I think I've finally had a breakthrough with Deftones and I'm FINALLY starting to 'get' them. I mean it's been a long old road. Being 37 I was there during the hype of nu-metal. I liked Limp Bizkit sure and ended up liking Linkin Park and Slipknot, but Deftones were a band I never really understood the appeal.
I've tried many, many times over the last 20 years. I had a few friends growing up who were into them I guess but no one I knew considered them their favourite band or anything. I suppose White Pony is the album I've tried the most. I remember 12 years ago or something I actually liked the song Back to School (Mini Maggit), but I think Moreno's vocals were always the biggest obstacle.
Anyway, for some reason (I guess it was checking out Ohms) I recently thought I give them another go. I've been working my way backwards through their catalogue and I'm finding myself wanting to listen to them, a lot!
I downloaded Ohms, Diamond Eyes, Gore and Koi No Yokan onto my ipod and currently I'd say the following are the songs I'm really digging:
Sextape
Phantom Bride
Rosemary (that outro )
Goon Squad
I have no idea on what songs are considered favourites or get really loved by the fanbase but I'm loving these. Just need to round up listening to their first two albums and then I'll probably download a few more.
Anyone else find them difficult to get into?
I understand you very much!
Citing the previous post, I have been listening to Deftones relentlessly for the past year, and sadly I know 99% of their discography by now.
It has been one of the bands which has demonstrated me once again that there is still something special in music to be discovered, even when you think you may not find other bands on the level of your favourites.
I am 27 and I grew up with numetal and I like Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, Slipknot and some Korn songs, but I never checked out Deftones at that time. I listened 7 years ago to Koi No Yokan and I liked it, but I wasn't impressed by the odd songs I tried from other albums and Koi No Yokan was just good but not mindblowing, and I still think more or less the same about it.
But last year Digital Bath clicked (thanks to whoever sent it in a roulette which made me listen to Deftones again, don't remember who and in which roulette), and then the whole White Pony album, which is a superb album as said by many.
The self titled while not a perfect album by any means and maybe too much full of dark and similar mid tempo song, has obsessed me for a long time this year too, and it's my second favourite. Adrenaline and Around The Fur are a step below but still very enjoyable, and I still can't recall some of the songs in there, so it means I still have some enjoyment left out of them.
Regarding newer albums Diamond Eyes is slowly rising at the top of my rankings. I disliked it at first as it sounded non innovative, predictable and safe having listened all of their other albums, but the sound of the album is crystalline, the flow is great and some songs are among my favorites.
1. White Pony
2. Deftones
3. Saturday Night Wrist
4. Diamond Eyes
5. Around The Fur
6. Ohms
7. Adrenaline
8. Koi No Yokan
9. Gore
Favorite songs in chronological order of albums:
Fireal (Adrenaline)
Be Quiet And Drive (Around The Fur)
Feiticiera, Digital Bath, Street Carp, Korea, Change, but I could say the whole White Pony album.
Deathblow - When Girls Telephone Boys - Battle Axe from the self titled is maybe my favorite three song run of the discography.
Rapture, Beware, Cherry Waves, Xerces (Saturday Night Wrist)
Beauty School, Risk, This Place Is Death (Diamond Eyes)
Rubicon and Acid Hologram are 2 of the 4 tracks I like of the whole Gore album.
Graphic Nature has always been my favorite from Koi No Yokan since I knew the album, and I still find it catchy.
Genesis from Ohms. Solid album overall though.