Taproot - Gift

Gift is an acerbic and uncompromising tour de force that never once allows directionless bombast to triumph over stylistic artistry. That said, Taproot are certainly no slouches when it comes to bludgeoning. The band's Smashing Pumpkins-like wall-of-guitar soundscapes, disconcerting staccato rhythms, and vocalist Stephen Richards's vocal assaults are accentuated beyond sanity by Ulrich (Pantera, Static-X) Wild's trademark production chops to devastating effect. Eastern accents haunt the nagging choruses of "Again & Again." "Now" showcases the band's seductive light-and-shade dynamism and harmonic sensibility, while the closer "Impact" boasts a merciless, scorching delivery. Based upon Gift, star status seems assured for Taproot. --Ian Fortnam Amazon.com

Good cd!

Taproot isnt for everyone. I havent really heard much of them lately. This cd is average! March 24, 2008

Descent album

Descent album, and in my opinion, taproot's only good album. The other albums have like one or two good songs on them. But this one is solid from start to finish. It also features one of my all time favorite songs. May 28, 2007

Not what I'd hoped

I bought "Welcome" first, so with minor exception I tricked myself into thinking that "Gift" would be an earlier, more raw rendition of "Welcome". Nothing could be further from the truth.

Musically, I think "Gift" is Taproot before they learned to play and sing. It is also far more "fad-ish" than I expected. Sounds too much like the rap-rock and uninspired guitar work of Limp Bizkit and other here today-gone tomorrow bands of the era. There is little to no melody or pleasing sounds here, the lyrics are uninteresting, and the recording itself is abysmal....wtf is up with some recording engineers today? Is the only recording level they know "0db"?

Bottom line...if you like "Welcome", don't bother with Gift. Doesn't even sound like the same band. December 22, 2006

Just... Disappointing.

Disappointing. Very disappointing. Their first album is excellent. Their newest album is excellent, but this one is simply disappointing.

Not one of the songs hit me as "good" and that's just... well, disappointing. March 16, 2006

You'll listen to this AGAIN & AGAIN

When Gift was first released my friend got the CD and played it all the time....so much so that both of us got sick of it and he eventually threw it away. Fast forward to about three months ago and I'm sitting in the autitorium about to watch Staind (my favorite band) throw it down and Taproot gets up to open. I wasn't expecting much but they blew me away. The next day I went and bought all three of their CD's and I have to say that Gift is just as great the second time around. 'SMILE' opens things perfectly and 'IMPACT' closes out the same...but it was and still is the single 'AGAIN & AGAIN' that just gets my blood pumping. 'NOW' and 'I' and my personal favorite 'MENTOBE' just rock everytime...songs like 'EMOTIONAL TIMES' are a little too whiney for my taste's but '1 NITE STAND' makes up for it (killer song)...This album is just all around kick@$$ and will be on constant cycle in your CD changer...just take a hint from me and don't play it TOO much...savor it...it taste better that way. March 10, 2006

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