S.C.I.E.N.C.E. [Enhanced, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

Incubus | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 20, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 1997
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00005RGO5
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (130 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,496 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #11 in Music > R&B > Funk > Metal
  • #13 in Music > Rock > Funk Rock
  • #38 in Music > Rock > Rap Rock

Track Listings

1. Redefine

2. Vitamin

3. New Skin

4. Idiot Box

5. Glass

6. Magic Medicine

7. A Certain Shade of Green

8. Favorite Things

9. Summer Romance (Anti-Gravity Love Song)

10. Nebula

11. Deep Inside

12. Calgone

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incubus bring in the funk!, August 16, 2004

By 

The Wickerman (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: S.C.I.E.N.C.E. (Audio CD)

If you're only familiar with Incubus's recent work, and haven't yet heard this album, then you're in for a total shock. This Incubus was a much different one. While they've recently moved to a more catchy and accessible (but still great) sound, they were once a much heavier and more experimental band. "SCIENCE" is probably the best and most creative thing they've ever done. The music has a very heavily funk-influenced style, similar to early Chili Peppers and Faith No More. However, their sound was still very distinctive and unique.

Frontman Brandon Boyd puts on what is easily his best performance to date. His quality melodic voice is still there, but his performance overall is more aggressive and eclectic. He effortlessly toggles between singing, rapping, and screaming, and always keeps it interesting. The musicians all put on fine performances, particularly Dirk Lance and Jose Pasillas, who stand out much more here than on later releases. Lance is a super-funky bassist, who can drive the song with power and groove, and Pasillas is an extremely dexterous and versatile drummer, who can combine many different styles with precision and finesse. Mike Einziger is an extremely creative and talented guitarist, excelling in both metal and funk styles. And, the mighty scratches of DJ Lyte give a bit of a hip hop flavor, which melds well with their brand of metallic funk.

The album is full of diversity, and fun twists and turns. "Redefine", "New Skin", and "A Certain Shade of Green" are hard-hitting funk-metal, with catchy melodic choruses to balance things out. "Vitamin" is kind of a straight-ahead hard rocker, with a wacky instrumental breakdown to shake things up. "Glass" features a jangly Primus-like bassline, mixed with a crushing guitar riff on the chorus. "Idiot Box" is sort of a slow funky groove, with some pretty wicked time changes. "Nebula" and "Calgone" are pure insanity, with some very jazzy drum work, and a lot of weird rhythms and time changes. "Deep Inside" moves back and forth between a funk/hip hop groove, and crushing metal, with a really cool bluesy guitar solo. "Magic Medicine" is sort of an instrumental, with some interesting drum beats superimposing some weird dialogue samples. The highlight of the album comes with "Summer Romance (Anti-Gravity Love Song)", the ballad of the album. This song is basically straight-up oldschool soul/funk, complete with Temptations-like backup vocals on the chorus, and a nifty saxophone solo. Definitely one of the coolest songs they've done. Great feel to it, too. Really puts one in the mind of meeting up with a cool chick on a hot summer night.

The album also features a hidden track, roughly ten minutes in length. The track is mainly driven by Pasillas, and his wildly eclectic and always engaging drumwork. The song moves through several musical styles, from hip hop, to melodic rock, to funk, to jazz, and is interspersed with wacky sound samples, and a guitar riff and bassline here and there. One of the technicians apparently screwed up the ending of the last song (you get to hear one of the bandmembers, probably Brandon, scold him :), so this hidden track was most likely thrown in to make up for it. Sometimes mistakes are blessings in disguise.

Anyway, this is an extremely well-made and fun album, one of the finest rock albums of the 90's, no doubt. Even if you hate newer Incubus (which I don't), you should definitely look into this, as this is quality music that anyone with an appreciation for the creative and unconventional can appreciate. Buy now.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Does Modern Rock get any better ?, December 5, 2003

By 

A. Cox "Artist, Musician, Physicist and Cook" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: S.C.I.E.N.C.E. (Audio CD)

This is currently my favourite album to listen to, and most certainly the most interesting; which of course means its my favourite of all their CD's. Now the others I've listened to, I would give 5 stars, but this is easily 6, and slips into my top 20 alltime albums (and I have alot of albums to choose from).

This a fantasic debut album, taking me back to the craziness of the 1st two Roxy Music Albums (yes I know that was a long time ago, but I remember them, and still listen to them)

Initially, after having enjoyed Morning View, I thought, 'no, not as good', but after the 2nd listening, Redefine and Vitamin caught my 'ear' and then after further listening I realised that the initial problem was the sear variety of music styles played, the sear scale of 'orginal ideas'; however the more I listen the more that variety made the album much more interesting listening for the longer term. In fact the opening track trio are probably my favorite combined opening on any album.

Yes, not everything is perfect, and some styles don't quite gel as well as they might, I wish they had split up Calgone (I always end up laughing though): this is just 'nit' picking. Originally I couldn't understand the point of 'Medicine Magic' (which seems to be the case with most people; actually I still don't see the 'point'), but now I love it; the drums and bass are fantastic and everything else just fits, enjoy the words, but marvel at the music.

From a musician's point of view, great bass, great syncopated drums, the odd jazzy guitar, then there's, funk, metal, hip hop melody, etc. These guys obviously have great diverse musical tastes.

Summary: Original, Eclectic, Continually interesting, Great Musicianship, Fun, No bad tracks, Superb.

21 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nothing was changed from the original release!!!, November 28, 2001

By 

Jeff Johnson "Jeff Johnson" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: S.C.I.E.N.C.E. (Audio CD)

Incubus is now riding a wave after their Make Yourself album, so they have re-released Fungus Amongus and Science. There is nothing different than the CD, which was previously released, but the CD itself is simply great. Then never rerecorded Calgone, which was cut suddenly four minutes into the track with a speech about who's fault the cutting of the track was. Mainstream songs in an album before anyone knew about them! Full of great funny vocals, rock, unique tracks, like Magic Medicine which is a fantastic track for those of you that like turntablists! Some other great songs on the CD are Favorite Things, Calgone, and New Skin (which a live version appeared on Family Values 98). Another song to note is A Certain Shade of Green, which is a very sarcastically funny song of how slow things move in the singer's world. Even the hidden track after Calgone is hysterically funny, original and must be heard!