Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Esteban Ricardo checkin' in:

hello everyone...  not much goin' on here in A2,  just startin' to get fired up about the new album.  keep in mind "home" is just one track, so for all the haters, there's at least 8 or 9 other songs to look forward to hating as well, so don't let it all out at once!  and thanks to everyone for being so patient w/ us and still checkin' in....love you all- Stephen Steele Richards

42 comments:

Anonymous said...

STEVE!!!11one the man, the myth..... the compulsive masturbator haha. kidding, but great to hear from you!

me personally, I don't "hate" the song, I was just shocked when I first heard it..... it's incredibly different from anything in your band's catalog, but then again I realized that each Taproot album sounds different from each other, so I'm just trying to get adjusted to it. overall, my hopes are still high for the album, and I can't wait to purchase it and hear it!

hey man, you probably hear this all the time, but..... are you still a big Limp Bizkit fan? LOL 'cause I am too, but I was just curious if you and Fred and the rest are still pretty tight or whatnot..... just wondering! oh yeah, are you still a big Bone Thugs-N-Harmony fan too? 'cause I noticed that a lot of the hip-hop stuff in Taproot is gone, and I really dug that side of you guys! it took me a long ass time to find your indie stuff, but I have to say that ...Something More Than Nothing is probably the best rap-rock record I've ever heard.

I also just wanna say that you're a really big inspiration for me, musically and otherwise..... your lyrics have really helped me out a lot through some difficult times in my life, and they still do to this day, and I just wanna say thank you. I also hope I can become half as great a singer/lyricist as you! I'm still struggling with guitar to begin with haha.....

anyway, I hope you and yours are having a great day, and I look forward to hearing the new album. peace out!

Anonymous said...

kiss ass (above)

Ant Dammit said...

Steve!!!!!it's great to hear from you here!!!you know,I was at first shocked by the "mainstream" sound of the song,but then I started listening to it again & again =) and I heard the same old TAPROOT in it and I absolutely fell in love with this song!!!!You evolve,guys,and that's GREAT!!!You evolve,but don't give up your roots.and thank you for your Music!
love you all,peace =)

darkblue said...

Well said! =)

Jcdrummr said...

I dont care what anyone says...that song is ALL Taproot, and I love it. Your part reminds me of a b-side and I quite figure out which. Whatev, I'm pumped for the album and that amzing live show. I've brought people to shows who have never heard of Taproot and after one show they were hooked. Keep doin what you do!

stephen steele richards said...

i just now realized i could check comments.... haven't even started on this site, was addressing the ones from myspace or are they the same? i dunno, but just the fact that u guys are checking in means alot, and yes michael to both, i am currently maturbating to limp bizkit! ha

Tim said...

For a few seconds I thought you guys had Scott Weiland guest singing on the new song. You're really improving your range Esteban, good job!

Now for the inevitable bad news. As a huge fan of Sumtimes, I'm saddened that some of the complexity of Taproot songs is fading. I love Stephen's layered vocals and Phil's schizophrenic basslines in that song and others, but those little details seem to be getting washed out in favor of a more generic mainstream sound. In fact one of Phil's posts last fall was about simplifying his part in one of the new songs and I nearly had a heart attack. Those little details are what put you over the top in my mind.

You guys still kick ass and I hope you continue creating and playing whatever you like. I just wanted to throw in my $0.02 since it might actually be read!

Anonymous said...

Hey Steve.. did any of the songs from the youtube previews last year make the final cut? how about kevin spacey?

stephen steele richards said...

there's actually a lot of cool and layered (probably even more so) elements on this album, so don't give up.... this song is just one that fits the term "good song", not "the single", not the "mellow", not the "basher" which are all still to be heard, which leads me to answer as best i can, the youtube song we previewed a while back was what i just referred to as the "basher", now called "take it", yes, that made the final cut, but no kevin spacey.... hope this helped- stephen steele richards

Anonymous said...

Love you 2 :p

fear2see said...

was "you're not home tonight" that one song that was played at the machine shop called smth like "tonightless?" Im not sure cuz wasnt able to go.

stephen steele richards said...

yeah, that and "take it" we've tried live before

Anonymous said...

fuck no kevin spacey!

Anonymous said...

Stephen,

I think we should kick at Pinball Pete's sometime!

As for the new song, I'm really impressed that you guys mixed up your style so well and still had space to keep the usual Taproot sound.

I can't wait for the new album. I'm still rockin' BSR in my car :)

Anonymous said...

