Though not yet credited as a member of the band, then-former and now-current guitarist Brett Gurewitz co-wrote and played guitar on the song "Believe It".

The album was initially titled The Last Word, before being changed to The New America as a large number of people thought the band was breaking up.

Graffin reflected on the recording of The New America with Rundgren in an even more positive light in his 2023 memoir Punk Rock Paradox, calling it a "great experience."

Shortly after the album's release, a music video was made for "New America", which features two children playing with action figures of the band.

[15] Author Dave Thompson, in his book Alternative Rock (2000), wrote that working with Rundgren "opens the band's already wide-screen sound into a whole new dimension of sonic insanity.