Welcome
Studio album by Taproot
Released	October 15, 2002
Recorded	November 2001 - May 2002 in Los Angeles, California
Genre	Alternative metal Nu metal Art rock
Length	46:44
Label	Atlantic / Velvet Hammer
Producer	Toby Wright
Professional reviews
Allmusic link Blender link Rolling Stone link Sputnikmusic link
Taproot chronology
Gift (2000) Welcome (2002) Blue-Sky Research (2005)

Welcome is the second major label album by the rock music group Taproot. It was released on October 15, 2002. "Poem" served as the album's lead single and became a smash hit, propelling the group to stardom. A follow-up single, "Mine," was produced and its video was directed by System of a Down bassist Shavo Odadjian. The third single and video was announced for "Art," but curiously Atlantic pulled the plug soon after the announcement, further irking fans who claimed the label was holding Taproot back. Welcome remains Taproot's most successful record, selling around 450,000 copies.^[1]

The band performed on David Draiman's Music as a Weapon II in promotion of the album.

Contents 1 Production 2 Reception 3 Track listing 4 Charts 5 References

[edit] Production

During the early development of Welcome, Taproot had given producer Toby Wright roughly 40 complete songs. Wright said that while they were good, the songs were not up to the band's potential, and he forced them to start from scratch. This was initially met with resentment from the band, but they ultimately wrote entirely new songs that they felt show greater maturity.^[2] The only song written prior to this fresh batch was "Poem," which had seen prior success during concerts and went on to be arguably Taproot's most well known single. As with many Toby Wright productions, songs throughout Welcome are heavy on multi-tracked vocals and layered guitars.

[edit] Reception

Critical response to Welcome was largely mixed. Various prominent media critics considered the album too mediocre to stand out among current alternative and nu metal acts. However, melodic improvements from Taproot's prior effort were also cited. AllMusic's Brian O'Neill also compared the band's stylistic "idolatry" as a shift from Korn to Alice in Chains. Robert Cherry of Rolling Stone cited the "me, me, me" lyrics as evidence of needed maturity but added that Welcome "marks a self-preserving transition from new metal to art metal." The publication also cited Taproot as one of the "Bands to Watch in 2002."^[1]

[edit] Track listing

1. "Mine" – 3:49
2. "Poem" – 3:09
3. "Everything" – 3:27
4. "Art" – 4:42
5. "Myself" – 3:47
6. "When" – 4:04
7. "Fault" – 3:19
8. "Sumtimes" – 4:29
9. "Breathe" – 4:17
10. "Like" – 4:38
11. "Dreams" – 3:43
12. "Time" – 3:20

The band also recorded three additional songs during the Welcome sessions. Two of them, "Transparent" (4:23) and "Free" (3:23), can both be found on the "Poem" CD single as B-sides and on the Japanese pressing of Welcome as bonus tracks. The third track, "Remain," has yet to be released.

[edit] Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Year	Chart	Position
2002	The Billboard 200	#17

Singles - Billboard (North America)

Year	Single	Chart	Position
2002	"Poem"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	#5
2002	"Poem"	Modern Rock Tracks	#10
2003	"Mine"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	#23
2003	"Mine"	Modern Rock Tracks	#26

[edit] References

v • d • e Taproot Stephen Richards · Mike DeWolf  · Phil Lipscomb  · Jarrod Montague · Nick Fredell Studio albums ...Something More Than Nothing · Mentobe · Upon Us · Gift · Welcome · Blue-Sky Research · Our Long Road Home Singles Again & Again · I · Poem · Mine · Calling · Birthday · Whenever I Stand