Blue-Sky Research

Last updated
Blue-Sky Research
Taproot blue sky research.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 16, 2005
RecordedOctober 2004 – January 2005
StudioTrack Record Studios (North Hollywood, California)
Genre
Length51:35
Label
Producer Toby Wright
Taproot chronology
Welcome
(2002)
Blue-Sky Research
(2005)
Our Long Road Home
(2008)
Singles from Blue-Sky Research
  1. "Calling"
    Released: June 27, 2005
  2. "Birthday"
    Released: 2005

Blue-Sky Research is the third major label album by American alternative metal band Taproot. It was released on August 15, 2005 internationally and a day later in the United States. Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan co-wrote three songs on the album. Deftones guitarist Stephen Carpenter and Jonah Matranga from Far and Onelinedrawing make guest appearances. The band wrote over 80 songs for the effort. [1] "Calling" was released as the first single and reached No. 11 on the Mainstream Rock chart, while the second single, "Birthday", reached No. 39. It is Taproot's last album with Atlantic Records, as both parties had decided to part ways. It has a more melodic sound compared to the band's two previous albums, and sold over 150,000 copies in the U.S.

Contents

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AbsolutePunk (86%) [2]
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Blender Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]

Blue-Sky Research garnered mixed reviews from music critics who admired the genre shift and lush production but found it wasted with angst-filled lyrics. Corey Hoffy of AbsolutePunk praised the album for Wright's stellar production, the band's controlled instrumentation and Richards's lyrics approaching close to political territory, concluding that "this remains their most complex and best album to date." [2] Vik Bansal of musicOMH praised the band for taking a melodic approach to the record along with their standard nu-metal formula, concluding that "Depending on your point of view, Blue-Sky Research will either come across as hopelessly unfocused or else one of the more ambitious and versatile rock albums to emerge for quite a while. With the consistent strength of the tunes here, I lean towards the latter." [6] Johnny Loftus of AllMusic found the self-deprecating lyrics formulaic at times but found the contributions of Corgan and Matranga to the record a nice addition to the band's improved musicianship, saying that "even without the hired guns Blue-Sky Research is the most dynamic Taproot album yet (the self-penned "So Eager" proves that), and the album's heightened textures and less predictable turns successfully updates the band's sound." [3] Rolling Stone 's Christian Hoard said that despite the band adding elements of modern rock and electronica to its brand of nu-metal, the album's songs get "dragged down by melodrama and the kind of adenoidal choruses that Incubus do much better." [5] Mikael Wood, writing for Blender , felt that the band was starting to become a relic of its given genre, saying that "On their third album, their lean Everydude grind—processed guitars stacked atop booming arena-rock drums—probes their feelings of insignificance in an all-too-workmanlike fashion." [4]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Jarrod Montague, Mike DeWolf, Philip Lipscomb and Stephen Richards. Cowriters are noted

No.TitleLength
1."I Will Not Fall for You"3:01
2."Violent Seas" (B. Corgan)3:45
3."Birthday" (B. Marlette)4:29
4."Facepeeler"4:49
5."Calling" (J. Matranga)3:53
6."Forever Endeavor" (B. Marlette)4:04
7."April Suits"3:27
8."Lost in the Woods" (B. Corgan)4:14
9."So Eager"4:00
10."She" (B. Marlette)3:25
11."Promise" (B. Corgan)3:35
12."Nightmare"4:02
13."Blue-Sky Research/What's Left"4:42
Total length:51:35
Japanese Bonus Track
No.TitleLength
14."Stay Away"3:19

Notes

Credits

Credits for Blue-Sky Research adapted from AllMusic. [8]

Taproot

Production

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

YearChartPosition
2005The Billboard 200 [9] #33

Singles - Billboard (North America)

YearSingleChartPosition
2005"Calling"Mainstream Rock Tracks [9] #11
2005"Calling"Modern Rock Tracks [9] #23
2005"Birthday"Mainstream Rock Tracks [9] #39

Related Research Articles

<i>Weve Come for You All</i> 2003 studio album by Anthrax

We've Come for You All is the ninth studio album by American heavy metal band Anthrax. It was released on May 6, 2003 through Nuclear Blast in Europe and Sanctuary Records in North America. This was the first Anthrax record to feature Rob Caggiano on lead guitar and their last studio album with John Bush on vocals. The album was recorded over a one-year span at the BearTracks Recording Studio in Suffern, New York. The cover art was designed by comic book artist Alex Ross, while the production was handled by Scrap 60 Productions team. The Who vocalist Roger Daltrey and Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell made guest appearances on the album.

<i>The Greater of Two Evils</i> 2004 studio album by Anthrax

The Greater of Two Evils is an album by American heavy metal band Anthrax. It was released in November 2004 via Sanctuary and is the last Anthrax release prior to the band's reunion with Joey Belladonna and guitarist Dan Spitz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Today (The Smashing Pumpkins song)</span> 1993 single by the Smashing Pumpkins

"Today" is a song by American alternative rock band the Smashing Pumpkins, written by lead vocalist and guitarist Billy Corgan. The song, though seemingly upbeat, contains dark lyrics; Corgan wrote the song about a day in which he was having suicidal thoughts. The contrast between the grim subject matter of the song and the soft instrumental part during the verses, coupled with use of irony in the lyrics, left many listeners unaware of the song's tale of depression and desperation. The song alternates between quiet, dreamy verses and loud choruses with layered, distorted guitars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taproot (band)</span> American metal band

Taproot is an American alternative metal band from Ann Arbor, Michigan, formed in 1997. They are best known for their hit single "Poem", which peaked at No. 5 on the Mainstream Rock chart in 2002.

