Taproot - Welcome

Produced by Toby Wright (Alice In Chains, Korn, Metallica) and mixed by Andy Wallace (Nirvana, Limp Bizkit, Foo Fighters), the 12-track collection finds the Ann Arbor-based quartet in a more reflective, but no less aggressive. Tracks such as the volatile 'Fault' and the provocative first single 'Poem' make it plain why Alternative Press decreed Welcome to be one of the most anticipated records of 2002. Atlantic. Album Description

Be your own judge

I like Taproot. I like this CD. You may not. Naming obscure bands who are "better" or bashing this one doesn't help anyone decide anything. Now, if you like Linkin Park, or Limp Bizkit, you will find Taproot's sound familiar. It's a good blend of melody, rhythm and brashness that appeals to alternative metal fans. It's a bit more "hard rock" than Linkin Park, who focused heavily on rapping, but the music overlaps in style. Taproot's latest CD crosses into the alternative rock brand of things, as did Linkin Park, but it still remains true to the band. Listen to the samples and give the CD a try, and if you like it, buy Taproot's new CD when it comes out! December 4, 2007

I like it

First heard of Taproot on sat radio, downloaded a few of their songs, and was hooked. Bought "Welcome" and after several months in regular rotation I can tell this is one of those albums that I can listen to over and over again without tiring of it. To me, that's what makes a good album.

I'm not ignoring the fact that "Welcome" has an Alice In Chains influence (particularly with respect to the vocals) or the fact that's likely what appealed to me at first, but this is NOT AIC. It's a different and unique blend of hard and melodic rock. It also appears to be recorded well, which is more than I can say for most of today's 0db white noise mastering jobs. There's a notable dynamicism to the recording that makes it a kick to listen to and crank the knob up to "eleven".

FYI, I bought "Gift" as a follow up to this album and while I haven't listened to it enough to give a worthy review at this writing, I can say that it's a different sound. If you like "Welcome" and are thinking of buying "Gift", give it a good listen first. December 14, 2006

Taproot's Best...A Hard Rocker's Must

Taproot have been called an Alice in Chains imitation. They are not. Welcome is one of the most creative disks in the Hard Rock genre. Unfortunately, they took a different direction after Welcome (October 2002) with Blue Sky Research (August 2005).

2002's Welcome separated Taproot from the generic Nu Metal infestation of this decade with off-time beats most clearly heard in songs like Everything, Fault and Sumtimes. Poem was Welcome's claim to radio play and it was a great, foot stompin' rocker. There were different styles and sounds to the tunes on Welcome, and the songs didn't have the Nu Metal Nickelback epidemic of not being able to tell when the track has changed.

Sure, Taproot clearly was influenced by Alice in Chains. In fact, Toby Wright, Welcome's producer, even co-produced some AiC disks. And singer Stephen Richards has an unmistakably clear singing voice that is a bit similar to the late, great Layne Staley.

But Taproot were definitely their own band on Welcome and put out one of the most unique sounding hard rock disks of 2002.

Unfortunately, Taproot lost some of their unique sound with Blue Sky Research, and went to the Nickelback monochromatic formula for some odd reason. My guess it was pressure from their label (Atlantic) to take the fun and creativity out of the music and make more radio friendly music (indeed they hired Billy Corgan [Smashing Pumpkins] to help with some of the Blue Sky tracks).

This past summer drummer Jarrod Montague revealed on Taproot's MySpace blog that the band had parted ways with Atlantic Records. So hopefully Taproot's 4th release will get back to the music that made them unique and hard.

Hard rockers looking for something mostly unique with a bit of an Alice in Chians Dirt influence should absolutely pick up Welcome.
September 12, 2006

4.1

After being skeptical when hearing "Poem" on the radio 10,000 times, i bought this for the hell of it. Just thinking there may be something i am missing. I was right! This album is absolutely beautiful. Just listen to Fault, Breathe and Sumtimes. Perfect levels of heaviness, depth and emotion. I adore this cd. Too bad the follow up was so blah, because they were onto something here... September 9, 2006

Listen Again !!!

I completely disagree with those that don't like this CD. I didn't like it at first and thought it was way too mellow for my taste, but after listening to it a few more times, I really love it. These are extremely good musicians, and that most definitely includes the singer. It doesn't hurt that the lyrics are well worth listening to as well. I'm glad I paid no attention to the negative reviews posted here. March 27, 2006

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