Rock critics have generally given Deftones a special place above, or at least apart from, the rest of the turn-of-the-century nu-metal movement. While they certainly share Tool-type influences with peers like Korn and Linkin Park, Deftones have always seemed more curious, more willing to incorporate traditionally revered sounds like dream pop or D.C. hardcore into their Southern California alt-metal. So critics and fans alike will be pleased with 2005's Rarities, Covers and Videos, which opens with fantastic covers of Jawbox ("Savory") and Cocteau Twins ("Wax and Wane," from 1982's Garlands) before unleashing an electro-acoustic take on their own "Change (In the House of Flies)." Even dads will be pleased with the selection: Deftones include a version of Skynyrd's "Simple Man," which manages both bluesy rigor and Chino Moreno's soulful, oddly androgynous vibe. (Come to think of it, dads might not be so pleased.) Elsewhere, they tear into Helmet (the frenetic "Sinatra"), Duran Duran, the Cure, and the Smiths. Duran's "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want" (where they sound like Ride) and "Chauffeur" date from 1994, while the Cure's "If Only Tonight We Could Sleep" is a live recording from 2004. Perhaps the most surprising turn of events is that Deftones also cover the subtle Sade. "Ordinary Love" drifts into dream state and just sort of stays there. Even here, though, the band conjures up the edgy giddiness that marks the best Deftones material. The previously unreleased "Black Moon" features Cypress Hill's B Real, and "Teenager" is reworked to match Idiot Pilot's cover of the White Pony original. (It also features that band's Michael Harris.) Rarities, Covers and Videos also includes reissues of Deftones originals like "Digital Bath" and "Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)."
- Johnny Loftus - allmusic.com
