I saw Incubus live only once with Dirk and 4 times with Ben. I like Dirk's playing style, but it was
obvious at the concert he didn't seem to flow with the others. Ben has seemed to grow into fitting
right in with that one of a kind Incubus flow, and his bass playing has been excellerating. But I
do like watching the old videos with Dirk still. I'd like to see him hook up with a band he would
fit into better.

its really hard to say because they have such different styles but i like dirk more fungus amongus and s.c.i.e.n.c.e. are their best albums in my opinion

--
"What if my watch read 4:20 every hour every day? You could bet your dollar I'd be happy"

Ben b****es
hot talented
wins out over
talented

--

Both musicians are good..if only incubus could hire two bass players I think this problem would be settled...

Yeah seriously, Dirk is gone. Deal with it.

--
"For every one thing we're ignorant of
a thousand more things beat the maze"

theyre both good.. they just have different styles, Alex is more funky....

its like apples and oranges. night and day. it depends on the time and ones mood both are talented. its such a hard choice. but ill go with ben.

--
the warmth

Dirk is gone, Ben is here.
So choose ben.

--
s*** happens when you party naked!

Both, both both! =D

--
GazettE rocks! =D

AND REITA AND RUKI ARE MINE!

i'd have to say ben, as incubino said he understands music as a whole, and brings his own style to the band, i just think he's brilliant

Really...

Without both bassist.. Incubus wouldn't be here.. SO CHOOSE BOTH. >o

--
GazettE rocks! =D

AND REITA AND RUKI ARE MINE!

i completely agree pralienchen!!

--
im a match in a gas tank

I think you can't say who is better. They are both really talented and good bass players and have both their own kind of playing bass. Although their music changed it does not mean it's beacuse they have a new bass player. And you can't compare them, their types of playing bass are very different. And Incubus is a band, they make music TOGETHER, so it doesn't depend on one instrument.

Keep rockin'

Here here Incubino! A very thorough and well thought-out comment on the matter (for those who have taken the time to read the WHOLE THING!!! ). I'm happy to have a musician's take on it, as I'm not one myself. Whether they've gotten better or not...I'm not so sure about that...but I agree that things change and that we have to be open to that and not so quick to judge! I will try the headphones in a quiet room soon. Thanks for the idea! Cheers!

This is getting old, but I'll allow myself this reply.
Alex, Dirk, is an amazing bassit. I'm a guitarrist so I'll analyze this musicaly.
Alex is a great bassist his technique is very wide and his tone is exellent. he does slaps and s***, more funky like ctdelta said well.So let us say his style is more "defined" as a true bassist than Ben's.
However, being a true expert in one branch of music will get you little of the "whole" musical part.
Ben Kenney is in every aspect, a very talented musician, he UNDERSTANDS music, he feels it. he fits in well with the band and harmonically speaking, the lines that he's written fit very well with the overall harmony that Mike writes. Because, boys and girls, Brandon may very well be the leader of the band, the frontman, and the creator of the lyrics that we all love to hear and sing along, but the brains behind the musical harmony, the melody that makes Incubus' music so powerful and touching, is Mike Aaron Einziger. You can totally identify this in the 2 newer albums, when he started to grow more as a musician. The addition of pianos and keyboards, Mike's idea. All the weird analog filters, Mike's experimentation, all the harmony and I mean all (except earth to bella, pantomime and maybe few other songs which musically have no complexity at all because they were written by someone who doesn't play guitar mainly) are Mike's.
I'm not saying that the others don't write anything. I'm not saying that Alex didn't contribute at all in the rythm and feel of the older songs. its just that the base of all the music (the tones) are written by Mike, and Mike invited Ben to play with his other band, or project "Time Lapse Consortium", concert in which Ben played Bass.Now, If these two fit together, then you've got yourself a powerful duo which will undoubtedly create different music, because of what time has made them go through.people change with age. I'm changing the subject here sorry, anyway, Ben fits in perfectly, he really does. If you really don't like the newer stuff, try to give yourself the chance and listen to it deeply, with headphones in a quiet room. You will still be hearing to Incubus. You'll see that the music has definitely gotten better, more elaborate.But taht takes sacrifice -- It will continue to change, like everything in life. Incubus is, in fact, everything but a boy band, for God's sake, very very bad comment by the way. Maybe the approach to some specific songs is a little bit more commercial, but that's okay, at least okay for me. So dig yourself up from that and accept changes as they come, because tomorrow comes and it will be different from today.
Jeez why can't I just write something short for a change...! Phew!
if you read, thank you.

alex... but ben is pretty sweet!

