Review Summary: Killer atmosphere, gorgeous vocals and sick riffs.
The follow up to 2003's self titled album, and to say it lived up to the expectations would be an understatement.
Hole In The Earth - 5
"I hate all of my friends, they all lack taste sometimes"
Absolutely gorgeous track. Acts great as an album opener, and the best choice for a first single, as it encompasses the whole theme of SNW perfectly. The soft and mellow, yet saddening vocals are on the spot, while the guitar solo at the end releases the bottled up rage that feels as if it had been kept inside during the whole performance.
Rapture - 2.5
"Instead you just waste, waste, waste my time"
Speaking of bottled up rage, Rapture comes right after Hole In The Earth, and continues right where the first track left off. This is just a matter of personal preference, but I am not a big fan of Chino's vocals in songs such as this, hence the lower rating.
Beware - 4.5
"Beware the water"
It's unbelievable how a song about drowning someone can make you feel so calm and at peace with everything. But I guess that's been already done, with Digital Bath.
The way the whole track builds up from start to end is just stunning, and so is the instrumental at the end. Makes me a bit sad that this song wasn't released as a single.
Cherry Waves - 3
"Saw your end..."
Although I mostly love all of Deftones' chill songs, this one doesn't seem to quite do it for me. I've always thought of Cherry Waves as Beware's more unsuccessful brother.
Mein - 5
"That way I'll always stay away from you"
I just love everything about this song. The spaced-out dreamy vocals, Serj Tankian's part, the lyrics...even the video with people randomly break-dancing around the band. A lot of the fans seem to think this is one of the band's worst songs ever, and a poor choice of single because of its repetitiveness, but to me it's some of their finest, most exquisite work. The atmosphere in it is just killer.
U, U, D, D, L, R, L, R, A, B, Select, Start - 4.5
Or as most fans refer to it, Konami Code, is Deftones' shot at creating an atmospheric post-rock piece. And they've definitely nailed it. Again, as with most tracks on this album, it seems to fit perfectly with everything else that's going on. Deftones could easily make a full instrumental album and it would surely be worth listening to.
Xerces - 4.5
"Same haven, new new world"
Ah, Xerces; the perfect song to play as a cliche on a rainy day when you've just broken up with somebody. All jokes aside, this is simply a masterpiece when it comes to conveying the sadness and regret that the lyrics bear.
Rats!Rats!Rats! - 1.5
"Don't wanna say nothing, nothing... I just wanna say something"
One of the few songs from the band that I can honestly say I dislike completely. It just seems so half-a#%ed and rushed. The lyrics don't seem to express anything other than generic yelled-out frustration, and the guitars and drumming sound like the tasmanian devil is playing.
Pink Cellphone - 4
"All of these are variations of the basic ego gloried lie theme, in which you follow the gospel truth"
Aside from the final minute of this song, which honestly, I don't know what it's supposed to be, this is something different from any songs I've ever listened to. It's not necessarily original, but it's... just something else. Anne Hardy's voice is spot on, and combined with Chino's vocals, this makes for a weird, yet somehow great tune.
Combat - 3
"Whose side are you on?"
Somewhat similar to Rats! and Rapture, Combat makes for a slightly above average end to the more hardcore part of Saturday Night Wrist. Although not as sub-par as Rats!, it's not really something extraordinary. I must say I love the intro, though. If that intro were on a completely different song, that would have been a completely different story for me.
Kimdracula - 5
"Don't blink tonight"
In my opinion, the absolute highlight of the album, and one of the best tracks in Deftones' entire career. I have no words to describe how incredible this song is. Lyric-wise it seems to continue where Combat ended; "Whose side are you on / I really wish you'd make up your mind".
The riff at the begininng of the song is something that will surely stick with you after listening to the album, and so will the mesmerizingly beautiful vocals.
I'm glad they still play Kimdracula at some of their shows.
Riviere - 4.5
" You wait, I wait, outside"
Perfect choice to end the absolute masterpiece that is this album. The hint of mild guilt and sorrow is all around this track; and definitely not in a bad way. If there were any kind of feelings that had not been awoken by this album, then Riviere makes sure it gets to them. Simply stunning.
AVERAGE SCORE : 4.27
but I like Pink Cellphone... except for the nonsense rant at the end.
