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Taproot
Welcome


2.0
poor

Review

by Damrod EMERITUS
January 14th, 2005 | 39 replies


Release Date: 2002 | Tracklist


Some general impressions
I own both major albums by Taproot. 'Gift' as well as 'Welcome'. I enjoyed 'Gift' actually, but 'Welcome' was pretty poor to me. I heard the first single 'Poem', and thought "Different style, but not bad. Why not?"

After listening to the record the first time, I was kinda confused. Ok, this was the voice of Stephen Richards, but... no more screaming and shouting (which does not have to be negative). But very mellow instrument playing. Very early it get's clear that Taproot try to explore different musical territories. Some songs still remind one of the old days of 'Gift', like 'Myself', 'Fault' or 'Sometimes'. But only for the first couple of seconds. After that, I'm reminded of Incubus' 'Make yourself' or Hoobastanks 'Self-titled' albums.

Don't get me wrong, I kinda like both bands. Hoobastank and Incubus. But this seems like a pathetic attempt to be like them. The heaviness and their own sound has been gone. If it wasn't for the voice of Richards, the songs could be mistaken for songs of the bands mentioned above.

Still this album has it's moments. 'Poem' is nothing special, but a solid headbanger. 'Art' has an interesting chorus, which I realy like, as well as experiments with string arrangements. One of the better songs.


What I really like about the album:
Generally, I'm a fan of screamed and shouted vocals with melodic vocals. (Best example: Killswitch engage- Alive or just breathing?) And on some songs on this record, it is done not bad. 'When' for example. Like I mentioned before, the use of strings on 'Art' is not bad either. And to be honest: I'm always happy when a band tries something new. And in that special way, 'Welcome' is a good record.


What was not so good:
The downside this is, that this record sounds like a copy of 'Make yourself'. About 95% of the time I'm reminded of Incubus. Or worse, Hoobastank (meaning a copy of a copy). The instruments are not that bad, but Steven Richards vocals are somehow...boring. He sounds pretty much the same all the time. Like a stencil used for every song. No real variations, what is not that bad if you make music like Hatebreed for example. But on 'Welcome' there is little to no chance to recognise a song by the sound of the vocals IMO.


Summary:
I enjoyed 'Gift', but this a weak record. Almost no song stays in your ears. Neither positive, nor negative. Before thinking about doing this review, I tried to remember what songs are on that record. I knew that Poem was on it. But could not remember one melody of the song, or much worse: one part of the lyrics. Normally, I know the lyrics to a song inside out after hearing it about 3 or 4 times. For me, a very bad sign. Plus the constant reminders of Incubus. It sounds like a bad 'Make yourself' copy, without a real own unique sound. Im pretty disappointed, as I still like to listen to 'Gift' every now and then.

Suggestions (or songs I liked): Poem, Art

Rating: 2/5 :( (plus one half point in mind for the effort to evolve. Nice try, but bad luck)



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user ratings (272)
3.1
good
other reviews of this album
Supercoolguy64 (3.5)
An album with a good message but a couple of flaws...

PrimordialSound (4)
The Nu-Metal group that should have gotten more recognition....

ThePalestMexican (2.5)
Taproot jumps for the stars, and misses the landing....



Comments:Add a Comment 
OnesandZeros
January 3rd 2004


5 Comments


I have to agree and disagree. While I enjoyed this album, and at the same time felt let down after Gift, I still think they put a good foot forward. And I really saw no "Incubus" in this as the songs aren't really "for the ladies" but to each his own.

LordDarky
January 5th 2004


1 Comments


I have to agree after the power in songs from "Gift" such as "I" and "Dragged down" I was extremely dissapointted in "Welcome", the best way for me to desribe the album is "Boring"

Personally I felt that "Time" the last song on the album was the best song.

YDload
January 5th 2004


1207 Comments


Which song of theirs is on the "Dracula 2000" soundtrack? I kind of liked it at the time.

hybridofsound
March 27th 2004


131 Comments


Is Again And Again on this album?

Damrod
Moderator
March 27th 2004


1093 Comments


[QUOTE=hybridofsound]Is Again And Again on this album?[/QUOTE]

Nope, it's on their previous album "gift".

The JoZ
March 27th 2004


345 Comments


Having never heard "Gift", I liked this one quite a bit...I listened to it constantly when I first got it...

Now? I still listen to it once in a while...but it's nowhere near my favorite thing to put on anymore

brycey
March 28th 2004


205 Comments


I listened to the album a few times when I was with a friend a few years back. I liked a lot of the songs I heard, especially "Poem".

i am the robots
February 7th 2005


1027 Comments


I think that this album is as good as their previous albums (major and indie), just a bit different.... I was odly reminded more of Alice In Chains meets Korn by this album.... but that's the feeling I get whenever I hear Taproot... odd?

I'd have to say the highlights are:

Dreams, Time, Fault, and Breathe

Thor
July 18th 2005


10357 Comments

Album Rating: 1.5

Overall a really weak album. The only song I ever really liked was their single "Poem". The rest of the album was just lame and weak.

gimo80
July 29th 2005


270 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

No, I thought the album was very good. I mean it's different, and they have experimented a little more with this album, so I appreciate their efforts. However the lyrical content is very repetitive (notice how many times he says 'myself' in every song), and the last few tracks are a little weak. But otherwise, it's very well composed and executed.

circleofdeadchildren
September 11th 2005


119 Comments

Album Rating: 1.0

Damn that cd sucks i dont know what i was thinking when i bought it.

CushMG15
November 28th 2005


1810 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0

They lost almost all the energy that they had on Gift. And therefore i found this album to be rather boring. It's cool that they experimented a bit, but they're nu-metal. Nu-Metal bands always tend to be boring when they don't have energy. Just bland.

sj_2150
November 30th 2005


251 Comments


yucky music

ocelot-05
January 17th 2006


807 Comments


I remember hearing the beginning of a Taproot song that sounded embarassingly close to Smells Like Teen Spirit. The same kind of riff was stummed by itself, and on the last bar there was a drum fill, leading into a distorted main theme. I couldn't believe how much of a rip of it was.

NuMetalMania
January 17th 2006


325 Comments


Just another Nu~Metal band, nothing special here. Wasted my money on this.

Acey
April 29th 2006


2578 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

i think their first CD had a harder feel to it. but this one isnt too bad, the song Poem is really good. other than that, it is just basic stuff

RazorBladeLight
May 2nd 2006


258 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

I like Taproot. This album sounds good to me. I bought it for Poem (which is still great) and ended up liking TIME best. It has a couple of other tracks that r good. I dunno about their best stuff, but i do think it's better then Gift, but not as good as Blue Skies

Acey
May 6th 2006


2578 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

RazorBladeLight

i think their first cd is more varied, with tracks like Now and Again & Again, but this is still a good CD. some of the songs are really cool sounding. My favorite is Mine, but Poem is good also.

-

is Blue Sky Research better than their other two CD's? i wanted to find out from someone rather than just buying it.

f_u_c_t
May 6th 2006


1406 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

um, well if you would consider the album being softer, mellower, as better. IMO this one is so much better. But BSR is more of an album to sleep to. I dont hate it, but alot of people do. Im glad i bought it.

Acey
May 6th 2006


2578 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

thanks for the info f_u_c_t. i will have to consider, because i listen to my music to go to sleep





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