Chi Cheng

ALBUM RANK UPDATED: DEFTONES

For well over thirty years now, Deftones have cemented themselves as one of rock and alternative music’s most influential and inspiring bands. Throughout their career, they’ve always pushed the boundaries of genres and constantly found new elements to add into their ten studio albums. When you listen to a band like Deftones, it can be a bit polarizing in that you expect one thing and get something else. Not every album in a band’s catalog is going to be amazing. Some right away will be “That One,” while others might take a bit to grow on the listener. And sometimes, you just have a dud. It all happens. Even a dud, albeit as a whole might not be good, there are still some moments or songs that give it a glimmer of a bright spot. RAnking albums is never easy especially when you tackle a catalog such as Deftones. And with that here’s the Audioeclectica Updated Album Rank.

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SONGS THAT SHOULD BE PLAYED LIVE: DEFTONES- MOANA

Ever since Deftones released their new album Private Music a couple months back, it’s been in constant rotation. It’s a really good album. If you haven’t checked it out yet, you should! It’s the album that should’ve come after Koi No Yokan. If you want to read more about Private Music, you can check out my review here. Earlier this week, while in the beginning stages of putting together an Ultimate Set List for Deftones, I realized how many great songs they have that don’t get played live. And there are a bunch. One track in particular that I’ve always gravitated to is the final song on their 2003 self titled album, “Moana.” According to setlist.fm, this song has only been played live twice and both happened in 2004. That must change (no pun intended)! “Moana” is one of those signature Deftones songs with the ambience, heavy guitars, pulsating rhythms and those oh so sweet vocals! So, I’m putting it out in the universe that “Moana” needs to start getting it’s time to shine!!

Deftones- Moana:

Ultimate Set List: Deftones (Updated)

One of my good friends just went to the annual Dia De Los Deftones festival. It looked like a pretty solid show especially with Knocked Loose and Rile playing alongside Deftones. After the show was over my buddy sent me some video of some songs and I naturally looked up the set list. It was nice to see some rarities played though the majority of the set was a lot of the usual suspects. Not that there’s anything wrong with those, sometimes, it would just be nice to switch it up. Which brings me to my next Ultimate Set List, an updated Deftones set. This one is pretty damn good if I say so myself.

Guideline 1: What line up of the band would it be

Guideline 2: Where would you want to see the show

Guideline 3: maximum 25 songs (In order of how the set should go)

Lineup: Chino Moreno, Abe Cunningham, Frank Delgado, Stephen Carpenter, Chi Cheng

Venue: Fonda- Los Angeles

01) Engine No. 9
02) Elite
03) Be Quiet And Drive (Far Away)
04) Good Morning Beautiful
05) Diamond Eyes
06) Kim Dracula
07) Digital Bath
08) Risk
09) When Girls Telephone Boys
10) Swerve City
11) Around The Fur
12) Rocket Skates
13) Radiant City
14) Cherry Waves
15) You’ve Seen The Butcher
16) Lhabia
17) RX Queen
18) Entombed
19) My Own Summer (Shove It)
20) Change (In The House Of Flies)
ENCORE:
21) Hole In The Earth
22) Knife Party
23) Rickets
24) Minus Blindfold
25) Pink Maggit (with “Back To School”)

Soundtrack Only Songs: Deftones- Can’t Even Breathe

The sounds track to 1996’s Escape From L.A. is quite a good one. It features songs from White Zombie, Tool, Ministry, Clutch, Deftones and many more. The film itself is still a fun movie but, the soundtrack is what holds up most. One song from it that I’ve always enjoyed and have hoped for years that would be played live is the contribution from Deftones and their song “Can’t Even Breathe.” It’s an early Deftones track that is a bit of a pre-cursor to where they were headed after Adrenaline. This is one of those soundtrack only songs that should be celebrated!

Deftones- Can’t Even Breathe:

Deep Cuts: Deftones- When Girls Telephone Boys

The other day I saw that it’s the 20th anniversary of Deftones 2003 self titled album. I remember the day it came out, it was also the same day as Metallica’s St. Anger! When I went to listen to the album, it’s been quite a minute since I have, I quickly remembered an old favorite song and went straight for it and that song would be “When Girls Telephone Boys.” This song is one hell of a gem. It’s got everything I like about the band in one and live?! Oh, it’s a beast that goes off! I’m just gonna keep it short and simple, enjoy this song!

Deftones- When Girls Telephone Boys:

Soundtrack Only Songs: Deftones- Teething

The Crow: City Of Angels (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack ...

Yesterday evening, I was on a Deftones rabbit hole and found myself looking up a lot of Adrenaline era live videos. While on this trip, my interest in the song “Teething” peaked the most. I will always remember the song from being a part of The Crow: City Of Angels Soundtrack (great soundtrack but, terrible movie). I especially remember that they are in fact featured in the movie playing the song. “Teething” most definitely should have been included on the Adrenaline album. It’s such a cool song. So, enjoy some Deftones today!

 

Teething- The Crow: City Of Angels version:

 

 

 
Teething- 1993 Demo version:

 

 

 

Teething- Live 1996:

 

Secret Songs: Deftones- Damone

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On Deftones second album (and my personal favorite) 1997’s Around The Fur, it didn’t just have one hidden track, but two. After the final song “MX” finishes, there’s about 15 minutes of silence before there’s a 20 second skit/recording called Bong Hit, which is exactly what it sounds like. Some 13 minutes after that, though, “Damone” begins and the rest is history! This song shouldn’t have been a hidden track. It’s too damn good not to be included in the original sequence of the album. No matter what though, Deftones really knocked it out of the park with this one!

Deftones- Damone:

 

 

Memorable TV Performances: Deftones on Conan O’Brien 1998

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Back in 1998, Deftones were riding high on their second album Around The Fur (my all time favorite Deftones album). By the time their second single “Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)” dropped, Deftones were fast on their way to begin taking over. On April 20, 1998, they performed “Be Quiet and Drive” on Late Night with Conan O’Brien before heading out on the Vans Warped Tour (back when they still had great lineups). Check out this great performance!

 

Deftones- Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away) on Conan O’Brien 1998:

 

 

Title Tracks: Deftones

Deftones_(Logo)

Deftones have a long history of making quite complete albums. There are a couple that are a little disjointed but, for the most part are rather perfectly sequenced. Their artistry and evolution is something that many bands from their era should have taken a cue from. They’ve managed to stay relevant by pushing themselves as songwriters and performers as well as incorporating other elements into their sound to separate themselves from their peers. On these few title track songs, Deftones, really encapsulated the sound of these albums with these songs.

Deftones- Around The Fur:

 

Deftones- Diamond Eyes:

 

Deftones- Gore:

 

Ultimate Set List: Deftones

Deftones_(Logo)

I really thought that this feature was a lot of fun so I’m doing it again. This time I present my ultimate set list for Deftones.

Here are the rules:

Rule 1: maximum 25 songs

Rule 2: What line up of the band would it be

Rule 3: Where would you want to see the show

Lineup: Chino, Steph, Abe, Frank, Chi and Sergio

Venue: Satellite (Spaceland)- Los Angeles

Set List:

Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)
Around The Fur
My Own Summer (Shove It)
Lotion
Deathblow
Minerva
Beware
Kim Dracula
Swerve City
Entombed
Tempest
Feiticerira
Digital Bath
RX Queen
Knife Party
Passenger
Change (In The House Of Flies)
Diamond Eyes
You’ve Seen The Butcher
Rocket Skates
Risk
Minus Blindfold
Engine No. 9
Root
Pink Maggit