Deftones

Whether opening with "Back to School" or closing with it, the various versions of Deftones' third full-length get the same point across: this is an artistic masterpiece. Breaking the California quintet out of the nu-metal association, eerily urgent yet tender slow-burners "Change (In the House of Flies)," "RX Queen" and "Digital Bath" are the engaging valleys to crushing peaks like "Feiticeira," "Street Carp" and "Passenger" (featuring Tool's Maynard James Keenan). With gorgeous atmospherics throughout ("Pink Maggit" is a must), Deftones' finest hour is both eclectic and compelling.