Monuments and Melodies
Encyclopedia
Monuments and Melodies is the first greatest hits
compilation album
by American rock
band Incubus
released on June 16, 2009 through Epic Records
. It is released as a double-disc set, the first disc features 13 previously released singles from the albums Make Yourself
, Morning View
, A Crow Left of the Murder...
, and Light Grenades
, along with two new Brendan O'Brien
-produced tracks, "Black Heart Inertia" and "Midnight Swim".
The second disc is a collection of rarities, including B-sides, soundtrack cuts, alternate versions, three previously unreleased songs, and a cover of Prince
's "Let's Go Crazy
". The album takes its title from a song that was originally released as the B-side to "Megalomaniac" and as a bonus track on international releases of A Crow Left of the Murder...
; it is also included on Disc 2 of this album. The album art was drawn by vocalist Brandon Boyd
.
"Martini" was one of the songs recorded during the Light Grenades
sessions—amongst many other tracks and demos—that never saw the light of day. Not much is known about "Martini" and its background; it is regarded as just another song that didn't make the album. Listeners will notice that the solo from the song is very similar to the solo from "Rogues", a song that made it to Light Grenades, and was most possible an early version of the solo, which was tweaked to fit on "Rogues". "Look Alive" and "Punch Drunk" were not only on the Japanese release of Light Grenades, but they were also on the Look Alive
concert DVD release from 2007. "Pantomime" and "Monuments and Melodies" (and the Japanese bonus track "Follow") appear on Incubus's Alive at Red Rocks
DVD from 2004 as tracks on the bonus CD, though the "Pantomime" in this compilation is an entirely different recording featuring the whole band for the entire song, whereas it is revealed in the concert section of the Alive at Red Rocks DVD and the studio version featured on the bonus CD that the first half of the song is solely Brandon
playing guitar and singing. Furthermore, a live version of "Pantomime" appeared on 3 of Incubus's "bootleg
" live albums to profit the Make Yourself Foundation and "Monuments and Melodies" was released as a B-side to the "Megalomaniac" single, in 2003. "Crowded Elevator" was a B-side to the "Pardon Me
" single in 2000, a Japanese bonus track to Make Yourself
in 1999, on the Scream 3 soundtrack, and appeared on the Live in Sweden 2004 "bootleg" live album of theirs. It also appeared on the 2000 EP When Incubus Attacks Volume 1
. "A Certain Shade of Green" was recorded during a Live X
session for 99X; played in the same style as heard on Monuments and Melodies, it appeared on Time Lapse Consortium
's album entitled Live at the Roxy Theater in 2003 (albeit an electric version). Playing on this recording are Time Lapse Consortium and Incubus band members Ben Kenney, Mike Einziger, and Jose Pasillas, and Brandon Boyd was the featured "guest" singer. There are also numerous bootlegged live recordings of Incubus acoustically performing "A Certain Shade of Green" in this style. Also, "Midnight Swim" from Disc 1 is not the song of the same title as featured on the Look Alive bonus disc.
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
by American rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Incubus
Incubus (band)
Incubus is an American rock band from Calabasas, California. The band was formed in 1991 by vocalist Brandon Boyd, lead guitarist Mike Einziger, and drummer Jose Pasillas while enrolled in high school and later expanded to include bassist Alex "Dirk Lance" Katunich, and Gavin "DJ Lyfe" Koppell;...
released on June 16, 2009 through Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
. It is released as a double-disc set, the first disc features 13 previously released singles from the albums Make Yourself
Make Yourself
Make Yourself is the third album by American rock band Incubus, released through Epic Records on October 26, 1999. The album has been certified double platinum in the United States along with featuring three charting singles, "Pardon Me", "Stellar", and "Drive", all of which reached the top three...
, Morning View
Morning View
Morning View is the fourth studio album by American rock band Incubus, released October 23, 2001 through Epic Records. A companion DVD, Morning View Sessions, was released on May 29, 2002...
, A Crow Left of the Murder...
A Crow Left of the Murder...