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im a match in a gas tank

Good opinion, jephluvsred.

But to me I want to f*** Alex so hard. xD

We all have different opinions.. and both bassists are good.

--
Because Pokemon rocks.

BEN KENNEY IS THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! his playing is smooth, his solo stuff is the s*** and if you ever read any interviews he has alot to do with the writing of their songs, i read he made the drum part for dig, and thats another thing, the mo fo can play every instrument made, face it alex sux ass and is a has been

Andrea, your face is rude.

But whatever we both have different opinions.

--
Pokemon! Gotta catch 'em all!

Palkia and Dialga rule!

Hey girl
You've got mad because I disagree with you but that's not a reason to say something that I've never said.I've never said that Alex was a bad bass player.I loved him, I loved his way! .Just he has gone and there's a new member who's a great player,but there's no comparison between two persons.(Never compare)
I think I wasn't RUDE.I just said all I think and I say it always.
If we're going to talk about rude people I think I don't lose ! ! !

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Que fácil es... abrir tanto la boca para opinar! Y si te piensas echar atrás TIENES MUCHO BARRO QUE TRAGAR.

No offense, Andrea but you are really annoying/pissing me off. :|

Sure they're both good bassist. ^_^

But no need to be rude.

--
Dattebayo!

OMGFOBRULES!

BETTER?

Do you have brothers?
Who's the better of you?

All the stupid things that one has to read,God!

--
Que fácil es... abrir tanto la boca para opinar! Y si te piensas echar atrás TIENES MUCHO BARRO QUE TRAGAR.

As far as who's better, I have no idea, as I do not claim to be an expert on bass playing. It also seems wrong to assume that the bass player is the sole person responsible for the band's current style! But the comment "he also looks like he could be in a boy band" seems totally out of line to me. What does that mean exactly? That they chose Ben to replace Alex cause he's good-looking and would therefore draw more horny young female fans? Yeah, right! It just so happens that some good musicians are also attractive, and I hardly think it's fair to blame them for that!!!

4 words... Alex rules, Ben drools. :]

In my opinion, if you don't like it then you can shove it. ^_^

They are both great bassplayers. But Ben Kenney is to my taste the better artist. Have you heard his solo stuff? It's just AMAZING! I now couldn't imagine Incubus with Alex anymore. Ben is the best, he has made the sound of Incubus warm and full and complete. I love him =) To me he just belongs in the band now. 100%. I'm sad so many fans say such negative things about them changing their bassplayer. They are still just people and they know what is best for their band. In the end it's their decision anyway.. They couldn't have been so new and dynamic now if it wasn't for Ben I think. He adds.. SO much. I appreciate him greatly!

And as for the boyband remark, Incubus will never be a boyband. Obviously.. I mean, come on, be serious about it. That they are making profit, getting more well known I think is good for them. I can only be happy for them! They're giving so much back to the world! We have their old stuff, their raw and funky music, and us fans cherish it a lot. Now Incubus is a different band, but good for them, who'd want them to stay the same.

All I know.. Is one of the reasons I love Incubus so much is because they are always evolving. I don't know why so many fans just want them to stay the same and make the same album over and over again. I think change is good, for Incubus it's good. Ben is one of the most talented artists and has only enriched Incubus. Kudos for Ben!
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° Evelien

I think since Ben is in the band, they often try new sounds to sound new and fresh and in my opinion they really do with every new album they released since morning view! I think the fact that Ben is into Jazz music and other experimental stuff, Incubus is going into the right direction! A Crow Left Of The Murder is just an awesome album and does sound different to Morning View because of Ben! Agoraphobia by example wouldn`t excist without him!

I think a real Incubus fan should be proud of the guys and be proud of Ben Kenney being a member of Incubus! Who still stucks in the Morning View time, is not excepting and supporting the band and theyr way to express them self!!

That`s my opinion

Thank you!!

What does a TRUE incubus fan looklike? Nobbo.

