Around the Fur

by

Deftones

Edit

Deftones killed with this one!

Deftones improve on this album from their 1995 adrenaline release. If you just recently started listening to the Deftones, especially White Pony, this has some of White Pony's similarities but basically has a much, much harder edge. In fact, the entire CD is pretty much edgy. Here are my opinions on each song on a scale of 1 to 10:

1. My Own Summer (Shove It) - 10. No, this isn't basically Chino yelling "shove it" just for the hell of it, the words are artistic. Chino does possibly his best vocally on this track. As their most known single, it's definitely a great mood setter for the upcoming tracks.

2. Lhabia - 10. Wow! I have no idea why they didn't release this one! (Actually they could have released the entire first 8 songs for singles!) The verse is mumbled with Chino's rage, but the Chorus is extremely pleasurable to the listeners ears, wow!

3. Mascara - 10. Gorgeous. Ballad-esque. Sultry yet edgy. Chino sings the verses beautifully. But the Choruses are what stand out. "There's something about her", OH, VERY MUSICAL!

4. Around the Fur - 10. Heavy. TITLE TRACK ROCKS! Chino sings and yells just great. The riffs are catchy (damn, they always are!). Could've definitely become a major, major hit.

5. Rickets - 10. Excellent. Tool-style beats here (YES!), the chorus is so catchy that it's most memorable of the entire CD. Guitars are heavy, y'all!

6. Be Quiet and Drive Far Away - 10. Another Ballad-esque, but this time with probably the best song structure. The hookiest song on this CD, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

7. Lotion - 10. Probably the heaviest. The chorus is again catchy! Will these hooks ever end? LOL!

8. Dai the Flu - 7. It's good. Don't get me wrong. It just drags a tiny bit and it might sound too similar to the other songs. The chorus is okay also.

9. Headup - 10. Another Tool-sound, but then Chino raps in (Maynard doesn't rap).

10. MX - 8. I didn't like the cameo of the girl, sorry. It's annoying. Otherwise it's okay. I love the chorus, man!

The sophomore jinx isn't even considered, great job Deftones. GET THE ALBUM IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY. ORDER IN THIS ORDER, AROUND THE FUR or WHITE PONY, THEN ADRENALINE!

I picked this album up based solely on Amazon recommendations, along with Adrenaline.

When they arrived I listend to Adrenaline first, and then this album. While Around the Fur is a solid album with an overall strong sound it didnt measure up as well as Adrenaline to my ears.

My Own Summer (also on the MATRIX Soundtrack) is probably the strongest track on the CD. It also has a different sound than most of the other tracks on the album, unfortunately.

lhabia is a bit grating and gets old fast.

Mascara is an interesting track, starting off slow and slowly grinding up to a crescendo and then tapering off again.

The title track starts off good but then doesnt really go anywhere.

Rickets is sort of interesting, but screamed rather than sung.

Be Quiet & Drive is extremely cool, with a good grove.

Lotion starts off decent, but turns out to be a bile-filled rant set to music. Overall a weak track.

dai the flu is a distinctive and top-cut track. Very mellow but at the same time menacing.

head up features Max Cavalera of Sepultura/Soul Fly fame, but is rather disappointing. It sounds like someone is just shouting 'Soul Fly' repeatedly.

mx is kind of average, and wraps up the album.

All around not horrible but not as good as Adrenaline.