DEFTONES is an alternative metal band and personal favourite of mine AND a band that don't think get enough recognition in this music landscape. This quintet produces intense and full songs with great guitar riffs but more importantly, they are craftsmen at establishing unique and bleak atmospheres within their sound. Someone referred to them as a metal band obsessed with The Cure. They have released six albums in their career: Adrenaline (1995), Around the Fur (1997), White Pony (2000), Deftones (2003), Saturday Night Wrist (2006), Diamond Eyes (2010), and Koi No Yokan (2012).
One of their 'softer' songs, this song makes me feel like I'm floating above the Earth looking down (whatever that means). This song only works with Chino's voice especially as he yells "goodbye" at the start of the chorus.
9. "Rocket Skates" - album: Diamond Eyes (LISTEN)
The amazing first single from their latest album, this would seriously be near the top of the list except I think the song runs a little too long.
8. "Goon Squad" - album: Koi No Yokan (LISTEN)
The best song on their new Koi No Yokan album, the DEFTONES do it again by creating a heavy but atmospheric song, of course. The song starts off slow (actually due to the song before it on the album) but then it explodes into a killer riff, one of the best I've ever heard.
7. "Sextape" - album: Diamond Eyes (LISTEN)
Certainly their sexiest song, it captures your attention immediately from the opening notes.
6. "Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)" - album: Around The Fur (LISTEN)
A simple riff powered by a pulsing drumbeat was enough to make this great song that's perfect to listen to in your car as you be quiet and drive far away (bad joke).
5. "Elite" - album: White Pony (LISTEN)
The heaviest song on the White Pony album is also the critical darling which won the DEFTONES their only Grammy award for Best Metal Performance in 2001. "When you're ripe you'll bleed out of control."
4. "Headup" (feat Max Cavalera) - album: Around The Fur (LISTEN)
Just a straight-up angry song that makes you want go nuts. The genius is in its simplicity since most of the song revolves around only four notes of the guitar.
3. "Royal" - album: Diamond Eyes (LISTEN)
A heavy but unique sounding metal song, the keyboards really add a new layer that makes it stand out from other heavy joints. That dropping guitar riff emits a powerful noise and the song's ending builds and building to a boiling point that sounds like the end of the world. People say that the DEFTONES reached a peerless sound on their latest album - here's the track that proves it.
2. "Change (In The House Of Flies)" - album: White Pony (LISTEN)
Everyone's favourite DEFTONES song and for good reason as it's a sinister masterpiece. The bass line is amazing and is perfectly coupled with Frank's ominous keyboard sounds.
1. "Beware" - album: Saturday Night Wrist (LISTEN)
Oozing with a sexy but dark atmosphere, this is the DEFTONES at their best. Tension just crescendos through the verses, growing even further until it pops against a wall of guitars. The song also has one of the best endings I've ever heard in any song. "Beware" is apparently a warning to others about sex, drugs, and drinking, which were the three problems Chino encountered during the album's creation. Hope you like it as much as I do.
BONUS:
"Passenger" (feat Maynard James Keenan) - album: White Pony
Great song that truly is one of the best in their discography, however it really, really sounds more like a TOOL song (Maynard James Keenan's band) than a DEFTONES one.
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If you are curious about more songs from the DEFTONES, here is the DEFTONES' Setlist from 2010's Blackdiamondskye tour, Toronto, ON at the Molson Amphitheater:
"Diamond Eyes"
"Rocket Skates"
"Around The Fur"
"Be Quiet And Drive (Far Away)"
"My Own Summer (Shove It)"
"Prince"
"You've Seen The Butcher"
"Sextape"
"Risk"
"Change (In The House Of Flies)"
"Nosebleed"
"Engine No. 9"
Good start and much agreed. If you were cattle, I'd brand my approval on you.
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