Deftones - White Pony

Sensual and mellow haven't been adjectives associated with aggro band Deftones--until now. The quintet's third outing finds their aural punch softened and deepened, lending songs such as "Digital Bath" a sultry, layered edge. More Tool than Pantera in its sonics, White Pony, in fact, includes a collaboration with Tool/A Perfect Circle singer Maynard James Keenan in the haunting "Passenger." Fans of the band's earlier, harder albums will still find some satisfaction in these developments. "Elite" boasts chunky riffing and metal/rap leanings, while "Korea" is anguished and edgy. More striking, however, are songs like the quirky, futuristic, fervent "RX Queen" and the gentle "Teenager." If you're in the mood to mosh, 1995's Adrenaline and '97's Around the Fur are better choices. For a different Deftones journey, however, delve into this diverse, dynamic, and heady album sans preconceived notions and let White Pony take you on a wondrous ride. --Katherine Turman Amazon.com

My first Deftones album...

I'm a big fan of Chevelle, Slipknot, and Linkin Park. Yes Linkin Park, and from the reviews I've read about Deftones' albums it doesn't seem like many of their fans like Linkin Park. But oh well, I like Linkin Park and Deftones. This is my first Deftones album and overall I have to say its pretty good. It has some good songs and some alright songs but you have to listen to most of them several times to get to really like them. Anyway, here are my ratings on the songs:

1. Feiticeira 2/5 - Not a great song to start the album off with but its an alright song.
2. Digital Bath 3/5 - I like this song. Its got a nice beat to it.
3. Elite 1/5 - Too much screaming. Not a very good song at all.
4. Rx Queen 4/5 -Love the song. Great beat. Well done.
5. Street Carp 2/5 - Lame lyrics.
6. Teenager 2/5 - An ok slow beated song. Kinda boring.
7. Knife Prty 4/5 - Don't like the lyrics. Love how he mixes the guitar with his voice.
8. Korea 3/5 - In my opinion the heaviest song on the album.
9. Passenger 5/5 - My favorite song on the album. Love the lyrics. Love the beat. Just wish the 1st chorus could have been repeated a few more times. The 2nd one just isn't as great.
10. Change(In the House of Flies) 4/5 - Good song.
11. Pink Maggit 1/5 - Worst song on the album. May 21, 2005

Go Deftones!!!

Hell yes! This album finally sees Deftones reaching damn near sonic perfection! I liked Adrenaline, I VERY much enjoyed Around the Fur, and I LOVE this album. This album is filled to the brim with everything I love about this band! "Feiticiera" is brilliant...did you notice how the song has no chorus, but it flows so well, you don't even realize it at first?? This is a very easy album to get totally lost in. Chino's voice sounds better than it ever sounded before, the guitars grind, blister and blugeon the ears, while trippy synth washes and strange soundscapes interweave themselves into the songs, the bass is deep and rich and the whole album has a very subtle and hypnotic intensity to it. Although it's considerably less in-your-face than Adrenaline and Around the Fur, I think White Pony is in some ways, even heavier than those albums. The guitars here are about as sludgey and razor-sharp as they always were, but in terms of mood and atmosphere, this is one hell of a heavy, heavy album. I remember when I bought this album...it was at the beach one summer. I went out and bought this and came back to relax in the sun and listen to it. It was a GREAT experience...This is perfect blasting VERY loud on lazy hot summer days. Just let it play and don't worry about skipping any tracks...they're all good. Actually "Elite" is the only track I get a bit tired of sometimes, but it's still a good song. If you get one Deftones album, get this one. It's filled with more great, smart musical ideas than most alternative metal bands have EVER thought of in their entire careers. April 18, 2005

A vocalist's wet dream.

I don't really have anything to say about this album besides the fact that it got me into singing, and I'm very glad I found it. This album vocally is truly outstanding.. listen to digital bath to find out what I mean.. and Passenger features the great Maynard James Keenan from Tool.. while for your screaming fix we've got Elite and Korea. Truly a great album, amazing for vocal practice. November 9, 2004

Confused? You'll know when you're ripe.

After the 1997 masterpiece, "Around the Fur", the Deftones continued to incorporate heavy layers of mood and atmosphere into their music, inspired by bands such as The Cure. The result was "White Pony", which was hailed by critics as one of the best albums of the year upon its release in June of 2000.

"Feiticeira" opens the album on a heavy note. The song is fast paced and unpredictable, containing numerous tempo changes as lead singer Chino Moreno puts himself in a fictitious kidnapping scenario.

