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| The AtarisSo Long, Astoria2003 Columbia 
 Review by: Brenton Kenkel See others by this writer The Ataris (link) Only registered users can post comments 
 
Published on March 11th 2003
After the Ataris signed to the big-name Columbia label (home to Aerosmith, John Mayer and Will Smith), many fans of the band wondered how the signing would affect the band's future. Unfortunately, So Long, Astoria is defined by its own overproduction and abandonment of any remaining punk ideals. First, let me make it clear that So Long, Astoria is not a bad album. The melodies are catchy, and the lyrics aren't too bad, especially compared to those of other mainstream pop-punkers (if one can even give them that much credit) like Alien Ant Farm and blink-182. It wasn't a bad deal for six bucks, and eleven wouldn't be asking too much. But early (especially pre-End is Forever) fans will be disappointed in the change in style and production. It's immediately clear that Kris Roe turned down the "punk" and blasted the "pop" in his recent songwriting. "In This Diary" first rips off the intro of NOFX's "Drop the World" and then launches into a preachy, probably fabricated rendition of Roe's childhood. It's a wonderfully crafted made-for-radio hit. "Summer '79" sounds tired and forced; the lyric "Let's create anthems of our own tonight" is especially ironic since the song is one of the Ataris' least original. So Long, Astoria is also full of t-shirt-ready soundbites. "Life is only as good as the memories we make," Roe declares on the title track. It seems more condescending than insightful, and it sounds like the band has assumed its audience has lost five years of age since End is Forever (which might be a correct assumption if the major label thing works out the way they want it to). "Appreciate the good times, but don't take the worst for granted / 'Cause you only get so many second chances," Roe says in "Eight of Nine." Maybe he just didn't know how to end the song, so he plagiarized from a book of "inspirational" phrases. Or maybe he's just running out of things to say. The coup de grace, however, is in "In This Diary": "Being grown up isn't half as fun as fun as growing up / These are the best days of our lives." Although it's probably not a bad idea to assume that most people picking up the Ataris at this point are 13 years old, lyrics like these are insulting to older veteran fans. The general "growing up" theme seems confused considering that Anywhere But Here covered it to a far superior extent. Unlike So Long, Astoria, it was sincere and didn't seem like a condescending attempt to cater to a young teenage audience. And of course, there are other factors that affect the album as a whole: Kris Roe's vocal style has changed (at times he sounds like Johnny Rzeznik trying to be Dave Grohl), many riffs are "borrowed" from previous albums, and the musical tracks are layered ad nauseam. But these mean little in the face of the condescension and staleness of the tracks. And on a personal note, the new version of "I Won't Spend Another Night Alone" -- my favorite Ataris song -- is an insult to the original. If some other band had done this album, it would be getting a better score. I admit that the Ataris have never been "pure" punk by any means, but the inferiority of So Long, Astoria compared to any of the past Ataris albums or recordings (especially the pre-remix Anywhere But Here and Blue Skies, Broken Hearts, Next 12 Exits) indicates that Kris Roe and company are either burning out or selling out. People who liked this also liked:           Please login or register to post comments. What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?
I love the ataris, but i felt most songs on this album sounded waaay too much alike. howver alomost every song would get stuck in my head for likke 2 weeks. Recommended songs: Boys of Summer, in this diary I liked this album. They may not be punk, but whos to say thats all bad. The sound of a man choking on corperate cock dude u guys dont know what ur missing . and for all u guys who say the ataris suck and its not worth it and all that junk you must be on something because the ataris are one of the greatest bands out there and u kid that said ur a toys r us kid grow up and listen to the words it says that these are the best days of our lives think stupid hes saying its fun to grow up so do that! What is it with people using the insult that something "isn't punk?" Ever since "Blue Skies," I've been a huge Ataris fan, and their sound has changed through every album they have produced. And holy shit, how are they supposed to make any money if they don't sign to a more mainstream label? i loved the album, and for those of you who don't think it is "punk" enough, maybe you should keep listening to those Goo Goo Dolls you seem to love so much! For that SHIT!! kid down there... what the fuck? roe has almost always borrowed things from time to time. "don't ever tell anyone anything, or else you'll wind up missing every body"...the catcher and the rye anybody? I randomly bought "anywhere but here" about 3 years ago, and only listened to it once before banishing it to the trunk of my car. Easily the most embarrasing CD I own. What the fuck was I thinking? SHIT!!! Give it up, you people are as hung up on record labels, as a cheerleader on the label on the back