What a tease. 3 days of beautiful, sunny weather here in Waukesha, just to turn back around to 20º, windy, and snowing. Happy Monkey Monday y’all, tis been a busy week for us here. The schedule has been filled to the brim with endless journal articles and mucho preparation for our choir concert yesterday. But we shall still provide for the masses! I have no idea what is going to be in today’s issue, hopefully it’s good. Enjoy, and have a great week y’all!

Monkey Monday 3 #6, trudging in…

Well well well… yet again, I have nothing new and exciting to write about… guess I’ll do what I do best and make another tier list! But first, STORYTIME!

I first listened to Deftones back in 2022 I reckon. I guess around that time they started getting some buzz online with my generation, but I wasn’t really aware about that at the time. I believe the first time I listened to them, I was working as a dishwasher at the ol’ cafe and I was quite angry, and I wanted some angry, heavy music. I stumbled upon their self-titled album, Deftones. I’d never really listened to any kind of metal before, and it was really loud. I wasn’t sure what to think. I listened all the way through and then listened to something else. Then I drove home, and listened to their 2012 album Koi No Yokan while snowblowing the driveway. I listened for a bit, then decided it wasn’t for me, and listened to something else.

(That “something else” was an album titled Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You. I listened to the first song, thought the female singer’s voice sucked, and turned it off. 4 years later it’s my favorite album ever.)

Although I decided I didn’t like it, there was something about Deftones I couldn’t shake. I felt as though I should like it, but I couldn’t figure out how. Nevertheless, despite thinking their music was “too heavy and not for me”, I kept getting drawn back. Then, as I was working out in my basement, listening to Diamond Eyes, it clicked. It was the atmosphere I needed to listen for, the vast, beautiful soundscape. The music doesn’t tell a story, it doesn’t move. Instead it paints a picture, creates its own little universe, frozen in time. Since then, I’ve been locked in! I even got to see them live in Milwaukee with Parin last summer (and I just realized I’m wearing the tshirt I bought from said concert.)

But yeah, I wanted to say all that so that if anyone is even slightly interested in checking out the band before reading this, now you might!

Now… DEFTONES ALBUM TIER LIST TIME!!! Behold, your tiers…

Weak

Adrenaline (1995) - The first album the band ever put out, all the way back in 1995, and I’ve only listened to the whole thing one singular time. One of the really cool things about a band thats been around for over 20 years, is that their sound evolves over time. There are a TON of songs I love, but a lot of songs I don’t like. Unfortunately, I really don’t like all the songs on here. It’s a nu-metal rap combo that I’m not a huge fan of at all. Shoutout baby Deftones though, it was just the beginning.

Favorite Tracks: N/A

Gore (2016) - On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, we have 2016’s Gore. This album, song to song, is infinitely better than Adrenaline. What puts this album so low isn’t that the songs are terrible or anything, in fact there are some standout tracks on here, like Acid Hologram and Phantom Bride. What puts it so low is that they didn’t really do anything special or memorable. It’s kind of boring, and in a way, it marked the end of their prime.

Favorite Tracks: Prayers/Triangles, Acid Hologram, Phantom Bride

High Highs, but Low Lows

Around The Fur (1997) - Going back to what I said earlier, the Deftones sound changes a ton over their tenure. To put it simply, their earlier stuff was grungier, angrier, and sharper, while their later albums transition into a more beautiful, atmospheric, heavy sound. A lot of fans adore the earlier stuff, and for many, this is peak Deftones. For me however, while I still think it’s a great album that has some absolute classics on it, I can’t put it much higher. Shoutout Be Quiet And Drive, probably THE quintessential Deftones song.

Favorite Tracks: My Own Summer, Mascara, Be Quiet And Drive, Dai The Flu

Saturday Night Wrist (2006) - Man. Talking about this album frustrates me. The band was going through some really dark times when they made this. They were drug addicts, there was a ton of conflict and tension among the members, and they were super close to breaking up. This is the product that was created during that time. You can tell in a lot of the songs that something is just not right with the band. But yet, the band somehow produced some of my FAVORITE songs in their discography. This album is basically 6 of their best songs, 5 of their worst, and 1 unplayable, unlistenable, disgusting, offensive work of garbage that will keep me from ever buying this vinyl.

