Saturday Night Wrist by the Deftones can officially lay claim to the title of "only CD that’s managed to leave me feeling bludgeoned and exhilarated in a long long time." In fact, each time I find myself listening to it, it’s as if my mind knows that it will get kicked around from the delicious punch of the music as it enters my eardrums, but I don’t care.
I may need intervention.
“Hole in the Earth,” offers the first sonic bombardment. Laced with a brutal bass and drum rhythm, the song then dives into a melody that accents lead singer Chino Moreno’s voice superbly. How a band can sound delicate and brutal at the same time is beyond me, but the end result of the Deftones’ studio magic is a track that very ably sets the table for the rest of what the band is about to audibly serve you, and is one of my favorite cuts on the CD.
“Rapture,” is a song that lies in wait for you to get finished with the opening track, only to spring upon you with fangs bared. Frantic, frenetic, and filled with an incredible mix of crooning and screaming from Chino, it leaves me dizzy and loving it.
“Beware,” throttles back the speed but not the intensity. Consisting of an ethereal groove and some lovely singing from Chino (despite my having no clue of what the lyrics mean, occasionally) this song is like a small break from the hurricane of the other tracks. The only problem is, this calm in the storm’s eye is laced with haunting shadows that serve to frighten you more than the storm ever could.
Evils we can see versus those imagined, I suppose.
“Cherry Waves,” opens up with a lovely drum beat, which is then joined by Chino’s voice, as it soars up above like a sonic vulture. When the band is ready, though, it goes in for the kill with what turns out to be an amazingly gorgeous song. Again, how can a band tread so heavily and then float ghost-like all at the same time? Amazing.
“Mein,” continues the mood set up by the previous song, but does so with a bit more desperation. Stripping the sound down the band achieves a nice galloping rhythm, and an even nicer song.
“U, U, D, D, L, R, L, R, A, B, Select, Start,” has the distinction of being tagged with a well-known and beloved cheat code for the old Nintendo gaming system. The name works, by the way, as the track is this wonderful and yet clunking musical landscape of sounds and emotions. Many of my memories of playing videogames, especially from when I was younger, are heightened remembrances of just that… sound and emotion. Also, as there are no vocals on this track, I’m sure it gave Chino a chance to give his voice a break!
Article comments
1 - Katie McNeill
I love the Deftones but this just isn't as good as White Pony or Adrenaline. Engine No. 9, One Weak, and Rx Queen. It doesn't get any better than that. Still love this CD because it is the Deftones (and I will listen to it until my ears bleed) but I'm already waiting for the next one.
2 - Michael Jones
I can't argue too much. White Pony is amazing, really.
I also like Around the Fur, but that's not as complete an "album" as WP or even SNW.
3 - Luke Niffy
Nice pitch for the album...you should send it to them, they might be able to put in Revolver magazine as an advertisement. Even better, you should marry them. Just thoughts.
4 - Niffy, again
"I may need an intervention"? This isn't an album review, it sounds like you were threatened into writing it. The album is a very good piece of work, up there with White Pony, but man you could present an argument, or at least make me feel like I need to bother listening to the album at all. Put a "warning spoiler ahead" thing in there before you explain each song next time, jeeze.