By CRAIG LAUE, For the Courier

For Incubus, 2004 already has been a blessing.

Last year was a shaky one for a couple of reasons. First, the band weathered a bitter lawsuit with Sony Music's Epic Records over what the band considered an unfair contract. After settling for $8 million, the group replaced Dirk Lance with new bassist Ben Kenney.

Re-energized, Incubus embarked on the Lollapalooza tour last summer. After coming off the road in the fall, the group came together in Atlanta to make "A Crow Left of the Murder." Released to stores on Feb. 3, Incubus' fifth major-label album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Album Charts, selling more than 331,000 copies in its first week, a milestone for a band that's been together for about 13 years.

Hailing from California, Incubus has been developing its distinctive sound since the beginning. From the first independent release, 1995's "Fungus Amongus," to 1997's "Enjoy Incubus" EP and "S.C.I.E.N.C.E," 1999's "Make Yourself," 2001's "Morning View" and now the latest album, you can hear how they successfully mix all different elements of music. Adding certain types of funk and sprinkling in some jazz and a dose of metal, Incubus truly has a sound all its own and can definitely be included in the same category as another California force, Red Hot Chili Peppers. When you hear a song by either one of these bands, you know who it is almost immediately.

Working with acclaimed producer Brendan O' Brien, this new CD captures the anger that brews inside singer Brandon Boyd, anything ranging from war to what obstacles the band has overcome in their long journey. Boyd takes all of this emotion and lets it propel his voice to new limits. It also shows the impact new bassist Ben Kenney has had on everyone, especially guitarist Mike Enzinger, the two pushing each other to new levels of creativity in their playing and songwriting. Shifting from just scratching, DJ Chris Kilmore is now adding different elements of sound effects to set the tone for the band and adding a different level of feeling to each track.

The album draws you in immediately with the hard-rocking "Meglomaniac," a track that could be interpreted in many different ways. It could be a slap in the face to corporate America or possibly a message to arrogant, foreign leaders. It's whatever you want it to be. What's great about this entire album is no one track of the 14 is at all the same. It's 58 minutes of whatever you want or would expect from Incubus. Melodic, experimental, edgy or just completely out of left field, it's all here waiting to be discovered.

Incubus once again proves it's able to stretch in multiple directions. The members are not stuck to one specific form of music. Being experimental and taking chances is what makes an artist unique and, more importantly, relevant in today's recording industry. Given the right material and some talent, anyone could be a star. But a true artist is someone who can create a product and inspire new generations of creativity.

"A Crow Left of the Murder" is a perfect example of how Incubus is a creative force and why the band will be around for many years to come. It's a must-have for any Incubus or even non-Incubus fan.

Craig Laue is a midday on-air personality for Rock 108.

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