Stephen Richards – Vocals, Guitar

Mike DeWolf – Guitar

Phil Lipscomb – Bass

Nick Fredell – Drums

            The four-piece nu metal band from Ann Arbor, Michigan is trying to rekindle what once was a promising music career. After striking a deal with Atlantic Records back in 1998/1999 with help of System of a Down the band looked poised to hit the big time. They released their debt album Gift in 2000 with their lead single “Again and Again” getting big air time on MTV2. They soon hit the road on Ozzfest ’00 and ’01. Getting back quickly into the studio the band then released their second album Welcome with their huge hit “Poem” streaking straight up the charts for a top 10 single. The band hit the road once again on a big time tour and the first of the Music as a Weapon tour with Disturbed. The band took a couple year break and came back in ’05 with their third album Blue-Sky Research which featured “Calling” that almost became a second top 10 single for the band. After poor sales the band and Atlantic parted ways. After pretty good success the band releases their forth album via their management firm Velvet Hammer. Our Long Road Home begins with the track “Path Less Taken” that starts to hammer out great music right away. The track also offers some group vocals as well as some screaming that is perfect constructed into a re-audition to the world of rock and roll. “Wherever I Stand” sort of begins where “Calling” left off in the since that it’s a solid yet laid back sound. “Be the 1” is another track just like “Wherever I Stand.” It has a pretty good beat and lyrics as it displays a possibility of being a live track. “Hand That Holds True” is where the album starts to pick up steam. The track offers up an up beat track with a heavy drum presents and some nice guitar work. “Take It” is that slap in the face, wake your ass up and party track. It features an array of different vocal styles and a killer sound that gets you hooked to the track right away. It seriously pulls you and kicks your ass. “It’s Natural” features a first for the band, introducing a female vocalist on the track. It adds a feature that takes you by shock and sticks with you. Although it’s a slower track vocally, it still holds your attention and slaps you around a bit. “As One” is a track that grabs you lyrically as it is a cute and simple song with big emotion and passion. “You’re Not Home Tonight” begins with lots of drums and pretty clear vocals. they quickly add in some guitars. They did a really good job in picking one of the better tracks to represent the album on the airwaves. “Karmaway,” the longest song on the album, is a great representation of Taproot. It’s a solid track that will captivate listeners and sail the band into another category within their career. “Footprints” closes the album with a warm and fuzzy feeling in the pit of listener’s stomachs. The guitar work on the track is also really good as well. Overall the album is very good. There are a few tracks that I’m not sold on, but there are just as many if not more tracks that I fell in love with and can see me listening over and over again. That’s what makes a great album, a bunch of great tracks that can be played over and over again without getting tired of them.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10

My favorite tracks:

Wherever I Stand, Take It, You’re Not Home Tonight

Track List:

1. Path Less Taken
2. Wherever I Stand
3. Be the 1
4. Hand That Holds True
5. Take It
6. It's Natural
7. As One
8. You're Not Home Tonight
9. Stethoscope
10. Run To
11. Karmaway
12. Footprints