubus' Version" situation), Morning View 2001 remains the place to start, while this recording serves as a bonus complement for the diehards.

© Neil Z. Yeung /TiVo