If Not Now, When? (album)

For the 1986 novel by Italian author Primo Levi, see If Not Now, When? (novel).

Untitled

Jus Review

Review scores
Source	Rating
Antiquiet
Sputnikmusic
The Tune	(4.1/5)
Jus Review	[http://jusreview.blogspot.com/2011/06/if-not-now-when-incubus.html

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If Not Now, When? is an upcoming seventh studio album by American alternative rock band Incubus, which will be released on July 12, 2011 by Epic Records. It will be Incubus' first album since Light Grenades (2006), their longest gap to date between studio albums. The singles to accompany this album are "Adolescents" and "Promises, Promises". The official video for "Adolescents" was released April 28, 2011. Incubus will also release a B-Side track for download, "Surface to Air", exclusively when fans pre-order the album through the website in the future.

Recording

The band recorded the album at Blackbird Studios in Nashville and Henson Studios in Los Angeles. The group again collaborated with Brendan O'Brien, with singer Brandon Boyd explaining that "We grew up listening to his records. We quickly became friends and that's been a catalyst for our success with him. He understands that we like to work quickly." The album leaked on the internet at the end of April 2011.

Album title

The album's title comes from Boyd's re-assesment of life; "I'm addicted to the news. There's so much at play right now, so many important, catastrophic, beautiful things. This idea 'If Not Now, When?' seems terribly poignant," the singer told Spin.

The title is a reference to a famous quote from the great rabbi of the Mishnah, Hillel, who said: "If I am not for myself, who will be? And when I am for myself, what am 'I'? And if not now, when?" (Avot 1:14) This third question, from which the album's title is derived, contains the admonition not to postpone any duties. It also echoes the admonition he gives with reference to study (Avot 2:4): "Say not, 'When I have free time I shall study'; for you may perhaps never have any free time."

Style

Guitarist Mike Einziger said in an interview that the album would be very different from previous records. While Incubus' sound has evolved over time, Einziger stated that the group have moved even further away from their hard rock roots.

"Over the years, we've become less and less aggressive as far as our music goes. There's always moments of that aggression, but this album is pretty free of that. It's definitely not a hard rock record. I think we're asking a lot of our fans. We're asking them to listen for things that they normally wouldn't listen for. We're not leaning on the strengths of our last records either. It's that much different than our previous work. I think we took a risk by making this type of album. But it's not some crazy, experimental album. It's a very straightforward concise album. And it's a lot more focused than anything else we've ever done. So naturally I think this might disappoint some people, because there's a pretty obvious lack of heavy rock music on this album." - Mike Einziger

Vocalist Brandon Boyd explained the album as having "a very a particularly warm musical tone to it. It steps further out from anything we've ever done." Boyd also cites Einziger as a key reason for the band's new sound; "Michael really buckled down and studied musical composition that inspired him to reach out and dig into different places that he never has before." Boyd also said that the sound on the new record is the culmination of a long search for a new sound and direction for the band; "I do believe that for many years now we have been searching for something different. Something unique, both to the world and to us as a band. We decided that 'If Not Now, When?’ our seventh full length studio album would be just that."

Thematically, the album focuses on romance, according to Boyd; "it's about love and finding art and success in love. I never know what I'm going to be writing about until I'm actually writing about it. It's what's relevant in my heart and mind. There's definitely a romantic undertone and overtone."

Track listing

The following songs have been confirmed as the track listing for the album.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"If Not Now, When?"	5:05
2.	"Promises, Promises"	4:26
3.	"Friends and Lovers"	4:07
4.	"Thieves"	4:17
5.	"Isadore"	4:35
6.	"The Original"	5:05
7.	"Defiance"	2:19
8.	"In the Company of Wolves"	7:35
9.	"Switchblade"	3:27
10.	"Adolescents"	4:48
11.	"Tomorrow's Food"	4:19
12.	"Rebel Girls (iTunes And UK Pre-Order Bonus Track)"
Total length:		50:03

Pre-Order Bonus Track

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Surface to Air (B-Side)"

Japanese Version

No.	Title	Length
12.	"Surface to Air (Bonus Track)"
13.	"Megalomaniac (Live from Chile) (Bonus Track)"
14.	"Pardon Me (Live from Chile) (Bonus Track)"
15.	"Anna Molly (Live from Chile) (Bonus Track)"
16.	"Wish You Were Here (Live from Chile) (Bonus Track)"

Australian Version

No.	Title	Length
17.	"Nice To Know You (Live from Chile) (Bonus Track)"