LogFAQs > #974602293

1. Here in My Room
2. Southern Girl
3. Beware! Criminal
4. A Crow Left of the Murder
5. Agoraphobia
6. Made for TV Movie
7. Megalomaniac
8. Talk Shows on Mute
9. Sick Sad Little World
10. Pistola
11. Leech
12. Priceless
13. Zee Deveel
14. Smile Lines

A Crow Left of the Murder has been my favorite album since high school, junior year specifically. Its basically untouchable to me. You could create a ridiculous all-star band made from elements of all my favorite bands and their album wont touch it. I just find this album to be completely perfect. The order of the songs, the pacing, the singing, the instruments; it checks all of my boxes. And its interesting because before Crow was released, I thought Incubus was a very ok band. They were good, not great. I enjoyed their albums Make Yourself and Morning View, but my earth was not shattered. But then I heard Megalomaniac on the radioholy shit.

I recognized the singer. I knew it was Incubus. But I had a hard time believing it was Incubus. This sounded very different to me; they had an edge they didnt have before. An intensity, even. It really suited them, in my opinion. I knew I needed to get the new album right away. I dont remember how long it was between single release and album release, but I do remember one night after school picking it up at Target. Its kinda weird to think about, but that was around 20 years ago.

Ive listened to Crow a lot. A LOT. That includes another listen today to try and put the songs in order of preference. That was mostly very tough to do, outside of the top 2. My two favorites, Here in My Room and Southern Girl, are the ballads of the album. That intensity I mentioned earlier even went to the ballads. I could feel the fear of someone seeing who the singer really was in Here in My Room. I could feel the deep, romantic emotions being displayed to a special someone in Southern Girl. There was an interesting duality going on in those songs where the singer felt like he was longing for someone he already had. Like he was scared to really open up, but was ready to try.

The rest of the songs present that intensity in a more obvious way. The instruments are heavier than their previous albums, and the singing ranges from calm insanity to blind chaos, depending on the track. Incubus previous albums were still a tad moody, but also significantly more upbeat. Crow explores hopelessness, depression, anxiety, and anger much more than the band previously has. It feels more revealing and honest, which makes it more compelling. Its a wild ride, with the tracks ebbing and flowing between feeling big enough to defy authority, to wanting to stay inside away from the world, to pushing people away, to letting those people back in, and even confronting internal and external demons. If you feel any semblance of angst during your day, Crow has an outlet for you without being cringey and weird about it. It has something to say and it isnt wasting any time to tell you.