Get your ass down to the UK when the albums released! Seen you once in Manchester... awesome show!!! Was hoping to see you when BSR was released but obviously there were complications at the time. Anyway have a guddun (good one)! - Andy, York, UK

Tim said...

Fuck no Steve, I'm not giving up on you guys. Ask 311 - they had to churn out 2 awful albums in a row to end their 12 year streak as my favorite band. You guys now occupy that esteemed position and you haven't cranked out a bad one yet. Can't wait to hear more from the new drop!

P.S. piss on all those Welcome haters on the myspace page

Anonymous said...

Hey Steve did the slower song with the chourus " be the one..that you want" make the album?? JRod #2

Anonymous said...

such an amazing chourus ..Jrod #2

stephen steele richards said...

yeah, be the one's on there

Anonymous said...

thanks for the quick respond Steele ~ JRod #2

Anonymous said...

Don't listen to the nay sayers, your new track kicks ass!

I really like the guitar layering on it and you can tell you guys are growing as artists!

Much Respect

Anonymous said...

If you wish to keep living life as a musician, you may want to listen to the REAL reviews from your actual fans. You may not like what you hear, but realize what YOU think is amazing, may in fact be terrible and you should cherish what honest feedback you get from your fans. Without us, you'd be working a regular job.

So humble yourself and realize that not everything you record is automatically gold to everyone who hears it, and that we as fans are just supposed to drool over it.

What we are all really saying is that we think you guys are capable of putting out better songs than this first one you chose to release. Although, there may in fact be better songs on the album, most of us feel, this one shouldn't even be on the album.

Of course you are free to release what you want, but don't insult your fans by calling us haters, challenging us to hold back our hate for the rest of the album, and then saying you love all of us.

Taproot's popularity has been falling, and it can only fall further if you choose the path of ignorance.

Please take these words for what they are, honest. Also realize that we fans DO love you guys and only want you to succeed.

Anonymous said...

dude can't take a joke haha. i thought the hater thing was funny. if you don't like the music then why are you even here guy? bye

Anonymous said...

-Steve-

You wanna mess with Limp Bizkit? You can't mess with Limp Bizkit! Why? Because we get on, every day and every night!

Yah that's Fred's rebuttal! word dog! hahahahahahaha

Chris O.

Anonymous said...

hahah nice Steve

stephen steele richards said...

i apologize to my band, and anyone that took offense to my "hater" comment, but the "haters, the haters" thing was caught by at least 2 people, being people understanding for my sense of humor, as well those fans of the Limp Bizkit! the post about my lack of humbleness is truly correct if i was serious, but i honestly was joking! had u "hated on us" via the myspace page, i'd have already contacted you, thanking you for even caring enough to stay up to date w/ us...as you so rudely pointed out, our popularity IS falling mr/ms. anonymous, but i'm not ignorant enough to ignore ANY comments good or bad, in fact i put my name on 'em.... i already proved i know lyrics to Trapt, my god (oops...sorry christians...joke lies here) what else can i say? i've gotta go back now, to worrying about income, the new album, seeing my fiancee for a second time in 9 months, and honestly surviving as a human, not a musician, by keeping a roof over my head, and that's no joke!

PhillyTR said...

I think you're comments have been amazing so no need to apologize. I was just telling Mike either today or yesterday that it's great to see you on here and your comments back to people have been hilarious and hit all the right points...as long as people know how to read, which apparently some people just skim and look for things to take the wrong way. Who's this anonymous guy anyway? Sometimes he likes us, sometimes he hates us...what's your deal ANONYMOUS?!?!

Anonymous said...

Whats this about Phil moving to Hollywood??

Seriously anxious to hear the new record. I've been in complete anticipation since mention of new material first popped up on the website.

Hopefully you guys play a show somewhere around here. Last time I was at a concert you were supposed to play there ended up being no Taproot that night because "Stephen Richards was sick." That sucked.

Keep up the good work fellas.

Anonymous said...

Quick question.. What song is this? And is this going to be on the new record? Because it seriously kicks ass.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP5w1nCL9rk&feature=related

Anonymous said...

Stephen what's your fav Taproot song you guys have ever written? And what beer do you like so I can buy you on when I come to a UK show?

stephen steele richards said...

favorite song we've ever written for me would probably be "Art".... it's just a song where mike and my guitar parts really warm together, even though "theoretically" they should clash, and even though some may consider it a sell out move, when mike and i went into that room and watched an orchestra play eerie yet cool parts that we'd help write, that was amazing! but live i still like playing the old shit.... unfortunately, i only really like the lightest of beers, so over in europe, maybe an amstel light or sumthin, but wine's always good! ha

Anonymous said...

