Rock critics usually reserve a special place for
Deftones above or at least away from the rest of the turn-of-the-century nu-metal movement. While they definitely share the influence of a group like
Tool with peers like
Korn and
Linkin Park,
Deftones have always seemed more curious, more willing to incorporate traditionally revered sounds like dream pop or D.C. hardcore into their southern California alt-metal. So critics and fans alike will be happy with 2005's
Rarities, Covers and Videos, which begins with fantastic covers of
Jawbox ("Savory") and
Cocteau Twins ("Wax and Wane" from 1982's
Garlands) before dropping an electro-acoustic retelling of their own "Change (In the House of Flies)." Even dads will be happy with the set:
Deftones turn in a version of
Skynyrd's "Simple Man" that manages bluesy grit and soulful, weirdly androgynous
Chino Moreno atmospherics at the very same time. (On second thought, maybe dads won't be happy.) Elsewhere they tear into
Helmet (a raging "Sinatra"),
Duran Duran,
the Cure, and
the Smiths. "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want" (where they sound like
Ride) and
Duran's "Chauffeur" date from 1994, while
the Cure's "If Only Tonight We Could Sleep" is a live recording from 2004. In perhaps the most unlikely turn,
Deftones also cover pop sophisticate
Sade. "Ordinary Love" plateaus into a dream state and just sort of stays there. However, even here the band conjures the razor-edged queasiness that marks the best
Deftones material. The previously unreleased "Black Moon" features
Cypress Hill's
B Real, and "Teenager" is reworked according to
Idiot Pilot's cover of the
White Pony original. (It also features that band's Michael Harris.)
Rarities, Covers and Videos also includes re-versions of
Deftones originals like "Digital Bath" and "Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)," a DVD with every
Deftones video, numerous photos, and liner notes for each song written by the band. More than just a holdover until a new album,
Rarities, Covers and Videos is a fan thank-you that also reinforces
Deftones' ongoing creative mission. ~ Johnny Loftus