Favorite Tracks: Hole in the Earth, Beware, Cherry Waves, Xerces, Kimdracula

Solid Albums

Ohms (2020) - The album following Gore, things were looking dim for the band. Were they washed out? And then, in 2020, they dropped Ohms. While I don’t think anyone would argue that this is their best album by any means, they proved that they can still put out an awesome body of work. From top to bottom we’ve got solid songs, that actually feel inspired and fresh. While the highs of Saturday Night Wrist are far higher than the highs on Ohms, I would so much rather listen to this album in its entirety.

Favorite Tracks: Urantia, The Spell of Mathematics, This Link Is Dead, Radiant City

Deftones (2003) - This is a weird one. This album has some of their heaviest, loudest tracks, but in a way that’s different from their previous albums. They start to explore a bigger sound in this album, which they go on to hone to perfection later in their career. This album is pretty heavy and dark, I definitely wouldn’t recommend it to someone that’s never listened to the band before. But there are some hits on here, Deathblow in particular is sooooo good.

Favorite Tracks: Needles and Pins, Minerva, Good Morning Beautiful, Deathblow, Moana

White Pony (2000) - The defining Deftones album. White Pony was groundbreaking when it came out (so I’ve heard. I wasn’t exactly alive yet). Critics generally hail this as the best Deftones album, and I can see why, but not every track does it for me like some others. But man this thing is awesome. You’ve got possibly my favorite Deftones song Digital Bath, Change, and a bunch of other heaters. While not every song is my favorite, there’s a ton of variety and original ideas. Classic album.

Favorite Tracks: Feitceira, Digital Bath, Rx Queen, Change (In the House of Flies)

KILLERS

Private Music (2025) - When I first fell in love with the band, I wasn’t sure if they’d ever release a new album again. After all, they had already pushed out 9 albums, were getting older, and seemed to really slow down. Then, this past summer they started teasing a new album. Man oh man, I was SO EXCITED. The first couple singles were fantastic, and teased that the band might actually be BACK back, in their prime. Then, that glorious summer day, the album came out. I was back in Minnesota, and listened to the whole album while walking my dog. I was so stoked and proud, that Deftones, 20 years after their first album, could still put out such amazing music. This album has it all: an exploding start, no-skip tracklist, huge, gorgeous, heavy songs, gentle, romantic burners, fresh ideas, and so on. Chino’s voice sounds as good as ever, and man it’s so good. Half a year later, the novelty has worn off, and the album is still fantastic.

Favorite Tracks: my mind is a mountain, ecdysis, infinite source, souvenir, cXz, departing the body

Koi No Yokan (2012) - These top two can switch around on any given day, but for now, Koi No Yokan is going to hold second place. Talk about an ALBUM. This thing ROARS in right away with Swerve City, and doesn’t slow down, until like, track 9? This album is GREAT start to finish, and has some of the catchiest riffs, drumming, and most beautiful melodies in the discography. This whole album just sounds MASSIVE, like it’s meant for an arena, or space. But yeah, can’t sing enough praise for Koi. I think this (and the next album) are the pinnacle of Deftones.

Favorite Tracks: Swerve City, Romantic Dreams, Poltergeist, Entombed, Graphic Nature, Tempest, Gauze, Rosemary

Diamond Eyes (2010) - Finally, my favorite Deftones album, Diamond Eyes. The opening track, Diamond Eyes, unlocked my brain, and opened up my music palette for heavy music. That night in the basement working out, listening to this album for the first time, oooo it was just so beautiful. Top to bottom, this album rocks. There’s beauty and majesty, but also grit and power. So good, love this album, each track flows so well into the next. Shoutout the owl on the cover, he’s a model for real.

Favorite Tracks: Diamond Eyes, Royal, You’ve Seen the Butcher, Beauty School, Prince, Rocket Skates, Risk

Behold, our final list:

Hopefully my nerdy ramblings have inspired 2 or 3 of you to listen my to scary shoegaze-metal music. Thanks for reading my geekings on this random California band.

-Nate

The piece for our choir concert, Vaughan Williams’ “Dona Nobis Pacem is BEYOND EPIC. We even had a small symphony orchestra join us to truly do the piece justice. And MAN it was awesome. The whole work is 45 minutes in length, and is full of so much variation of sound, while still sounding like one full, unified idea.

Go listen to it, it’s so cool I’m so serious. The album attached below also includes a second work to it, I have zero idea what that is all about, maybe it’s good too. Who knows. But yeah check it out.

-Nate