"Plain Boring"

[musteatbrains]

Preface:  this is not a "troll" topic, or meant to cause flaming.  As a lifelong, rabid Deftones this all comes from the heart, and I hope it inspires honest discussion. 

It pains me to admit this, but over the past couple years, the Deftones have just become plain boring to me.  They seem to have lost their mystique and intrigue.  Their performances have become predictable and contrived.  In the past (esp White Pony, ST, and even SNW days), every performance seemed like it could be their last.  It appeared as though they were constantly teetering on the brink of disaster.  But lately things appear more stable on stage.  Perhaps even choreographed.  The spontaneity is gone in my opinion.  To me, all of the performances from 2009-current are nearly identical in terms of how they appear and sound.  Same songs, same moves, same covers.  Chino makes the same comments to the fans, takes his shirt off (wtf?), and does his signature barricade appearance night-in, night-out.  The same can be said for the interviews, which have grown nearly pointless/unbearable to listen to or read b/c they say the same safe lines over and over, as if it's all scripted (wouldn't be surprised).  And Sergio usually rambles like an idiot.  Even the imagery is gone.  The whole owl thing to me was just plain cheesy, especially when we found the stock photos.  The new "deftones" font is wannabe-graphic-designer-trendy, and the Diamond Eyes booklet didn't even have any custom artwork or photos - just black background and white text.  I know some might think that was a "design decision" but it looks budget to me.  I'll never forget "Bandaged Love" from the ST booklet, and the personal photos from the band - they really grabbed you into the album.  And as painful as SNW is, the art direction and imagery was fantastic.

So maybe I'm getting older, and I'm just less impressed?  Or maybe Deftones have gotten older and they're no longer inspired?  The guys are getting older, families have stabilized, less drugs/drama - all these seem like good things but to me, the stability creates a boring, uninspired artistic environment.  Not trying to get cliche here with what inspires an artist, and what tortured lives they live, but frankly I miss my Deftones who were full of swagger, mystique, unpredictability, intrigue, and style.  Honestly, I saw them over the summer, and it made me cringe - chino, a grown man, jumping around like 16 year old boy.  It just looked silly.  I think they need to age more gracefully.  Chino should be producing albums left and right.  All these bands coming up today grew up on the Deftones.  He could be fabulous mentor and producer, and hopefully make some money off of it.  I think the crosses stuff is a step in the right direction as well.

Anyways, I clearly got off-topic in my own post (embarassing!), but hopefully some of you lifer fans can relate - is the magic gone, perhaps a little bit?

[lostpilot]

I can say it's completely different. Just the magic is gone. Yes, the mysticism they perfectly portrayed in S/T is gone.

[Penicks]

good post, got to agree

[Starz]

The shows back in the day were unpredictable because Chino mainly was never sober and today he is. The shows are more rehearsed now and tight due to being more focused and not partying as much. They've been playing some of the best shows of their lives at the moment because everything is good in the Deftones camp. In the past this wasn't always the case. Also, with a new bassist I'm sure the rest of the band are reluctant to be more spontaneous.

Anyway, these posts are the type of bullshit Chino was talking about. Like we the fans know what's best for the band. The past is the past, the shows will never be like they were back then so there is nothing we can do about it apart from move on...

[Northcal]

Dude amen u  said it mister,lol aint that tha truth

[Vesanic]

Fuck yeah.

[pony_01]

You're not getting older. The Deftones ARE

[crock master]

 this is what you get from all bands that have migrated from small venues to playing arenas.the band and the crowd both get a personal atmosphere from small clubs,which is much more sincere  especially from an upcoming band.  

 once a band is established, the majick will be gone. this happens time and time agaian with any successful   band.

[Vesanic]

Hahaha, post of the year right there.

[Sushi-X]

Preface:  this is not a "troll" topic, or meant to cause flaming.  As a lifelong, rabid Deftones this all comes from the heart, and I hope it inspires honest discussion. 

It pains me to admit this, but over the past couple years, the Deftones have just become plain boring to me.  They seem to have lost their mystique and intrigue.  Their performances have become predictable and contrived.  In the past (esp White Pony, ST, and even SNW days), every performance seemed like it could be their last.  It appeared as though they were constantly teetering on the brink of disaster.  But lately things appear more stable on stage.  Perhaps even choreographed.  The spontaneity is gone in my opinion.  To me, all of the performances from 2009-current are nearly identical in terms of how they appear and sound.  Same songs, same moves, same covers.  Chino makes the same comments to the fans, takes his shirt off (wtf?), and does his signature barricade appearance night-in, night-out.  The same can be said for the interviews, which have grown nearly pointless/unbearable to listen to or read b/c they say the same safe lines over and over, as if it's all scripted (wouldn't be surprised).  And Sergio usually rambles like an idiot.  Even the imagery is gone.  The whole owl thing to me was just plain cheesy, especially when we found the stock photos.  The new "deftones" font is wannabe-graphic-designer-trendy, and the Diamond Eyes booklet didn't even have any custom artwork or photos - just black background and white text.  I know some might think that was a "design decision" but it looks budget to me.  I'll never forget "Bandaged Love" from the ST booklet, and the personal photos from the band - they really grabbed you into the album.  And as painful as SNW is, the art direction and imagery was fantastic.

