Oh, Manchester, So Much To Answer For

I'm digging hard on the new Incubus single, "Megalomaniac." [I also love that it's in theory forcing a nation of "modern rock" dimwit DJs to say "megalomaniac" (and say "in theory" because you'd have to pay me well to listen to what passes for "modern rock" these days), but I digress.] They're still not full-fledged album artists, but their singles keep progressively getting better - I caught late, but now wholeheartedly love, 2001's "Wish You Were Here," for example, which shows off their gift for melody in fine fashion. [And for that matter, I still attest that Missy Elliott's no album artist, either, so since when is that a crime?] And so, most certainly, does "Megalomaniac." Incubus were never convincing as a nu-metal band, doing the whole hip-hop/rock hybrid; it always felt a little forced from them. Tuneful, hard or soft(er) rock, however, is their strong suit. Increasingly, Incubus reminds me of Stone Temple Pilots in that they're a strong rock combo with hardly any (critical) cred - with the major difference that the lyrics lead singer Brandon Boyd is voicing are generally superior and more intelligent than those of STP. "Megalomaniac" has a brief, Police-ish bridge and that superb push-pull dynamic which has been heard all to little in rock of recent vintage. Push up ya lighters.