Deftones
Private Music
(Reprise Records)
We often refer to albums as being “front-loaded,” meaning that the best tracks are placed at the beginning to grab the listener’s attention immediately. However, on Private Music, Deftones have taken a “back-loaded” approach, as the final four tracks of this album reach levels of brilliance comparable to White Pony and Diamond Eyes.
The second single, Milk Of The Madonna, ushers in a significant shift, introducing the first stylistic swerve that’s different for the band. It’s almost punky in its delivery, and you can feel the band and the production loosen up. This continues into the incredible Cut Hands, which sees Chino doing his almost rapping but not quite poetic direct delivery in new forms and with massive amounts of punch.
The aforementioned track then segues beautifully in a deconstructive jam that the Beastie Boys would be proud of into Metal Dream, which has the most transcendent chorus they’ve delivered since Diamond Eyes. The sublime parting Departing The Body is intimate and brooding, and everything a parting track should be, almost leaving you on a cliffhanger.
So, what about the first half of the album? It consists of Deftones doing what they do best, which is still significantly better than what many other bands achieve. There are callbacks to familiar themes and motifs from their previous work that might prompt thoughts like, “Oh, that sounds like…” While this is enjoyable, it doesn’t feel groundbreaking. After all, Deftones pioneered these tropes, so, understandably, they would revisit them.
This is why the second half of the album stands out so brightly: it is here that they abandon formulaic structures and explore freely.
However, this review comes with a caveat, as long-term fans, we know that the depth and full majesty of a Deftones record often unfolds after multiple listens (usually around the eleventh), so it’s possible that the first half of this album will reveal its own hidden gems, similar to those we cherish from the second half.
Review By George Miller