Why is mx by deftones so long

Overview

The Deftones' song 'MX' appears as the 10th track on their second studio album 'Around the Fur,' released on October 28, 1997 through Maverick Records. The album marked a significant evolution from their 1995 debut 'Adrenaline,' incorporating more atmospheric elements alongside their signature alternative metal sound. 'Around the Fur' was produced by Terry Date, who had previously worked with bands like Pantera and Soundgarden, and was recorded at Studio Litho in Seattle. The album debuted at number 29 on the Billboard 200 chart and eventually achieved platinum certification in the United States, selling over 1 million copies. The extended length of 'MX' was part of a broader trend in 1990s alternative music where bands would include hidden tracks or extended silences on CDs, taking advantage of the medium's capacity for longer running times compared to vinyl records or cassettes.

How It Works

The extended length of 'MX' functions through a specific structural arrangement on the CD version of 'Around the Fur.' The track begins with 4 minutes and 37 seconds of actual music featuring Chino Moreno's vocals and Stephen Carpenter's guitar work. At this point, the music fades out and 17 minutes of complete silence follows on the CD. This silence was intentionally programmed into the track separation data on the CD master. At the 21 minute and 37 second mark (17 minutes after the music ends), the hidden track 'Damone' begins unexpectedly. This hidden track features a completely different musical composition with heavier guitar riffs and more aggressive vocals. The effect relies on listeners either letting the album play through naturally or discovering the surprise through track-skipping. Many CD players of the era would display the elapsed time continuing to count during the silent portion, alerting attentive listeners that something might be coming.

Why It Matters

The extended length of 'MX' matters because it represents an important artistic statement about album composition in the CD era. It challenged conventional expectations about song duration and album flow, encouraging listeners to experience albums as complete works rather than just collections of singles. This approach influenced other alternative metal bands of the late 1990s and contributed to the Deftones' reputation for experimental approaches within heavy music. The hidden track 'Damone' became a cult favorite among fans, with its surprise appearance creating memorable listening experiences and fostering deeper engagement with the album. The practice also highlighted how digital media formats like CDs allowed for creative possibilities that weren't feasible with earlier physical formats, though it has become less common in the streaming era where track separation is more rigid.