If it’s a secret now, it won’t be anymore. It’s pretty obvious Deftones are my absolute favorite band, and they have been for many years. They’ve released 7 studio albums, starting with 1995’s ultra-aggressive Adrenaline, and their most recent album, 2012’s Koi No Yokan.
Many people have asked me, since I have a near-obsession with the band (I call it passion) what I’d choose for my 10 favorite Deftones songs. But I can’t choose only 10 – I’m going with 15. So, here goes. There’s at least one song from each of their 7 albums, as well. Check out the list after the jump.
#15: “This Place Is Death” (Diamond Eyes)
The song that made me fall in love with Diamond Eyes.
#14: “Rosemary” (Koi No Yokan)
I have a thing for Deftones songs that are ridiculously long – and “Rosemary” (which clock in at almost 7 minutes!) is one of the best. “There’s no sound but the engine’s drone. Our minds set free to roam”.
#13: “Rats! Rats! Rats!” (Saturday Night Wrist)
I’ll be honest and say SNW was a very difficult album for me to love. Not because it wasn’t good, but it’s a very expansive album – atmospheric, especially. And midway through the album, I wasn’t expecting to hear what I consider to be Deftones’ heaviest song. The best word to describe “Rats! Rats! Rats!” is violent, because that’s exactly what it is.
#12: “Street Carp” (White Pony)
I’ve grown more attached to the just under 3 minutes long “Street Carp” since I’ve been with my girlfriend. Kayla and I bonded over a mutual love of Deftones and Tool, and she used to flirt with me by quoting lyrics from this song. Totally awesome. “Here’s my new address, 615, oh I forget”.
#11: “Beware (The Water)” (Saturday Night Wrist)
I’m serious when I say this song contains one of Chino’s best choruses. Listen to it here. The fact that a song like this and the excellent “Cherry Waves” are on SNW, make it a great album for me.
#10: “Engine #9” (Adrenaline)
In 1995, Deftones weren’t the extremely influential band you know today. They were putting out their debut, Adrenaline, which contains some of the most vicious songs in their catalogue. You can see traces of the direction they would go in later on tracks like “Root” and “7 Words”, though. “Engine #9” is Deftones heavy – and it’s awesome. Also more hip-hop influenced than their later work.
#9: “Knife Party” (White Pony)
I used to turn this song on repeat when I was much younger. “Knife Party” connected with me so well because of the complex lyricism and the heavy guitars of Stephen Carpenter mixed with Chino’s sultry vocals. Rodleen Getsic is featured in this song, too. “I can float here forever in this room”.
#8: “Bloody Cape” (Deftones)
Surprise surprise – another Deftones track that’s super heavy. Chino lets loose the most vicious of screams here with the volatile ending line of “God help me!” over and over. Also, a piece of trivia – “Bloody Cape” and its music video was only available online for one day upon its original release. Weird.
#7: “Poltergeist” (Koi No Yokan)
I’ve been in relationships where it feels like you can’t go without game-playing and drama. This song describes said relationships in a very sensual way. Also contains some of my favorite lyrics. “What can I say? I’ve fucking had enough. Go on, drive me wild. I love you to death, like I love this game.”
#6: “Royal” (Diamond Eyes)
First song I heard off Diamond Eyes in 2010. Also, the last minute of the song contains all the things I love about Deftones – airy vocals, sharp guitars, pounding drums, and Chino’s signature howl. It is pure. “Take me, all that you have.”
#5: “Change (In the House of Flies)” (White Pony)
I’ve seen some crazy things in my 24 years. It’s never fun to watch someone you’re close with change into someone they’re not, but it does happen. I’ve always interpreted the song that way, anyway. Also, it’s probably the most iconic song from Deftones. You’re certain to have heard it somewhere – maybe FUSE or MTV back when they played music. “I watched a change in you, it’s like you never had wings.”
#4: “Digital Bath” (White Pony)
“Tonight, I feel like more.” Beautifully delicate, but slightly sinister as well, this is another one of Deftones’ best moments. The lyrics are supposedly about a dream Chino had where he electrocuted a girl in a bathtub. Nothing is more metal than that.
#3: “KimDracula” (Saturday Night Wrist)
“I really wish these snakes were your arms. I really wish you’d make up your mind.” Songs like this make me miss the late Chi Cheng and his pounding bass. The lyrics are on point, too. Abe Cunningham’s drumming totally makes this song.
#2: “Rocket Skates” (Diamond Eyes)
I saw Deftones for the 2nd time in 2013, and about halfway through the show they played this song. It was basically flawless and I moshed HARD. It also showed that my favorite band was back, and sharper than ever. “Guns. Razors. Knives. FUCK WITH MEEEEEEEEEE!!!”
#1B: “Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)” (Around the Fur)
I can’t choose #1 – it’s too difficult. So I’ll throw out this gem from Around The Fur. Immaculate.
#1A: “Passenger” (White Pony)
Maynard James Keenan (Tool/A Perfect Circle/Puscifier) and Chino Moreno is basically the best combination of anything ever – even better than peanut butter and jelly. It’s pretty easy to say why this is my favorite Deftones song – it’s yet another song with sensual overtones, and in a sea full of guest vocalists in 2014 who don’t add a fucking thing to the song, “Passenger” is a learning tool for how to have great musical synergy, as well. Please, for the love of God, let’s get a Deftones/Tool tour going.
Thanks for reading this. If you’ve never listened to Deftones before, please do. They influence just about every popular band you can think of in some way – bands like Thrice, Thursday, and Underoath are especially indebted to the road they paved.
