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Make Yourself 1999
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Make Yourself

When Incubus went to record Make Yourself, they were coming off an exhausting tour that had lasted all of 1998. They had played over 300 shows that year, ending the presentation cycle for their previous album, S.C.I.E.N.C.E., in January 1999. It was an intense period, which included dates with bands like Black Sabbath and Pantera, an opportunity that arose through the initiative of the Osbourne family, who had also included them in the 1998 Ozzfest because Jack Osbourne liked their music. Upon returning home, they gave themselves an eight-week deadline to compose all the material for the new album, and in that span, the songs that make up Make Yourself were born. This album marks the incorporation of Chris Kilmore on turntables, who joined the band in February 1998, replacing DJ Lyfe.

Year
1999
Songs
13
Duration
48 min 13 seg
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About the album

Make Yourself, according to DoReSol

The sound of Make Yourself, released on October 26, 1999, through Epic and Immortal Records, represents a shift towards a more melodic and groove-focused alternative rock, distancing itself from the more pronounced metal and funk of their previous works. This is noticeable in the reduced presence of slap bass and palm-muting technique on the guitar, elements that are barely hinted at in tracks like Out From Under. The drums also sound more restrained, with a predominant use of the single pedal, a characteristic that would be maintained in subsequent releases. The album produced three singles that climbed positions on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart: Pardon Me, Stellar, and Drive. The latter not only reached the top spot on that list but also became the band's only song to date to enter the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, reaching ninth place.

Although some perceive Make Yourself as a more accessible album than its predecessors, Brandon Boyd himself has commented that they did not consciously set out to make a more commercial record; they simply composed in the way that felt natural to them. However, guitarist Mike Einziger did point out that they sought to imbue the album with greater maturity and a more defined focus, moving away from the eccentricity of previous works. The intention was, according to him, to improve their craft and become more solid songwriters, seeking a deeper emotional connection with the audience, in contrast to the music he described as sometimes "cartoony" from their teenage years. The recording process took place at NRG studios in Los Angeles.

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