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Album Details

• Artist: Deftones
• Album: B-Sides & Rarities
• Label: Maverick
• Year of Release: 2005
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: christopherdrew on 2006-12-29

As entertaining as they might turn out to be, b-side collections are usually the death-knell of many a band struggling to fulfill their contract before dissolving into obscurity; thankfully, that's not the case here. Instead, this seems to be more of a house-cleaning, a chance to let some hidden gems see the light of day, and the simple title of this cd belies the sheer imaginative scope of Deftones.
"With every Deftones record, we usually end the session by recording a cover song by one of our favourite, not so typical, artists.", vocalist Chino Moreno remarks in the liner notes, and while covering The Cure might not seem such a reach for Deftones (a live version of 'If Only Tonight We Could Sleep'), other choices do surprise; Sade's 'No Ordinary Love' is made sinister, Helmet's 'Sinatra' is ferocious and possibly hits harder than the original, and Moreno channelling Simon LeBon for Duran Duran's 'Chauffeur' is remarkably rewarding. Their version of Skynyrd's 'Simple Man' proves that not everything they do has to be fractured and distorted, while Cocteau Twins' 'Wax & Wane' is injected with a psychedelic power that only enhances the song further.
They're also quite adventurous with their own material as well, providing a few stripped-down versions of favourites like 'Change (In The House Of Flies)', 'Digital Bath' and 'Be Quiet & Drive (Far Away)' to show that these songs can stand on their own, without pedal effects and studio tricks. Throw in a few outtakes that have finally found a home ('Black Moon', 'Crenshaw Punch/I'll Throw Rocks At You'), and you've got a collection that rivals some of their best work, perhaps even standing above some of their previous releases.
Included as well is a DVD containing every Deftones video, and it's nice to see every band member contribute to the liner notes, reflecting on personal favourites and such. As stated on the back cover, this CD represents what is essentially a gift to all the fans who've asked for these songs and videos, and it's an outstanding reflection of one of the most unique bands to come out from the nineties; if anything, 'B-sides & Rarities' tells us that there are a lot more surprises in store for us in the future.

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