<i>Gift</i> (Taproot album) 2000 studio album by Taproot

Gift is the third studio album and major label debut 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.

<i>Welcome</i> (Taproot album) 2002 studio album by Taproot

Welcome is the second major label album by American alternative metal band Taproot. It was released on October 15, 2002. "Poem" served as the album's lead single and reached No. 5 on the Mainstream Rock chart, propelling the group to mainstream success. A follow-up single, "Mine," was released and its video was directed by System of a Down bassist Shavo Odadjian. A 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 over 475,000 copies.

<i>Distort Yourself</i> 2005 studio album by Institute

Distort Yourself is the only studio album by American rock band Institute, led by then-former Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale. Released on September 13, 2005, through Interscope Records, the album was co-produced by Helmet frontman Page Hamilton. The album also produced the single "Bulletproof Skin."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonah Matranga</span> American musician

Jonah Rzadzinski Matranga is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist who has released a variety of solo material under his own name and onelinedrawing, and has previously been part of the bands Far and New End Original and Gratitude. He now continues to work and tour under onelinedrawing'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Gunshot to the Head of Trepidation</span> 2005 single by Trivium

"A Gunshot to the Head of Trepidation", often referred to as "Gunshot", is a song by American heavy metal band Trivium. Written by Matt Heafy and Corey Beaulieu, both of whom perform vocals and guitars on the track, it was featured on the band's second studio album Ascendancy in 2005. The song was also released as a promotional single in May 2005, with an accompanying music video following in September.

<i>Upon Us</i> 1999 studio album by Taproot

Upon Us is the second album by American alternative metal band Taproot. It was released on May 11, 1999. This album is notable for featuring highlights of material from their first album ...Something More Than Nothing and the hard-to-find EP Mentobe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poem (song)</span> 2002 single by Taproot

"Poem" is a song by American alternative metal band Taproot and the lead single from their second major label album, Welcome. It was released in 2002 and met with the highest success of any Taproot single, reaching #5 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks. The track, as well as its music video, were heavily played throughout the several months following its release.

<i>Plead the Fifth</i> (album) 2010 studio album by Taproot

Plead the Fifth is the fifth studio album by American alternative metal band Taproot. Originally planned for an April 13, 2010 release, it was delayed to May 11. The album marks Taproot's first release through Victory Records, having signed in November 2009. "Fractured " was released as the lead single, followed by "Release Me". The confirmed track listing was released on the Victory Records website.

<i>The Episodes</i> 2012 studio album by Taproot

The Episodes is the sixth studio album by American alternative metal band Taproot, released on April 12, 2012, through Victory Records. The album peaked at no. 21 on the Billboard Hard Rock charts with "No Surrender" peaking at no. 38 on the US Main. Rock charts. This is the last album with drummer Nick Fredell and longtime guitarist Mike DeWolf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Again & Again (Taproot song)</span> 2000 song by Taproot

"Again & Again" is the debut single by American alternative metal band Taproot. The song was released from the band's major label debut, Gift. The single's b-side, "Day by Day", appeared on the album Dracula 2000: Music from the Motion Picture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mine (Taproot song)</span> 2003 single by Taproot

"Mine" is the second and final single from Taproot's second studio album Welcome. Along with "Poem", the song is one of the band's most successful singles. A music video was released for the song and was directed by System of a Down bassist Shavo Odadjian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fractured (Everything I Said Was True)</span> 2010 single by Taproot

"Fractured (Everything I Said Was True)" is the lead single from Taproot's fifth studio album Plead the Fifth. It is the band's first single released through Victory Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calling (Taproot song)</span> 2005 single by Taproot

"Calling" is the first single released from Taproot's third studio album Blue-Sky Research.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I (Taproot song)</span> 2001 Taproot song

"I" is the second and final single from Taproot's album Gift. The song is one of the most melodic tracks from the album. "I" was the most successful single from the album, charting at no. 34 on the Mainstream Rock Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Birthday (Taproot song)</span> 2005 single by Taproot

Birthday is the second and final single from Taproot's third album, Blue-Sky Research. The song is the band's last to be released through Atlantic Records following poor album sales. "Birthday" was co-written by music producer Bob Marlette.

<i>SC\SSRS</i> 2023 studio album by Taproot

SC\SSRS is the seventh studio album by American alternative metal band Taproot, released through THC Music and Amplified Distribution on September 29, 2023. It is the band's first studio album in eleven years, since 2012's The Episodes.

References

  1. "Blue Sky Research by Taproot". Artistdirect. Archived from the original on January 10, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2008.
  2. 1 2 Hoffy, Corey (April 28, 2010). "Taproot – Blue-Sky Research – Review". AbsolutePunk. Archived from the original on February 21, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  3. 1 2 Loftus, Johnny. "Blue-Sky Research - Taproot". AllMusic. Archived from the original on December 4, 2019. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  4. 1 2 Wood, Mikael. "Taproot - Blue-Sky Research". Blender . Alpha Media Group. Archived from the original on November 30, 2005. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  5. 1 2 Hoard, Christian (September 8, 2005). "Taproot: Blue-Sky Research". Rolling Stone . Wenner Media. Archived from the original on November 12, 2007. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  6. Bansal, Vik (August 15, 2005). "Taproot – Blue-Sky Research". musicOMH . Retrieved April 7, 2016.[ permanent dead link ]
  7. Wookubus (October 26, 2018). "Taproot Detail Extensive 8 CD Rarities Set "Besides"". The PRP. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  8. "Blue-Sky Research - Taproot | Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 10, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2011.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Blue-Sky Research - Taproot | Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on December 11, 2015. Retrieved January 4, 2021.