PunchBook

Album Review - D+

Alright, so from time to time I plan on reviewing albums that I discover even though they may be a little older (or a lot older). I recently downloaded this pile of shit the Deftones put out back in 2005….about the time their music started sucking. It’s a mix of slow, mellow tunes mixed with a twist of hip hop and the occasional guitar riff. The drums hit softly as the Deftones proceed ruin songs perfromed by 7 other bands. They also bring in guest singers such as B-Real (Cypress Hill), who is cool, but he is no Maynard James Keenan.

For those of you who are wondering what songs the Deftones destroy on this album, the notables are Simple Man by Lynyrd Skynyrd and If Only Tonight We Could Sleep by The Cure. It’s just a bunch of dark chiming notes with Chino Moreno screeching in the background. It’s not the screeching heard on harder hitting early stuff by the Deftones. If you liked White Pony, Around the Fur, and Adrenaline don’t even think of giving this sellout album a chance. Isn’t the whole idea of creating B-sides to keep them tucked away, unreleased?

If you’re curious to hear a sample, you should consider downloading The Chauffeur. Yes, it’s the same some released by Duran Duran but it’s tweaked to match the Deftones sound, their old sound. The song is stuffed away deep in the album, I almost turned this off so to hear something good mixed in with the shit was a little rewarding.

The most recognizable songs on the album or Change (In the House of Flies), which is an acoustic version that the majority of Deftones fans have heard before. The other song is Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)…also acoustic, and especially annoying. Moreno’s vocals in this song make William Hung sound like Sinatra. “Faaaaaaarrrrrrr Awwaaaayyyyyyy”……..”Baaaarrrrfffff.”

Worst song on the album - Black Moon. “Whacha gonna do, I got mad proof”, WTF?

I’m disappointed to have to be so harsh on a band I loved in high school and college - and still love to some degree now. But, I gotta be fair. Sometimes I’m going to mix the good with the bad. Hopefully it saves someone $12 bucks.