Deftones, “My Own Summer”

by Alexandra Molotkow

The Deftones, who “stole the show from SoCal counterparts Incubus last night at #EchoBeach,” were the thinking teen’s nümetal band. Not as stupid as Korn, but not as smart as not nümetal. This puts them in awkward position, nostalgia-wise, because they’re neither so bad they’re good, nor totally… good. But, you know, this one’s a hot riff. A blazing riff. A riff to remember. A thoughtful riff with a keen sense of humor. A beautiful riff with a terrible secret. A quick-tongued riff with an ace up its sleeve. A riff to scramble your eggs. A riff to bring home to mom.

Also, no matter where you are in life, it’s important to keep listening to anger songs for idiots. One of these days you’re going to be bloated, and late for work, and no one on the escalator will be walking left or standing right, and you’ll only have grownup music to listen to.