I'm a newer fan to Incubus (I bought this CD in 2005) but I absolutely love them and this CD is amazing! It's a lot different than their previous albums and this whole CD has a very California, laid-back vibe to it. Awesome lyrics, wonderful vocals, and it's very catchy! I recommend this to everyone!

1. Nice to Know You- 10/10
2. Circles- 9/10
3. Wish You Were Here- 10/10
4. Just a Phase- 9/10
5. 11 AM- 10/10
6. Blood on the Ground- 8/10
7. Mexico- 10/10
8. Warning- 9.5/10
9. Echo- 11/10 one of their best songs!
10. Have You Ever?- 9/10
11. Are You In?- 10/10
12. Under My Umbrella?- 7.5/10
13. Aqueous Transmission- 12554120/10 I LOVE THIS ONE!!

"Morningview" is an album that is perfect to listen to while watching the sun go down on a beautiful beach during the summer. It's very mellow, and even catchier than "Make Yourself." Most of the album is carried along by the vocals with the instruments becoming a little more subdued and relaxed.

It's built on atmosphere and keeping a calm vibe, and it's basically a world apart from the unrestrained funk metal of "Fungus Amongus." There are still some heavier songs such as "Nice to Know You," "Circles" and "Wish You Were Here," but the best parts of the album are the quieter tunes like "Mexico," "Echo," "11am" and "Aqueous Transmission." The latter three are great songs to play while driving around with a significant other, or to settle down after a long day. There isn't a weak track here.

One could effectively make a case either for or against Incubus. I know this because I'm currently torn over them. Back in High School, they were my favorite band. Since their 2004 album, A Crow Left of the Murder, I've steadily grown out of love with them. Brandon Boyd is truly unparalleled as a rock vocalist, though as a lyricist he's sometimes laughably flawed. Likewise, Mike Einziger often wavers between guitar god and spirited amateur. Incubus has their moments on every album where they simply blow you away, and for that, they deserved to be listened to. It is Morning View, however, that remains their most impressive LP to date! It varies between loud, distorted, rock jams and introspective ballads, but does so effortlessly and sometimes unnoticably.

Morning View's cover depicts a picturesque California coast; a peaceful, secluded patch of beach. The brilliant thing about the album is that every song, regardless of style, feels like if would be a perfect accompaniment to such a place. The album's first single, "Wish You Were Here" makes you want to close your eyes and picture yourself on that distant coast; the wind ripping through your hair, and your arms outstretched in a "With Arms Wide Open" music video type of way. If you could put music on a postcard with the phrase "Wish You Were Here," this would be it! Boyd's lyrics beautifully capture this moment as well, singing, "I lean against the wind, pretend that I am weightless, and in this moment I am happy."

But Morning View is not all pretty, happy moments. Songs like "Mexico," or the beautiful, "11am" drip with regret and remorse. Boyd softly sings, "7am. The garbage truck beeps as it backs up and I start my day thinking about what I've thrown away," and you can immediately empathize with him. Both songs have a very somber, slow tone to them and brilliantly counter the intensity of the album's opening moments. Others such as "Blood on the Ground" or "Under My Umbrella" feature a defiant sound, more in line with the band's earlier funk-punk influenced albums.

But more often than not, the tone of Morning View is one that is rather complacent. "Are You In?" is such a blissful, jazzy song that it's hard not to fall in love with it. Brandon Boyd sings in a carefree falsetto throughout a large portion of the song, noting that "It's so much better when sea foam green is in fashion," which is dumb, yes, but also strangely satisfying. "Just a Phase" features similar lyrical blunders but finds the band experimenting with different sounds and using silence to effectively heighten a moment of increased volume in a way that I've yet to hear done quite so convincingly. And then there's always the zen-like experience that is listening to "Aqueous Transmission," the album's peaceful closer. At over 7 minutes long, it takes the listener on a journey. Again, Boyd paints a beautiful picture that is brilliantly conveyed with the music. He sings, "I'm floating down a river...Lying face up on the floor of my vessel, I marvel at the stars and feel my heart overflow." Sounds of crickets, frogs, and other noisy creatures add ambiance to an already surreal track. Such a song could only appear on this album, and Incubus has never really made a song that rivals this one.

It has been over 6 years since Morning View first released. A lot has changed since then. Music has come and gone, and my tastes have changed significantly. The constant throughout all of that has been this one album. I can listen to it today just as I did 6 years ago; blaring through my speakers, me singing at the top of my lungs, air drumming, guitaring, etc. It is my go-to album for karaoke, a mainstream rock must-own, and by far Incubus' most solid and impressive peace of work. If you've yet to hear Morning View (who are you?), or would like to get reacquainted with it, I highly recommend giving it a listen. It has not disappointed me yet after (literally) hundreds of listens. Have fun with it!

Key Tracks:
1. "Circles"
2. "Just a Phase"
3. "11am"
4. "Under My Umbrella"
5. "Aqueous Transmission"

9 out of 10 Stars

When "Morning View" was released in 2001, it seemed to get some flack for the fact that it was "to mellow" and the band had "sold out" due to the popularity of "Drive" off of "Make Yourself". NOW, it is true that the album has a bit more of a laid back sound, when you compare it to "S.C.I.E.N.C.E" but dont let the more laid back tone fool you, Its very dark, and my opinion is the dark sound, with the obvious "down tuning" of guitars gives it a very heavy feel. "Morning View" has a great feel to it, and it might be the most under-rated album in their catalog. If you have been hesitent to pick this up because of poor word of mouth, I really insist that you give it a listen, with an open mind, and you might find it dark and desparing, as I did.

And Brandon is one sexy Aquarius specimen if I do say so myself!

Nice To Know You 9/10
Circles 7/10
Wish You Were Here 8/10
Just A Phase 7.5/10
11 AM 8/10 "Forgive my indecision. I am only a man..." Love that part! =D
Blood On The Ground 8.5/10 This track simply rocks. I <3 Brandon!
Mexico 8/10
Warning 9/10
Echo 7.5/10
Have You Ever? 7.5/10
Are You In? 8/10 Unique feel-good jam
Under My Umbrella 7.5/10
Aqueous Transmission 8.5/10 Peaceful, and yet again, unique

All too short in my opinion.

S.C.I.E.N.C.E. had one good song at best (Summer Romance), and Make Yourself was probably their best album. A Crow Left Of The Murder was probably their most "experimental" and Light Grenades is their latest, and somewhere in the middle. Who cares about the rest?! >_> This is all my opinion though. Maybe someone out there agrees!

104/13= 8

end note: I don't think S.C.I.E.N.C.E. only has one good song because I like Vitamin too. I have to check that album out again.