Days of the New (also known as the Green album or Days of the New II) is the second self titled album of Louisville rock band Days of the New.
Released on August 31, 1999, it marks the first album following the break up of the original lineup and the last under Outpost.
While not nearly as commercially successful as its 1997 Days of the New (Yellow) predecessor, Green acquired stronger appreciation by critics and featured two successful singles.
Shortly after finishing their 1998 tour with Metallica and Jerry Cantrell, after much turmoil, the original Days of the New split up.
Todd Whitener, Matt Taul, and Jesse Vest would go on to form Tantric while Meeks carried on the Days of the New name.
In February 1999, it was reported that while his ex-bandmates were looking for a new singer, Meeks was finishing up work on a second album tentatively titled Days of the New 2 with an expected release in late spring or early summer that year.
He eventually formed a new band lineup and hired an orchestra for his sophomore effort. In contrast to the debut album, which has a more stripped down acoustic style, Green incorporates many different elements, namely an orchestra and female backing vocals.
The darker song writing is also deemphasized in favor of more upbeat melodies as seen in Flight Response and Take Me Back Then.
Many of the album’s songs contain intros and codas to seamlessly carry into the next song.
While largely maintaining the acoustic feel of its predecessor (as evidenced by the folk number Provider) Green even utilizes electronic percussion more commonly found in dance club music, particularly in the track Enemy.
This song, along with Weapon and the Wound, became the album’s radio singles.
Nicole Scherzinger sing backing vocals for Green. Meeks noted that he wanted a female singer to “deliver some more world/operatic textures and sounds” and that her contributions were not buried in the back but instead featured prominently along his side.
Scherzinger performs on Flight Response, The Real, Take Me Back Then, Phobics of Tragedy, Bring Yourself, and Last One. Critics were fairly enthusiastic of Green.
Despite better critical reception, Green sold poorly compared to the first album. By October 1999, it had sold only 124,000 copies according to SoundScan.
It would eventually reach around 450,000 copies sold. Only one song, Enemy, was a major hit, and the second single, a ballad entitled Weapon and the Wound, charted reasonably well.
Tracklist:
- Flight Response
- The Real (Meeks, Todd Whitener)
- Enemy
- Weapon & the Wound
- Skeleton Key
- Take Me Back Then
- Bring Yourself
- I Think
- Longfellow
- Intro
- Phobics of Tragedy
- Not the Same
- Provider
- Last One (Meeks, Whitener)
Personnel
Travis Meeks: lead vocals, guitar
Max Maxwell: drums
Pete Peterson: arrangements
Peter Rhee: drums
Ray Rizzo: percussion
Nicole Scherzinger: backing vocals
Carl Shields: drums
Matt Taul: drums
Alex Tench: backing vocals
Brian Vinson: bass
Orchestra
Conducted and arranged: Suzie Katayama
Members: Rick Baptist, Charles Boito, Eve Butler, Jon Clarke, Larry Corbett, Mario DeLeon, Joel Derouin, Virginia Frazer, Matthew J. Funes, Geraldo Hilera, Steven M. Holtman, Ronald Janelli, John T. Johnson, Renita Koven, Daniel Smith, David Stone, John Wittenberg, and Phillip E. Yao
Choir
Sandie Hall, Linda Harmon, Luana Jackman, Victor Janacua, Bob Joyce, Jon Joyce, Rick Logan, Suzie Katayama, Donna Medina, and Oren Waters
Production credits
Produced by Travis Meeks and Todd Smith
Engineered by Todd Smith with Mike Baker and Clark Hagan
Mixed by Scott Litt, Travis Meeks, Todd Smith
Digital Engineer: Greg Fidelman
Second Engineers: Victor Janacua, Bill McCord, Al Sanderson, Alex Tench
Artwork
Creative Direction: Jeral Tidwell
Art and Digital Direction: Chip Dumstorf
Illustrations: Jeral Tidwell
Graphic Design: Chip Dumstorf and Travis Meeks
Photography: Theresa Carpenter, Chaz Rough, and Larry Smith
