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Critic Reviews
100
Make this CD part of your collection. NOW!
11y
80
There are enough quality moments on the group's debut to suggest that Taproot have the necessary skills to build a long and illustrious musical career.
4y
60
In the end, Taproot's youthful energy overpowers their limitations.
9y
50
Unfortunately, overall, Gift lacks personality, making the album a decent but disposable and unmemorable listen.
11y
It's been a few years since I've really revisited anything from this album beyond Again & Again, which is still an undeniable banger, but it's also been a long time since I've listened to much Taproot. I've always been more partial to their next two records, Welcome and Blue Sky Research, especially the latter. This album dropped one day after I was born, and it fits firmly in that late 90s nu metal space where the influence of bands like Limp Bizkit and Deftones is ... read more
As you listen to this gift you wonder "Why does this sound so familiar?" Was it in some childhood motocross game? Was it on the alt-rock radio? Was it in my older cousin's CD disc wallet? Then it hits you. These type of vocal modulations are the same iconic ones that Incubus, 311, and Korn were all tapping into. This sort of eastern influenced modulation that seems to flow with the hip-hop nu metal funk elements. A big mix of styles and a pretty amazing balance found. Filled with ... read more
This album has blisteringly heavy riffs, incredibly dense production, odd avant-garde style singing, spoken word/rap elements, and crazy screams.
Some moments feel like Deftones and Faith No More, but man this is a fun album. There are some industrial moments that make the drowning riffs sound that much more intense when combined. Whoever their producer is, they did a really good job.
Score: Decent 7 out of 10
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Track List
| 1 | Smile 3:33 | 87 |
| 2 | Again & Again 3:58 | 92 |
| 3 | Emotional Times 3:03 | 84 |
| 4 | Now 3:23 | 82 |
| 5 | 1 Nite Stand 3:40 | 76 |
| 6 | Believed 4:02 | 86 |
| 7 | Mentobe 3:38 | 62 |
| 8 | I 4:14 | 83 |
| 9 | Mirror's Reflection 3:12 | 77 |
| 10 | Dragged Down 3:31 | 77 |
| 11 | Comeback 4:24 | 77 |
| 12 | Impact 2:49 | 70 |
Total Length: 43 minutes
Comments (1)
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1y
I feel like I used to like this a lot better. It's really not bad, I like the riffs a lot, but the vocals aren't that great.