-Live 2004 EP:When bought at some retailers a bonus live EP was bundled with the CD.-Bonus DVD:#"Lollapalooza" – 9:13#* Includes a brief interview discussing the Lollapalooza tour, then performances of "Megalomaniac" and "Pistola"....
, and Light Grenades
Light Grenades
-Singles:*"Anna Molly" - was briefly available online on September 20. It was slated for release on October 16, and debuted at #19 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart. Anna Molly peaked at #1 on the Modern Rock Chart, at #4 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart and at #66 on the Billboard Hot 100...
, along with two new Brendan O'Brien
Brendan O'Brien (music producer)
Brendan O’Brien is a record producer, mixer, engineer, and musician.At age 14, O'Brien played guitar for the Atlanta-based cover band Pranks. In the late 1970s, he moved on to writing, performing and recording with the Samurai Catfish band...
-produced tracks, "Black Heart Inertia" and "Midnight Swim".
The second disc is a collection of rarities, including B-sides, soundtrack cuts, alternate versions, three previously unreleased songs, and a cover of Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
's "Let's Go Crazy
Let's Go Crazy
"Let's Go Crazy" is a 1984 song by Prince and The Revolution, from the album, Purple Rain. It was the opening track on both the album, and the film Purple Rain. "Let's Go Crazy" is one of Prince's most popular songs, and is almost always a staple for concert performances, often segueing into other...
". The album takes its title from a song that was originally released as the B-side to "Megalomaniac" and as a bonus track on international releases of A Crow Left of the Murder...
A Crow Left of the Murder...
-Live 2004 EP:When bought at some retailers a bonus live EP was bundled with the CD.-Bonus DVD:#"Lollapalooza" – 9:13#* Includes a brief interview discussing the Lollapalooza tour, then performances of "Megalomaniac" and "Pistola"....
; it is also included on Disc 2 of this album. The album art was drawn by vocalist Brandon Boyd
Brandon Boyd
Brandon Charles Boyd is an American musician, author, and visual artist. He is best known as the lead vocalist of the American rock band Incubus.-Early Life and Incubus:...
.
Overview
Although disc 2 was advertised as being made up of almost entirely previously unreleased and unheard tracks, many of the included tracks can be found on other releases. "Neither of Us Can See" and "Admiration" were both included on the soundtrack to the movie Stealth in 2005; however, this version of "Neither..." features only Brandon Boyd on vocals. "While All The Vultures Feed" was a song recorded for the soundtrack to the movie Stealth, but was inexplicably left off; the song was, according the band manager Steve rennie, recently "dug out and polished up" for the release. "Anything" was a song recorded during the Morning View sessions, which never made it past the demo stage. It was revealed that the song was born from a jam session between Mike Einziger and José Pasillas that was recorded for potential inclusion on the album. Bass guitar on the track was performed by Mike Einziger, and vocals were completed on the track during the demo stage. Eventually, however, the song was left off in favor of other tracks."Martini" was one of the songs recorded during the Light Grenades
Light Grenades
-Singles:*"Anna Molly" - was briefly available online on September 20. It was slated for release on October 16, and debuted at #19 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart. Anna Molly peaked at #1 on the Modern Rock Chart, at #4 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart and at #66 on the Billboard Hot 100...
sessions—amongst many other tracks and demos—that never saw the light of day. Not much is known about "Martini" and its background; it is regarded as just another song that didn't make the album. Listeners will notice that the solo from the song is very similar to the solo from "Rogues", a song that made it to Light Grenades, and was most possible an early version of the solo, which was tweaked to fit on "Rogues". "Look Alive" and "Punch Drunk" were not only on the Japanese release of Light Grenades, but they were also on the Look Alive
Look Alive CD/DVD
Look Alive is a live DVD and CD by the rock band Incubus. Two versions are available:The single-disc DVD was released on November 27, 2007...
concert DVD release from 2007. "Pantomime" and "Monuments and Melodies" (and the Japanese bonus track "Follow") appear on Incubus's Alive at Red Rocks
Alive at Red Rocks
Alive at Red Rocks is a live DVD and bonus CD by the band Incubus. It was recorded in Red Rocks, Colorado on July 26, 2004. It was the first DVD showing new bassist Ben Kenney...
