On August 14, 2001, Primer 55 released their second studio album, "(the) New Release". It went to number 1 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart and No. 102 on the "Billboard" 200. The album's single, "This Life" peaked at No. 37 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart. After the album's initial success, it was suddenly shelved by Island Records. Burns told PureGrainAudio, "The album was out 2 months then 9/11 happened and we got lost in that shuffle that was going on in NY at that time."