By Sara
Released: October, 2002
Label: Atlantic
Skip To Track Listing
Taproot, the well known emo/screamo band with awesome fun members such as front man Steve Richards, guitarist Mike Dewolf, bassist Philip Lipscomb, and drummer Jarrod Montague. The new album "Welcome" captures Taproot's extraordinary artistic growth on songs such as the provocative first single "Poem," and the intricate "Mine," which jumpstarts the proceedings by introducing a trip-hop-inspired beat and three-part harmonies into the band's already unique sonic attack. "'Gift' [Taproot's first CD] was the result of four years of writing songs and trying to get people on our side," says singer/guitarist Steven Richards. "'Welcome' represents the first time that we've had to opportunity to go into the studio and experiment, to explore our song writing and really create something that was uniquely Taproot." Taproot headed to Los Angeles' Cherokee Studios with close to 30 songs written since the completion of "Gift". But after weeks of pre-production, their producer suggested they go home to Michigan for Christmas and take time to try and unleash their true artistic selves. "Toby [Taproot's producer] saw how much fun we had goofing around the studio," Richards says. "So he wanted us to relax and allow more of our true selves into the songs. At first our jaws hit the floor, because we thought we were ready to go, but it really sparked us to step outside ourselves and write music that was more honest and more fun to play. When we came back and played the new songs to Toby, he was floored. 'I knew you had it in you,' he told us. The record would not be the same if he hadn't pushed us the way he did. He deserves props for making us search for the best music we had inside us." says Richards following with "I'm just writing about the things we all feel inside. Music is my creative outlet, so it's the place where I get to vent and deal with the things that haunt me. If I need to get something off my chest, I can do it through the music, and only good can come from that."
"But there's no getting around the fact that the songs are very personal," Richards adds with a laugh. "I actually came up with a new drinking game - when you listen to a Taproot song, you have to drink every time I say 'me,' 'myself' or 'I.' You'll get loaded just a few bars into the song!" With hardcore emo/screamo songs such as "Poem" and also more mellow songs such as "Like", Taproot's "Welcome" is full of surprises and very emotional. After non-top touring since "Welcome" hit stores in 2001, Taproot is hitting the studios right now working on their third CD which should be hitting stores sometime summer 2004. The band plans on touring after the CD comes out.Quotes used courtesy of Taprootmusic.com.
Track Listing:
1. Mine
For More Information:
2. Poem
3. Everything
4. Art
5. Myself
6. When
7. Fault
8. Sumtimes
9. Breathe
10. Like
11. Dreams
12. Time
• Official Site: www.taproot.com
• Label's Official Site: www.atlantic.com