You know what is really sad, Steve? That you actually have to worry about income and a band like say...um I dunno...Fall Out Boy, doesn't!!!! WTF??? People need to pull their head out of their arses and realize good rock music! My man Freddie D can't even rock it with the Bizquick anymore cuz of the nu metal haters!!!!(and poor album sales). Man I say go on tour with Vanilla Ice and tell North America what's up!!! LOL

-Chris o.

Anonymous said...

I must say all these comments are hilarious. Steve really got personal there, dam must of struck a nerve. In general i'd like to know what happened period. Okay your music changes but to the extent, where i don't even know what to do at your show, if i should get drunk to drain out the sound or just stand there clueless wondering what happened. I mean don't expect income if you shift your sound too much, people can't adjust to different genres every album "Dude". If not there wouldn't be one hit wonders. Let's be realistic ANONYMOUS might have the last laugh, when you end up realizing your band isn't going to reach a known level, I mean notice your fan base is shrinking, smaller..and smaller until poof you realize you need to change something up. It's only reality, no offense should be taken.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, I agree with that comment above and you know what Steve? That poor guy or girl probably who poured their heart out into a message for you, which you trashed and called his/her comments rude when they were true facts, means I bet you lost them as a fan, and definately me too. You suck seriously.
Don't give us the crap that the life you chose as a rock star is a burden either. You can always get a regular job or 3 like the rest of us who worry about income too. Give me a break.

Anonymous said...

you dont get into a band because you want to do the same shit every day. if you wanted to that, youd choose something else. give em a break. the song is awesome guys! good work.

Anonymous said...

Hey Stevie baby, don't sweat the crapola people say. You can't please 100% of the people 100% of the time, so take the high road brother.

As for the new tune, I didn't like it much, sorry. I generally prefer much heavier music than you guys do anyway, BUT I have always liked you guys. I thought BSR was awesome by the way. Really, in my opinion, you guys have never put out shite, so until you do, I gots your back, yo!

J from MA

Anonymous said...

Wow! This blog suddenly turned into Loserfest 2008.

Pay no attention to the trolls who feel like they're the ultimate somebody and can come in here and tell you how to write music.

Incase people havent realized with 95% of music/bands/artists, music evolves from record to record. It's called creativity and changes in inspiration, so on and so forth.

The other 5% of bands that crank out record after record that sounds exactly the same typically dont stick around long.

Meanwhile, we've got an artists website [as such] in which "FANS" are supposed to be visiting to see what the band is up to, and these so-called "FANS" are slandering their effords after only hearing one song on an upcoming album that sounds "different" then their usual. Get serious. Get a life.

Anonymous said...

Steve one of the first youtube clips you put up where mike was playing guitar and i think you where tracking, then it shows the drummer listening to the finished demo and nodding his head saying that was awesome. Its a real head banger and im dying to hear if it made the final cut? I hope! Good luck with everything guys you fuckin rock.

Anonymous said...

yea that song i believe is called "take it" as mentioned by Steve..it made the cut

Anonymous said...

Cheers for the answer Steve. My fav songs never actually made the Welcome album but it was great the they were on the Poem single... Free & Transparent. Again & Again was the first I heard and instantly fell in love with, but glad you don't feel the need to re-tread old territory and make new refreshing music every album you guys make.

Can't wait for the new shit!

For ppl being being pissy that your sound has altered/matured... what's the point of bringing out another Gift or Welcome? You've already got them, listen to them! I personally wanna hear something new!

stephen steele richards said...

wow... the "so rudely pointed out" is just a common cliche "phrase", i am sarcastic at times, sorry... jeez.... but yeah, i think this recent anonymous is correct, and the heavy song from youtube you speak of "take it" is on the album

Lindsay In The Sky With Diamonds. said...

So i was looking back at the blogs,and this one peaked my curiousity..I cannot fathom the reasoning behind taking your time to check out this site,and then hating on the music.Plus reading about the fan base declining really pissed me off..But i make it a daily mission to introduce one person a day to the unstoppable force that is Taproot.Anyways for all these 'haters' who have nothing better to do than bitch..i only wish i could grow a dick for you to suck.Take your negativity else where. Taproot has and will always be a sound to be reckoned with.I guess for some of you 'Radio Rock' will do..But i allow my ears only the best...and Taproot it is. I fucking love you guys! The new sound is amazing.Couldnt ask for anything more.Fuck em' if they cant dig it.