Music Review: The Deftones - Saturday Night Wrist

The Deftones latest music cd, entitled Saturday Night Wrist contains all of its power in the first four tracks. However, this collection of music is a must have for Deftones fans and rock fans in general; not their best album, but still just as good as always.

Song 1 is Hole in the Earth which was also released as the first radio single. It works perfectly as such a tool to let the world know that the Deftones are back with new material and to come check it out.

Song 2, Rapture, is a departure from the Hole in the Earth vibe showcasing the other side of Deftones, the side of chaos. The Deftones sound ranges from angel like mourning vocals to these punk-mess renditions. Rapture lets the fans of both styles know Deftones are representing themselves in full force up-front.

Songs 3 and 4 are Beware and Cherry Waves, lyrically and emotionally these two songs are the best of the album; capturing the tragic and powerful vocals of singer Chino Moreno wonderfully.

Song 5 is Mein and this is where it first feels like the Deftones formula may be dated. Mein is a basic sounding track and almost as if they were getting too tired to continue on; though instruments and vocals were actually recorded separately. They have the guest vocals of Serj Tankian, vocalist for System Of A Down, to bring in a slightly lackluster chorus.

Song 6: U,U,D,D,L,R,L,R,A,B,SELECT, START is a midpoint break of sorts with a title based on video game code. This in an instrumental and skipable intermission.

Song 7, Xerces, feels like the band trying to push the formula for all it is worth and not producing a song that is too memorable or original by their standards. Once again the vocals and sounds seem tired.

Song 8 is Rats! Rats! Rats! Which then fits into things as an exclamation towards how the album is going thus far. The lyrics if read while considering the context of my review pretty much fit the imagined scenario of a band losing their momentum mid album.