Album: Days of the New 2 Release Date: 8/31/1999 Length: 62:18 Label: Uni/Outpost Rating: 7.1 |
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| Track Listing | |
1. Flight Response (5:55)  |
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| 2. The Real (4:18) | |
| 3. Enemy (5:11) | |
| 4. Weapon and the Wound (5:44) | |
| 5. Skeleton Key (3:02) | |
| 6. Take Me Back Then (4:16) | |
| 7. Bring Yourself (5:55) | |
| 8. I Think (5:51) | |
| 9. Longfellow (1:56) | |
10. Untitled (1:42)  |
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| 11. Phobics of Tragedy (3:26) | |
| 12. Not the Same (4:24) |
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| 13. Provider (5:53) |
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| 14. Last One (4:37) | |
| Review | |
| The following materials are actual transcripts from conversations between myself and co-reviewer Dan Kricke, taking place throughout the course of the week: | |
| "I am going to be reviewing a Days of the New CD next. Probably their second one." | |
| "Ah, I will be interested to read what you have to say about that." | |
| "Don't get too excited -- it is not that great. I am thinking that it will receive between a 5 and a 6." | |
| "Really? That low? I am surprised." | |
| "It has its moments, but I really don't like it all that much." | |
| (One day later) | |
| "Dan, I think I may have made a fatal error in my judgement of this Days of the New album." | |
| "Interesting....go on." | |
| "Well, I listened to it twice today, and I realize that it is not as bad, or at least mediocre, as I originally thought." | |
| "I see." | |
| "I remember now that I had only listened through it a few times too. It is one of those CD's that doesn't jump out at you right away. There are no real catchy hooks or made-for-radio guitar riffs." | |
| "That is why you must listen to the disc many times prior to review!" | |
| "There is really some interesting stuff on here. It is sort of hard to believe that Travis Meeks was only 20 when he made it." | |
| "Yeah, the reviews I read all liked it, I was surprised you didn't." | |
| "The way his voice, being so deep, mixes with that of the new female singer is reminiscient of some of Leonard Cohen's songs." | |
| "Interesting." | |
| "And look at these lyrics: "I'm afraid of what I see and / What I see is everything / Shelter me with my own hands / And with my hands I will depend". That is much better than anything off of their first album." | |
| "I am not crazy about the very last line, but the beginning I like." | |
| "I am leaning towards giving it about a 7 now. I will let you know how I like it after a couple more listens." | |
| (One day later) | |
| "Okay, I am really not sure what to make of this CD." | |
| "Haha." | |
| "On the one hand, it is very well done -- the production, mixing, etc. On the other hand, while the songs are enjoyable, they don't have that 'pop' aspect that makes you want to keep coming back for more." | |
| "The 'pop aspect' or listenability of an album, is very important." | |
| "I agree. This is why I can't justify giving it anything in the 7.5-10 range." | |
| "Yes. The only thing that should get in that range is albums with songs frequently getting caught in your head." | |
| "Right. There are only one or two songs of that nature on this one. "Flight Response" is one, and "Take Me Back Then" could be considered another." | |
| "That is what makes some pop-punk-type bands so good, the quality of the guitar hooks and choruses that keep you humming the songs for days (See: Old Weezer)." | |
| "I really want to say good things about it though. I mean, I'm sure you've heard "Enemy", the only song on Days of the New 2 that received in radio airplay. At first listen, it sounds really simple and uninspired. But after a little while, you start picking up small nuances that make it so much better. The odd time signature the song uses, for one. The dueling acoustic guitar conclusion, for another. Then there are tracks like "Take Me Back Then" and "Bring Yourself" that are just so melodic and, at times, beautiful. The former features a symphonic outro that is really enjoyable. And then "Provider". Great, great song. Fantastic acoustic guitar." | |
| "Intriguing." | |
| "Well, I am still working on this review. We'll see how it turns out." | |
| "Indeed. Godspeed." | |
| (One day later) | |
| "Days of the New 2 and I have come to a mutual peace." | |
| "Your final thoughts?" | |
| "Well, it was not addicting enough to rate too highly, but with lyrics like, "he world is a pea. No, it don't revolve around me. If anything, I revolve around the world".....well, I couldn't be too harsh on it. Not to mention the fact that each song ends with a sort of part-interlude/part-introduction to the next song. I am a sucker for that style." | |
| "Heh. So...6.5-7?" | |
| "7.1, actually. It is good, though by no means an indespensable classic. I would recommend it, but not as strongly as I would some other albums." | |
| "Fair enough." | |
| "Now, to write that review...." | |
| "The toughest task of all." | |
| Rating: 7.1 | |
| - Luke Adams |
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