From its first, melancholy chords, the acoustic guitar sounds like something straight out of Seattle circa 1991. When I heard "Touch, Peel, and Stand," the single that's been sweeping rock stations, I was sure that Alice In Chains had put out a new album. So I was surprised to hear that the song was from Days of the New, a band fresh out of Kentucky.
The debut album is bound to inspire such comparisons, with a sound reminiscent of early -- dare I say it -- grunge, or acoustic Guns 'N' Roses material. Frontman Travis Meeks' rough-throated vocals capture the rage, power and sadness that made so many people identify with early grunge, and Todd Whitener's chiming, gloomy guitars provide just the right kind of accompaniment.
Spanning these twelve tracks is an impressive sweep of dark emotions. In places, Meeks lashes out: "I've got this time on my hands/ You are the one to abuse" (from "Touch, Peel and Stand") to "Your life as my problem/ Your foot in my face" (from the furious "Freak"). But his vulnerability shines through in "What's Left For Me?" "And when there's no more to give/ The window will shine in the light/ On what's left for me," he sings.
Whitener is a master of mood, and his simple, rambling style -- which is evocative enough to suggest folks like Slash and Jimmy Page -- brings Meeks' lyrics to life. The two are a great match in the lonesome "Shelf in the Room," and Whitener's bouncy harmonies on "The Down Town" make the song a standout track on the mostly easy-paced collection. He shines on his own in "Whimsical," where his outro suggests a train fading into the distance. On a couple of tracks at the end of the disc, Whitener jams on guitar -- first with thunderstorm noises, later with drummer Matt Taul.
Sometimes Days' downcast tones can be a little wearying, but only sometimes -- the rest of the time they are gloomy in a riveting way.
This article was originally published in Addicted to Noise.