DVD from 2004 as tracks on the bonus CD, though the "Pantomime" in this compilation is an entirely different recording featuring the whole band for the entire song, whereas it is revealed in the concert section of the Alive at Red Rocks DVD and the studio version featured on the bonus CD that the first half of the song is solely Brandon
Brandon Boyd
Brandon Charles Boyd is an American musician, author, and visual artist. He is best known as the lead vocalist of the American rock band Incubus.-Early Life and Incubus:...
playing guitar and singing. Furthermore, a live version of "Pantomime" appeared on 3 of Incubus's "bootleg
Bootleg recording
A bootleg recording is an audio or video recording of a performance that was not officially released by the artist or under other legal authority. The process of making and distributing such recordings is known as bootlegging...
" live albums to profit the Make Yourself Foundation and "Monuments and Melodies" was released as a B-side to the "Megalomaniac" single, in 2003. "Crowded Elevator" was a B-side to the "Pardon Me
Pardon Me
"Pardon Me" is a song by American rock band Incubus, the song is released as the first single from their third album Make Yourself. It was the first Incubus song to receive a considerable amount of radio airplay, reaching number three on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number seven on...
" single in 2000, a Japanese bonus track to Make Yourself
Make Yourself
Make Yourself is the third album by American rock band Incubus, released through Epic Records on October 26, 1999. The album has been certified double platinum in the United States along with featuring three charting singles, "Pardon Me", "Stellar", and "Drive", all of which reached the top three...
in 1999, on the Scream 3 soundtrack, and appeared on the Live in Sweden 2004 "bootleg" live album of theirs. It also appeared on the 2000 EP When Incubus Attacks Volume 1
When Incubus Attacks Volume 1
When Incubus Attacks Volume 1 is an EP that was released on August 22, 2000 by Incubus. The title is a parody of When Animals Attack.The tracks on this EP were recorded live during the 1999 and 2000 world tour of Make Yourself, as well as 'Crowded Elevator', a song recorded during the recording of...
. "A Certain Shade of Green" was recorded during a Live X
Live X
Live X refers to concerts hosted by the Atlanta, Georgia-based radio station 99X, generally performed in an unplugged, acoustic style. Each year, a CD was released by 99X containing select tracks from many Live X concerts that occurred in the past year. All proceeds from the sales benefit the I Am...
session for 99X; played in the same style as heard on Monuments and Melodies, it appeared on Time Lapse Consortium
Time Lapse Consortium
Time-Lapse Consortium is an American band formed in 2003. Their sound is described as Psychedelic, Jazz, and Funk. The group consists of current Incubus members Mike Einziger on Guitar, Jose Pasillas on drums, Ben Kenney on Bass , Neal Evans of Soulive on Organ, and Suzie Katayama contributing on...
's album entitled Live at the Roxy Theater in 2003 (albeit an electric version). Playing on this recording are Time Lapse Consortium and Incubus band members Ben Kenney, Mike Einziger, and Jose Pasillas, and Brandon Boyd was the featured "guest" singer. There are also numerous bootlegged live recordings of Incubus acoustically performing "A Certain Shade of Green" in this style. Also, "Midnight Swim" from Disc 1 is not the song of the same title as featured on the Look Alive bonus disc.
Reception
Disc 1 (Monuments)
Disc 2 (Melodies)
Charts
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums Chart Australian Recording Industry Association The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956... |
20 |
| Canadian Albums Chart Canadian Albums Chart The Canadian Albums Chart is the official album sales chart in Canada. It is compiled every Wednesday by U.S.-based music sales tracking company Nielsen Soundscan, and published every Thursday by Jam! Canoe and Billboard, along with its sister charts the Canadian Singles Chart and the Canadian BDS... |
20 |
| New Zealand Albums Chart Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
3 |
| Billboard Top 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
5 |