THE FIRST PERSON WHO POSTED IS REALLY IGNORANT AND THE OTHERS WHO DISLIKE BEN. WHTEVER DUDE, SCREW YOU AND I PROMISE YOU THAT YOU ARE NOT A TRUE INCUBUS FAN SO IF YOU DONT HAVE ANYTHING POSTIVE TO SAY GET THE F*** OFF THIS PAGE!
WELL, I REALLY LIKE BEN. AT FIRST I HONESTLY DIDNT BUT I HAVE GROWN ACOUSTOMED TO HIM AND THIK HE BRINKS SUMTHING DIFFRENT TO THE BAND THAT I LIKE. HE HAS THAT SOUL AND FUNK THAT ALEX DIDNT HAVE BUT ALEX WAS AMAZING. I REALLY LIKED HIM AND KINDA HATED THE FACT THAT THERE WAS A NEW MEMBER IN THE GROUP AND WAS FOR AWHILE DISOWNING HIM LIKE A STEPCHILD BUT I LIKE HIM NOW. THE BAND IS COMPLETE AND IS DOING GREAT. THEY HAVE MATURED AS A BAND AND I THINK CHANGE AND MATURITY IS A GOOD THING.
I AM A DIE HARD FAN NO MATTER WHAT! I HOPE ALEX IS DOING WELL IN WHATEVER HE IS DOING IN HIS LIFE AND CAREER AND I WISH HIM THE BEST OF LUCK!

Hey, who is to say that Kenny isn't just a hired hand? Maybe he doesn't have anything to do with the writing.He does have a few other projects going on. This gig with incubus could be his bread and butter until his other projects come through. None of us know what the real deal is. Maybe only Mike and Brandon do all the writing now?

ok guy and gals im very close freinds with alex , brandon had nothing to do with alex leaveing he left because he felt the band wasnt going in the right direction so before you bark up the wrong tree get your story right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If Alex was as amazing as people say, he'd be in a Top 40 band, making millions,
not in someone's basement making music for... video games...

Ben is a Jazz/Rock musician.
Have you even HEARD of The Division Group?
Any of his Solo stuff?

Have you listened to Phrenology?

Didn't think so.

"I don't think Kenny has added anything to this set up. But he will agree with whatever Brandon says so hes in. He also looks like he could be in a boy band."

You sound like Milton Bradley claiming Billy Beane is racist. "They git rid of me cuz I'm black, and keep Buck because he's cheap and white and won't stand up to Billy."

--
baseball is my anti-drug.

Ben rocks, wtf is up in everyones ass. U think they suck now because their bass player sucks thats stupid. Why isn't anyone sayin anything about when chris kilmore joined back in the day. Both kenny and alex are gifted musicians and different yet great in many ways.
Another thing is nobody in incubus takes s*** from anyother member their friends not co workers. They make a decision as a whole since each of them is part of what makes incubus. Yes brandon may be a little more known than the others but no s*** what lead vocalist isn't (besides fall out boy and they suck.) Hey and if u hate their new s*** that much why are you writting a blog about them anyway huh. In concusion I'd have to say that Ben is better theirs proof in their light grenades records try listening to it.

I was in a vile mood when i wrote this, as i re-read it, i may of been a little harsh. However i maintain that the funk and soul of the party has been lost, which i am truly disappointed about, im sure kenny's trying his hardest, aclotm was good but not as good as morning view, this latest effort is poor. I hope the next album is a little more innovative.

I would say there both as equally talented. I seen them both live and really listen to their style of playing. Yet there are some differences I still enjoy both old and new incubus as much. Just keep an open mind on this one. Trust me the root of their music is not solely entirely on the bass player.

I like them both. Alex, like mentioned by ctdelta, he a certain funky style that, I too wish Incubus still had in some of there songs.

But in no way does Incubus suck. Their new bassist is just as talented, but just in a different style. It's unfortunate that you cannot be more open to different styles of music.

--
-Valerie

You make some good points, but I disagree. Alex is an awesome bass player. Kenny is an amazing musician. Anyone seeing him play live would agree. From what I have read, all band member have a creative influence in thier music. Kenny is not a slap bass player, so the music is going to be different. I would love to hear more funky bass in new songs, but I love the direction the band has taken. I am not a "boy band" groupie. So who is the best bass player you ask? That would depend on what type of music you like. For me I like them both.