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Last Active 12-09-19 5:48 am
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| Deftones + Poison the Well
So, if you know me around here it's fairly obvious that my two favorite non-hip hop artists are Poison the Well and Deftones. But have you ever compared these two bands? I mean, other than a sonic comparison. They have very similar career arcs, and while I do feel they are very similar in sound, I'm going to give this analysis a go. What do you think Sputnik? | | 1 |  | Deftones
Adrenaline | | 2 |  | Poison the Well
The Opposite of December
Ok, the official debut album by each band (I know Deftones had Like Linus and PTW had Distance Only Makes the Heart Grow Fonder, but for the sake of this discussion I'm leaving those out). These albums are similar in a couple ways. First off, Adrenaline is probably as close to a hardcore album as nu metal ever got (especially in the early days). TOoD is easily Poison the Well's most hardcore album, and to a lot of people, a landmark album of the genre (similar to Adrenaline being a landmark and pioneering nu metal album upon release in 1995). This is each band at their most raw and aggressive. Newer fans to each band that got into later works such as The Tropic Rot or Saturday Night Wrist often don't appreciate these albums quite as much as those who were there when they came out. Both are very simple and minimalistic compared to the rest of each band's catalogue. | | 3 |  | Deftones
Around the Fur | | 4 |  | Poison the Well
Tear From the Red
The second album from each band is initially hard to draw similarities from, but take a closer look and I think you'll see that these records are very representative of one another. Often times, these are the most overlooked albums from the bands. More of a progression from the debut than a total reinvention (something the bands would be known for starting with their third albums), these discs see Poison the Well and Deftones refining and streamlining their sound as opposed to redefining it. Deftones removed a lot of the "nu" staples such as rapping and personal screaming rants (see second single 7 Words off Adrenaline compared with Be Quiet and Drive off ATF) and focusing more on "form" than "content" (for all you non-film school nerds out there, they were focusing on the aesthetic appeal of the songs, rather than actual songwriting, hooks and structure). A love it or hate it affair on both sides, these albums are generally the favorite or least favorite (and nowhere in between) for most fans of the bands. PTW added some improved clean singing and better production, furthering the melodic hardcore of the predecessor and hinting at what was to come next (both bands experimented with ambience, atmosphere and texture slightly on these albums). | | 5 |  | Deftones
White Pony | | 6 |  | Poison the Well
You Come Before You
Regarded by most as each band's landmark album or magnum opus, this is where all the inventiveness and progression only hinted at in previous albums came to fruition. Acclaimed by critics and fans alike, these were regarded as masterpieces upon release and are still viewed that way today. This was also the peak of each band's commercial success. | | 7 |  | Deftones
Deftones | | 8 |  | Poison the Well
Versions
In similar fashion to the sophomore releases from PTW/Deftones, these albums are either viewed as progressive hallmarks of creativity or one of the weaker efforts from the band. These albums generally have to grow on you, as I personally didn't exactly LOVE them upon first listen. A mix of the aggression or raw sound of older releases while building upon the progressive elements in White Pony/YCBY, these albums were viewed by many as mixed bags. However, give them time and they may reveal themselves as the epic albums they are. | | 9 |  | Deftones
Saturday Night Wrist | | 10 |  | Poison the Well
The Tropic Rot
Now fully embracing the atmospheric and melodic elements present on their last two releases, both bands have created beautiful records praised by both fans and critics alike. To me it feels like these albums flow almost TOO perfectly. This are each band's most polished album, sporting high production values and correcting a lot of the imperfections that fans found on the previous release.
Ok, is it just me, or is it strange that these bands have followed almost the exact same career arc? I never really thought about it before, but when it hit me today I had to make this list. Please, tell me if I'm off my rocker or not. | |
Inveigh
02.18.10 | album artwork on the first try! sweeeeet... | FadeToBlack
02.18.10 | well The Opposite Of December is my (and quite a lot of people's) favourite PtW album, but yes this is similar | Inveigh
02.18.10 | chambered: yes, it's true, I love the Deftones. Surprise!!!
FadeToBlack: I do know a lot of people that like TOoD best, just like I know a lot of people that like Adrenaline best -- generally those are the older fans though in my experience. I don't know too many people who's first experience with the bands were The Tropic Rot or Saturday Night Wrist who go back and end up liking the debuts more. I could be wrong though. | Eskate87
02.18.10 | interesting comparison, i love each band greatly, so this was cool | SpectralArchitect
02.18.10 | love Poison The Well though never really bothered listening to deftones, maybe I should | Inveigh
02.18.10 | SpectralArchitect: you definitely should check out Deftones, they're like a less hardcore version of Poison the Well (maybe if PtW went art-rock/metal). Start with self-titled or White Pony, then move on to the rest -- if you want my opinion that is.
Thanks for reading my long-ass list guys, haha. | Mevz
02.18.10 | Just to drag this off topic for a sec, what would you lot say is the most accessible Deftones album? I've only heard bits of white pony but i've never really gotten into them... | Inveigh
02.18.10 | Mevz: For Deftones, it really depends on what kind of stuff you like, because all of their albums are pretty different from one another. I just took a quick peek at your ratings, and I think you would probably enjoy Saturday Night Wrist the most. I'd say start there and work your way backwards (you might not dig Adrenaline all that much, but it's amazing to me so give it a shot eventually).
White Pony's a grower. Songs like Digital Bath, Change and Passenger are all pretty accessible, but the remainder of the record might take awhile to grow on you.
I'd say get Saturday Night Wrist and see what you think. | Mevz
02.18.10 | Cheers, i'll check it out.
| Deathcar
02.19.10 | Poison the Well are soo good.
Only Deftones I have is SNW, can't seem to enjoy the rest of it...tried to like White Pony about 5 times now, and no luck. | Inveigh
02.19.10 | Deathcar: try the self-titled one again, it's a grower almost as much as White Pony. I'd say just start with the great tracks off each:
Deftones
Needles & Pins
Minerva
Deathblow
Battle Axe
White Pony
Digital Bath
Knife Prty
Passenger
Change (In the House of Flies)
Then start expanding to songs like Good Morning Beautiful, Bloody Cape, Feiteceira, Teenager and RX Queen after that. If you like the others that is. | Inveigh
02.23.10 | 2,999th comment fools. pretty clever bump, eh? | Deviant.
02.23.10 | And what are you gonna do with this list when Diamond Eyes comes out smart guy? | Inveigh
02.23.10 | I will wait until Poison the Well inevitabely releases another transition album that grows like hell and edit the list. But between May 18th and then this list will be irrelevent. Damn. | Inveigh
03.27.12 | ah, sweet nostalgia | Inveigh
08.02.14 | hell yeah classic list m/
similarities still exist | Inveigh
11.17.17 | BUMP
fly lordz where you at? | Inveigh
02.14.18 | man 18 comments wtf, one of my better lists |
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