Gift (Taproot album)

Template:Use mdy dates {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |{{#if: June 27, 2000 | Template:Short description}}}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=Upon Us1999Welcome2002AlbumGifttaproot_gift.jpgTaprootJune 27, 2000January–March 2000Template:FlatlistNu metal43:22Template:FlatlistUlrich Wild
David Benvenistex|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}} Gift is the debut studio album by American alternative metal band Taproot. It was released on June 27, 2000. The singles "Again & Again" and "I" reached No. 39 and No. 34 on the Mainstream Rock chart. The album has sold over 250,000 copies.<ref name="CMJ" />

Background, writing and recording

Taproot singer Stephen Richards told CMJ New Music Report that the songs on Gift were written in 1997, playing the songs for a few years. He claimed that "Dragged Down" and "Now" were the only songs written specifically for Gift. Taproot spent six weeks working on Gift.<ref name="CMJ" />

Music and lyrics

Described as a nu metal album,<ref name="CMJ">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the album's lyrical themes are primarily about topics such as depression and disliking life.<ref name="Allmusic" /><ref name="CMJ" /> Taproot's vocalist Stephen Richards' vocals on the album Gift have been compared to vocalists such as Chino Moreno, Trent Reznor, Jonathan Davis and Mike Patton.<ref name="Allmusic" /><ref name="RS" /><ref name="CMJ" /> The album consists of vocal styles such as singing, rapping, growling and screaming.<ref name="Allmusic" /><ref name="Drowned" /><ref name="CMJ" />

Reception

Template:Music ratings AllMusic's Brian Musich stated "dropping in a time when rap-rock is all the rage, as it sells albums like mad, garners instant publicity from MTV, and packs stadiums in a new generation of concert festivals, Taproot is guaranteed media exposure and a large built-in fan base." He added, "If they had dropped Gift two years earlier, Taproot would be pioneers. Instead, they are adequate followers."<ref name="Allmusic" /> In June 2000, CMJ New Music Monthly called the music "blistering melodic metal" and compared the vocals to Incubus and Faith No More.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In her July 2000 review, CMJ New Music Report's Amy Sciarretto wrote that it "sounds like Faith No More engorged with programming or Incubus spiked with more guitar grit."<ref>https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/CMJ/2000/CMJ-2000-07-10.pdf Template:Bare URL PDF</ref> In October 2000, Ben Raynor of Drowned in Sound gave the album a positive review, and praised the vocals of Stephen Richards, writing that, "Taproot are the perfect antidote to rap metal at a time when music needs them."<ref name="Drowned"/>

Notes

• Tracks 2, 6, 7, 9 and 11 are re-recordings of early songs the appeared on the demos, "...Something More Than Nothing" and "Upon Us". Both were released in 1998 and 1999.
• A b-side, "Day By Day", can be found on the Dracula 2000 soundtrack, CD single for "Again & Again" and the Japanese release of "Gift". It would later be released as a digital single in 2020 as part of the Warner Bros. Archive series.
• Other b-sides entitled "Thriftwhore", "Strive", and "Get Me" can be found through file-sharing networks. These recordings, along with "Day By Day", would later be officially released on the 2018 boxset Besides.<ref name="PRP">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Credits

Taproot

• Stephen Richards - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
• Mike DeWolf - Lead Guitar
• Phil Lipscomb - Bass
• Jared Montague - Drums

Production

• Tom Baker - Digital editing, mastering<ref name="Allmusic. Credits">Gift - Taproot - Credits. Allmusic. Retrieved March 19th, 2011</ref>
• Frank Gryner - Assistant engineer<ref name="Allmusic. Credits"/>
• Scott Humphrey - Mixing<ref name="Allmusic. Credits"/>
• Ted Reiger - Assistant engineer<ref name="Allmusic. Credits"/>
• Stephen Richards - Programming, vocals<ref name="Allmusic. Credits"/>
• Edward Smith - Photography<ref name="Allmusic. Credits"/>
• Ulrich Wild - Engineer, mixing, producer<ref name="Allmusic. Credits"/>

Charts

Album

Chart (2000)	PeakTemplate:Breakposition
US Billboard 200<ref name="Allmusic. Billboard albums"/>	160
US Heatseekers<ref name="Allmusic. Billboard albums">Gift - Taproot - Billboard Albums. Allmusic. Retrieved March 19, 2011</ref>	6

Singles - Billboard (United States)

Year	Single	Chart	Position
2000	"Again & Again"	Mainstream Rock Tracks<ref name="Allmusic. Billboard singles">Gift - Taproot - Billboard Singles. Allmusic. Retrieved March 19, 2011</ref>	39
2001	"I"	Mainstream Rock Tracks<ref name="Allmusic. Billboard singles"/>	34