Days of the New, Vol. 2

by Days of the New

Overview

Clearly, Travis Meeks wasn't happy that his band (project may be the more appropriate word, actually) was dismissed as either an Alice in Chains/Pearl Jam ripoff or the naive work of a group of teenagers upon the release of their 1997 eponymous debut. During the supporting tour for the album, he fired many of the original bandmembers and restructured the group so that it was clear that he was the driving force of the group. He continued to work hard throughout the recording of the band's second album, immodestly retitled Days of the New but far more ambitious than the name suggests. Opening with the sound of galloping horses, the album soon makes itself known as an epic, structured like a classic concept album but feeling exactly like a moodier, pretentious variation on Days of the New's post-grunge debut. There's no discounting Meeks' ambition, which is, in some ways, endearing; in a time of diminished expectations, where everybody settles for singles, he's swinging for the bleachers. No matter how silly the cowboy-themed opening, "Flight Response," may seem to jaded post-alternative ears, once the record begins to flow, it becomes intriguing, especially when Meeks hauls out the orchestras to elaborate his brooding soundscapes. But just as it becomes intriguing, it begins to stagnate, offering the same tempos and melody lines again and again. There's really no variation to the songs on Days of the New -- there's shifts in the production and arrangement that trick the ear into believing it's hearing something new. And in that production, Meeks reveals his true gifts. He knows how to arrange, creating an evocative sound with acoustic guitars, ambient drums, strings, and layered voices. Unfortunately, he doesn't quite come up with a set of songs to match this production, which means that this 14-track album feels like it runs longer than its hour, but the moments -- and that does occasionally mean isolated moments, not even songs -- that work are a definite improvement from his debut. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	02/23/2024
Label:	Music On Vinyl
UPC:	0600753988534
Rank:	17675

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Days of the New   Primary Artist
Suzie Katayama   Primary Artist,Conductor,Choir/Chorus
Max Maxwell   Drums
Phillip Yao   Orchestra
Charles Boito   Orchestra
John Thomas Johnson   Orchestra
Eve Butler   Orchestra
Matt Taul   Drums
Gerardo Hilera   Orchestra
Peter Rhee   Violin
Matthew Funes   Orchestra
Mario de Leon   Orchestra
Virginia Frazier   Orchestra
Daniel Smith   Orchestra
Victor Janacua   Choir/Chorus
Steven Holtman   Orchestra
Rich Logan   Choir/Chorus
Travis Meeks   Bass,Drums,Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic)
Larry Corbett   Orchestra
Clark Hagan   Vocals
Joel Derouin   Orchestra
Renita Koven   Orchestra
Linda Harmon   Choir/Chorus
Rick Baptist   Orchestra
Jon Joyce   Choir/Chorus
John Wittenberg   Orchestra
Luana Jackman   Choir/Chorus
Bob Joyce   Choir/Chorus
Ronald Janelli   Orchestra
Ray Rizzo   Percussion
Jon Clarke   Orchestra
Nicole Scherzinger   Vocals (Background)
David Stone   Orchestra
Oren Waters   Choir/Chorus

Technical Credits

Mike Baker   Engineer,Engineer
Bill McCord   Engineer
Al Sanderson   Engineer
Pete Peterson   Arranger
Victor Janacua   Engineer
Chaz Rough   Photography
Chip Dumstorf   Artwork,Graphic Design
Todd Whitener   Composer
Larry Smith   Photography
Travis Meeks   Mixing,Composer,Producer,Graphic Design
Bob Ludwig   Mastering
Clark Hagan   Engineer
Greg Fidelman   Digital Engineer
Scott Litt   Mixing
Todd Smith   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Suzie Katayama   Orchestral Arrangements
Clark Germain   Engineer