So maybe I'm getting older, and I'm just less impressed?  Or maybe Deftones have gotten older and they're no longer inspired?  The guys are getting older, families have stabilized, less drugs/drama - all these seem like good things but to me, the stability creates a boring, uninspired artistic environment.  Not trying to get cliche here with what inspires an artist, and what tortured lives they live, but frankly I miss my Deftones who were full of swagger, mystique, unpredictability, intrigue, and style.  Honestly, I saw them over the summer, and it made me cringe - chino, a grown man, jumping around like 16 year old boy.  It just looked silly.  I think they need to age more gracefully.  Chino should be producing albums left and right.  All these bands coming up today grew up on the Deftones.  He could be fabulous mentor and producer, and hopefully make some money off of it.  I think the crosses stuff is a step in the right direction as well.

Anyways, I clearly got off-topic in my own post (embarassing!), but hopefully some of you lifer fans can relate - is the magic gone, perhaps a little bit?

hahaha See this is the kind of shit that gets Chino riled up.

[Northcal]

Good then ,and I will add chino stop dressing like your son dude and tell celeste stop looking at me like she was at the the memorial audi a year ago ,i would do her do kinda milfy ,i still lov the tones my fav band

[from_musings]

yes the magic is gone i think. apart from the piece that there would be something embarrassing about chino when he's shows a lot of energy on stage - i agree on everything.(but if chino would cool down and just stand there on stage, he would get a lot of shit for that too, getting accused for being old and boring).but i guess what you say is what most fans feel, when comparing deftones years ago to deftones in present time. i think the trick is to compare deftones to no deftones at all. they got tired of the whole thing during snw and almost broke up, and moving on after chi wasn't something that was obvious so i think deftones in the way you describe it is still better than nothing. for me, i can take if the interviews are shit, predictable play lists, sergio etc, etc  if they still make good records. but if the new record will be even more poppier than d.e, and they make more songs like sextape,rocket skates,beauty school, 976 evil etc i think it's better to quit it all.i like the song diamond eyes but am concerned about the cheesy melodies. i want them to want to make songs like royal, not make them just because they feel like they have to. good music is more important than the magic around the whole rock band circus thing but regarding the shows, it's not them living the rock n roll life which showed on stage before, just a normal day at the job nowadays. strictly routine

[Jacob]

I don't know what this "magic" is you speak of. what I do know is that the band is a lot more focused these days and it makes them sound better. and they look healthier and happier, especially Chino. while I've enjoyed every Deftones album greatly so far, Diamond Eyes felt like they're getting back on track. these songs sound a lot more inspired and spontaneous than anything since White Pony. they might not be experimenting as much, but I don't mind because I think they were on top of that on WP and haven't really gotten much further since. and as for the live shows, they might not be as unpredictable, but when I see a band I highly enjoy I want them to sound good and look like they enjoy doing what they do. that can't really be said about Deftones between WP and DE. Chino was always drunk and only sounded good on a handful of shows, and often seemed uninterested in putting on a great show. now he sounds better than ever and seems focused on delivering.

[Vesanic]

Good then ,and I will add chino stop dressing like your son dude and tell celeste stop looking at me like she was at the the memorial audi a year ago ,i would do her do kinda milfy ,i still lov the tones my fav band

Celeste ?

[Vesanic]

now he sounds better than ever

Deftones - Hexagram live @ Pershing Auditorium, July 1st 2003 [1/17]

Deftones-Hexagram-LIVE in Denver, CO


Ok, yeah, sure.

[from_musings]

i guess braineaters "no magic"  is a little like vesanic's "no soul". it's not all about hitting high notes, it's about delivering a feeling about honesty straight from the heart. not just watching a pre-programed machine going off when pressing the play button

[deftoneseba]

I agree with the budget part. I can't seem to like DE as I like their previous albums.

[Northcal]

Good then ,and I will add chino stop dressing like your son dude and tell celeste stop looking at me like she was at the the memorial audi a year ago ,i would do her do kinda milfy ,i still lov the tones my fav band

Celeste ?

Yea dude it was her,trust me 

[Vesanic]

You're sure you don't mean his girl Risa ? I saw them a couple of times on the Diamond Eyes tour down here in Europe and she didn't look really friendly.

[from_musings]

I saw them a couple of times on the Diamond Eyes tour down here in Europe and she didn't look really friendly.

no but that was because you did this face to her