Three long years after the Deftones issued their self-titled album to puzzling reviews, the Sacramento quintet is back with Saturday Night Wrist, a recording that will further muddy the waters about who they are and what they're trying to do. After the breakthrough metallic-sounding Around the Fur, the band confounded critics and fans alike with the much softer and atmospherically adventurous White Pony. In 2003 they further transgressed the borderlines of all things boxed and tied with their self-titled album, which seemed to walk the line between rockist and "sensitive." But it's Saturday Night Wrist that fills out the portrait, bleeding though textures from one ock & roll type to another and coming up with something else altogether yet definitively "Deftones." The album began with a question and a small conflict in deciding on a producer. Already working with the hip Dan the Automator, after some internal drama the band decided on veteran Bob Ezrin. Ezrin pays off in a number of ways: these songs, as diverse as they are, are utterly disciplined sonically. They have all the tension and dynamic, all the immediacy of yore, but the mix is spacious, and Chino Moreno's vocals soar above it. That said, the vocals were produced by Far's Shaun Lopez. The wall of guitar sound walks a high wire between harder, more metallic ock and angular indie rock, winding them together. Check the opener -- and single -- "Hole in the Earth." It begins with a wall of feedback and thunderously distorted guitars accented by rim shots and cymbal fire before giving way to a skeletal six-string figure that seems barely able to support Moreno's singing, which combines the euphoria of a young, less pretentious Bono with the attack of, well, the Deftones. Guitars echo and whisper all along the backdrop while Moreno hovers there, until they crackle and spit to bring him back.
Popping muddy drums and distorted guitars introduce "Rapture," as Moreno gobs and screams the lyrics. Even here, the attack is straightforward as it turns and twists, all on sharp corners and rhythmic shifts. There are killer digital dub effects put into play on "Cherry Waves," giving the tune a bit of a blessed-out psychedelic effect as the band marries together the hookery of the vintage Smashing Pumpkins, the big chord riffs of Jane's Addiction, and U2's best shimmer while tossing in a bridge of eight bars from the Who's "Overture" from Tommy! It might have been a terrible mess, but it works beautifully. System of a Down's Serj Tankian helps out with additional vocals on "Mein," and Giant Drag's Annie Hardy helps out on "Pink Cellphone" (what a dumb title). The drippy space pop that is "Xerces" finds Moreno breathing a little too close to Billy Corgan for comfort on the verses. The gear-grinding guitars on "Rats!Rats!Rats!" are a welcome textural change, and the crunchy verse and refrain are downright nasty. The most straight-ahead ock attack comes on "KimDracula," with its bass throb and whiteout guitar riff; it pushes Moreno a little further outside the tune to come to terms with it. Ultimately, Saturday Night Wrist is satisfying, though it may take a few listens given all the changes in individual cuts that tend to blur together the first time or two through. To the faithful, the Deftones once again offer up their own brand of blast and croon. As for everyone else, there's plenty here to like, to argue with, and to be puzzled by .
-------------------------------------------------*BAND MEMBERS*-------------------------------------------------Chino Moreno - vocals/Back up guitarAbe Cunningham - DrumsChi Cheng - Bass GuitarFrank Delgado - Turntables/Keyboard/SamplerStephen Carpenter - Lead guitarhttp://www.deftones.com/7/index.htmlI learnt of Deftones through a mate in Melbourne where I come from whilst living in Hong Kong....
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No commentary. Just a great, great song. Chino's voice is incredible in this one.
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One of my favorite moments on the new Deftones album, "Saturday Night Wrist" comes about 1 minute 57 seconds into the song, "Mein." I really dig it when a band adds a subtle and unexpected record scratch like that. Is it a record scratch or is it called something else? I'm trying to think of other songs that do the same thing. I know New Found Glory does it on "Sucker" about 1 minute 1 seco...
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I tend to think that it rocks...in some ways, the most complete CD they have done...sure it would be hard make something better than White Pony, but I kinda think its more complete (in some ways)...it may be a bit more mellow, but thats ok..I am just happy they are recording and touring again..I saw them this summer and they rocked..
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yeah yeah i know this has been posted but not with and tour dates so sue meby Jon ZahlawayliveDaily Senior WriterAlt-metal vets Deftones are set to deliver their latest album, "Saturday Night Wrist," and have begun laying out dates for a fall tour behind the set.The group's tour plans begin with a pair of late-October, pre-release shows, including an Oct. 27 headlining set at the LG Action Spo...
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One of my favorite moments on the new Deftones album, "Saturday Night Wrist" comes about 1 minute 57 seconds into the song, "Mein." I really dig it when a band adds a subtle and unexpected record scratch like that. Is it a record scratch or is it called something else? I'm trying to think of other songs that do the same thing. I know New Found Glory does it on "Sucker" about 1 minute 1 seco...
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No commentary. Just a great, great song. Chino's voice is incredible in this one.
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-------------------------------------------------*BAND MEMBERS*-------------------------------------------------Chino Moreno - vocals/Back up guitarAbe Cunningham - DrumsChi Cheng - Bass GuitarFrank Delgado - Turntables/Keyboard/SamplerStephen Carpenter - Lead guitarhttp://www.deftones.com/7/index.htmlI learnt of Deftones through a mate in Melbourne where I come from whilst living in Hong Kong....
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Spin.com is offering you the chance to win a pair of tickets to an upcoming Deftones show near you. So, if you haven't bought your tickets already, or are just looking to bring a few friends with you, here's a chance for you to win them for FREE! Go to Spin.com and enter to win NOW!Contest starts today and ends on May 9, 2007
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I tend to think that it rocks...in some ways, the most complete CD they have done...sure it would be hard make something better than White Pony, but I kinda think its more complete (in some ways)...it may be a bit more mellow, but thats ok..I am just happy they are recording and touring again..I saw them this summer and they rocked..
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I'm getting very used to MOG so far and it's nifty. I'm liking it and the community here seems very friendly aswell. That's a plus in my book. I'm not good at introductions at all so i'm leaving the user to find out more about me by looking at my profile as my whole life revolves around music. I think MOG is a place I belong. I wonder how long it's been up as i'm suprised i've never heard of it...
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Deftones new album 'Saturday night wrist" is coming finally. I am more excited this time than I was last time..which was pretty fucking excited. They have been really secretive and sneaky with the songs from the new cd..only putting up 1 song so far on their myspace...but I heard another one "beware the water" which my friend downloaded from somwhere and I have to say...it is beyond fucking ama...
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Hole in the Earth |
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| 2 Rapture |
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| 3 Beware |
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| 4 Cherry Waves |
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| 5 Mein |
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| 6 U,U,D,D,L,R,L,R,A,B,Select,Start |
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| 7 Xerces |
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| 8 Rats!Rats!Rats! |
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| 9 Pink Cellphone |
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| 10 Combat |
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| 11 KimDracula |
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| 12 Riviere |
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 "Saturday Night Wrist")