"Digital Bath" is another tune in which Chino creates an eerie scenario for the song (electrocuting a woman in a bathtub), but the morbid lyrics are masked by his amazing vocal delivery. The seductive, ethereal verses are the perfect lead in for the soaring, spine-tingling chorus.

"Elite" is probably the heaviest Deftones song ever; a brutal onslaught of unrelenting neo-industrial/metal guitar riffs and insane vocals from Chino - he literally screams his way through the whole thing. It'll seem un-listenable at first, but give it time to grow. I couldn't stand it at first, but now it's one of my favorites (I even quoted a part of it in my title).

On the opposite side of the spectrum is "Teenager", the most intimate, beautiful Deftones song ever. The electronica/trip-hop beat is the perfect backdrop for Chino's gorgeous vocals.

Speaking of amazing vocal performances, check out Rodleen in the background of "Knife Prty". Think Claire Tory from Pink Floyd's "The Great Gig in the Sky", but scary. It's amazing that someone can *shriek* high notes like that. The song itself is great too, one of the most haunting, mysterious tunes on an album full of haunting, mysterious tunes.

The heavy, carnal "Korea" is probably my favorite song on the album - a wonderful blend of crunching guitar riffs, enigmatic lyrics, and an awe-inspiring bridge that soars majestically amongst its power and aggression.

"Passenger", in which Chino trades off vocals with Tool/A Perfect Circle front man Maynard James Keenan is another awe-inspiring song that layers metal-like guitars over an atmospheric backdrop.

"Change (In the House of Flies)" is easily the most accessible song on here, and its video even earned the Deftones a slot on MTV's TRL for a few days. It fits the mood of the album perfectly though - slow creeping, spooky verses lead into the heavy-but-catchy chorus, and an even catchier bridge.

"Pink Maggit" closes the album in a perfect way. An 8 minute epic that goes from minimalistic and eerie to upbeat and anthematic. The latter part of the song was heavily reprised in "Back To School (Mini Maggit)", the second single which was tacked onto the beginning of a re-release. It's a decent nu-metal style song, but this is the true version of the album.

Other standouts include the hypnotic, sexy groove of "Rx Queen" and the straightforward, catchy "Street Carp".

Although I slightly prefer "Around the Fur" and their most recent self-titled album, "White Pony" is definitely the Deftones' best effort in terms of incorporating mood into their music. Everything on here is haunting, mysterious, etc., whether it be the music, lyrics, or in many cases, both. It's also the most accessible Deftones album overall, as it contains a bunch of really strong hooks amongst all the experimenting.

Highest Recommendation.

Best Songs: Korea, Elite, Teenager, Pink Maggit, Passenger, Digital Bath.
September 7, 2004

Take a Ride

Beautiful in its dark, gloomy dissonance, the songs on White Pony combine Chino Moreno's haunting melodies crooning over churning guitar riffs which are overlayed by moody textures provided by Frank Delgado's turntables to create atmospheric hard rock unlike anything ever heard -- or felt -- before. The songs could easily follow in the like of Pink Floyd while still living up to the mosh-pit insanity that inspired 1995's Adrenaline, and each song is powerful enough to drive the listener into emotional overhaul as he bangs his head to the cymbol-laced "caffiene beats" of drummer Abe Cunningham. Digital Bath is outlined with moody background electronics and an infectious drum intro before being taken over by a call-and-response guitar riffs and incredible melodies from the likes of Moreno. Rx Queen is another electronic-laced track with a massive percussive effect traced by intricately layered guitars and whispered vocals. Street Carp is a simple, straightforward hard rock smash in the vein of Around the Fur's Lhabia and songs such as Elite and Korea are massive in their bombastic heaviness with chunky riffs and fast-paced rushing. Passenger strings together a dextreous guitar riff, heavy bass, and shrouded vocal interplay between Chino and guest Maynard (Tool, A Perfect Circle). However, the album's glory shines through the most in Change and Knife Prty, two songs that show the newest side of Deftones, while keeping the Deftones heaviness we've all come to love. Atmospheric and moody, they send chills down your spine unlike anything else you've ever heard.

Overall, this album is Deftones' most experimental album that pushes the "boundaries" of rock beyond anything done before. DJ Frank Delgado, who appeared on a few songs on Adrenaline and most of the songs on Around the Fur, really makes his presence known on this album in an extremely subtle way. One of the greatest things about this album is that none of the songs sound the same. From the downtuned, crunching glory and screaming grungy vocals of Elite, to the acoustic-string sampler Teenager, and EVERYTHING in between, White Pony never fails to deliver. The only way to describe every track is atmospheric and dark. It's heavy, but it is also beautiful. June 24, 2004

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