"A Crow Left of the Murder" is the fifth studio album by the American rock band Incubus, released on 3 February 2004. It was the first album to feature bassist Ben Kenney, who joined following the departure of founding member Dirk Lance. The album’s singles include "Megalomaniac" and "Talk Shows on Mute", while "Agoraphobia" was issued as a promotional single.
The album’s music has been described as incorporating elements of art rock, alternative rock, alternative metal, jazz, pop, and progressive rock. Compared with earlier releases that emphasized Brandon Boyd’s vocals, the work of guitarist Mike Einziger was given a more prominent role in shaping the album’s sound. Contemporary reviewers noted that stylistic elements associated with Einziger’s background in funk and metal were used as a foundation for broader experimentation with jazz, blues, and progressive influences. Some critics suggested the band took greater creative risks following the commercial success of "Morning View" (2001), although Einziger stated in interviews that the group had consistently maintained artistic autonomy.
"Megalomaniac" was initially composed on acoustic guitar despite becoming one of the album’s heavier tracks. Boyd explained that the title refers to obsessive self-importance and that the lyrics address individuals driven by power and destructive behavior. Written around the period of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Boyd described the subject as a composite inspired by multiple figures rather than a single individual, and partly influenced by a character from the film "Three Amigos". The song’s video, directed by Floria Sigismondi, incorporated imagery referencing political authority and provoked controversy; MTV restricted its broadcast to late-night rotation amid heightened sensitivity following the 2004 Super Bowl halftime incident involving Janet Jackson.
"Talk Shows on Mute" examines the influence of television culture and was inspired by an in-flight experience during which Boyd commented on a talk show playing on board. The lyric referencing "1984" alludes to George Orwell’s novel "Nineteen Eighty-Four" rather than the calendar year. The track "Priceless" features rap-influenced vocal delivery reminiscent of the band’s earlier material, and Boyd described several songs on the album as reflective or written from alternative personal perspectives. Early pressings mistakenly listed track twelve, "Smile Lines", as "Suite Lines" on the back cover. Japanese editions included the bonus track "Monuments & Melodies", which also appeared on the bonus disc of "Alive at Red Rocks".
Incubus promoted the album with an international tour beginning in March 2004 in Japan and South Korea, including their first performance in the Philippines. The tour continued through Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Europe, and North America, alongside television appearances on programs including "Jimmy Kimmel Live!", "Top of the Pops", and "Rove Live". During a London performance in June 2004, the band performed "Take Me to Your Leader" for the first time since 1998; these concerts marked the last live performances of songs originating from "Fungus Amongus" or "Enjoy Incubus". In 2005, the band contributed "Admiration", "Neither of Us Can See", and "Make a Move" to the soundtrack of the film "Stealth", with "Make a Move" released as a single. "Aqueous Transmission" from "Morning View" also appeared on the soundtrack and in the film.
"A Crow Left of the Murder" debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart with first-week sales of approximately 332,000 copies and was subsequently certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
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