of her jeans. As for the punk thing, "PUNK" is a stupid dead word, now don't get you panties in a bunch I said the word, not actual punk. The word has been Hi-jacked by Carson Daly. Obviously the album is different, if they made an album that sounded like "Blue Skies" you'd whine and complain that they made the same album twice. I think the album is great, its just different than previous albums and I bet the next one will be different than "so long, Astoria." I don't believe they ever said they were reinventing the wheel, It's Rock 'N" Roll, maybe you've heard of it. So just quit being sad Bastards. Give it up, you people are as hung up on record labels, as a cheerleader on the label on the back of her jeans. As for the punk thing, "PUNK" is a stupid dead word, now don't get you panties in a bunch I said the word, not actual punk. The word has been Hi-jacked by Carson Daly. Obviously the album is different, if they made an album that sounded like "Blue Skies" you'd whine and complain that they made the same album twice. I think the album is great, its just different than previous albums and I bet the next one will be different than "so long, Astoria." I don't believe they ever said they were reinventing the wheel, It's Rock 'N" Roll, maybe you've heard of it. So just quit being sad Bastards. I really like "End is Forever", and I love "Anywhere but Here". It's weird, everyone else loves "Blue Skies...", but I think it sucks.This album is a natural progression for a band like the ataris, and I'm happy for them getting signed to a major. It just sucks that instead of hanging out at the bar with the band after shows, now there's a sea of 15 year old girls. Its simple, the music grew up, he didn't. I seriously think this is a great album, and a great band. Any of you who say you used to be a fan but ever since the album End Is Forever came out you haven't liked them, you're not nor ever was a fan. If you were a fan you would stick by the band cuz every band goes through changes. Just because you don't like the fact that The Ataris signed to a major company, doesn't mean the band sucks! You also wouldn't stop listening because they're "sellouts". Stay true to the music. If anyone has a problem, go ahead and e-mail me punkrokstacey@yahoo.com well it's funny how i used to read all kinds of comments about how the ataris would one day be big and here they are, big. unfortunately by trying to get big they killed their sound. This album has not left my discman since i bought it 5 days ago. I love it. All of you "hardcore punkers" need to go review hardcore punker CDS. Im really sick of everyone on this site knocking bands. You all need to get lives. Is it just me or is the song "In This Diary" alot like the Toys R Us Song? "I don't wanna grow up i'm a toys r us kid..." dude wears plugs with hearts on them in his ears. ' Band like this one really make me hate music. ' In Soviet Russia, books read you. "Ok i got something to say about punk rock.They had a lot of good bands and they just want to have some evolution i their music so they signed on major label.It's our role to let all the prejudice behind and listen carefully and honestly so long astoria is one of the best cd i ever heard after a couples of listening session and read carefully the lyrics they are amazing and yes i am a very big fans of bands like millencolin,mxpx,thursday but i also really like nofx and bad religion." Band like this one really make me hate music. Ok i got something to say about punk rock.They had a lot of good bands and they just want to have some evolution i their music so they signed on major label.It's our role to let all the prejudice behind and listen carefully and honestly so long astoria is one of the best cd i ever heard after a couples of listening session and read carefully the lyrics they are amazing and yes i am a very big fans of bands like millencolin,mxpx,thursday but i also really like nofx and bad religion. And the world let out a resounding "meh.." I agree. This album is disappointing. They lost me on End is Forever. Roe's lyrics never quite made it past middle school. At least for me...I grew up. Jam Anywhere But Hereand Blue Skies to hear this band at it's peak. This? Yawwwwwn. My friend bought this CD and upon my first listen of it, I was not too impressed. Maybe it just needs to grow on me, but I'm not too sure. I was a huge fan of the Ataris, but was disappointed with End is Forever. I don't really think So Long Astoria is going to make me a believer again. i know. h2o's "go" was a brilliant debut record. now that's a band to look out for in the future. so i get a call from my little sister about atris on trl, turns out the ataris "have released many EPs" according to MTV's pop up bubble. How come you ladies get all upset with the re-recording of 'another night alone' yet theres no mention on the 'blue skies' review comment board about 'angry nerd rock' having the same treatment? Maybe we should all calm down. this album reminds me of jimmy eat world, if all their songs were written jjust like 'the middle'. its poppy, its got a slight, very slight punk edge, and its ready for radio. yea, its bleed american part 2. not for old fans, but i'm sure it'll be huge. there are a few good songs on it (takeoff's and landings, so longs astoria, radio #2) and thats about it. alot of it is just real boring and clice'd (SP). i mean cmon, do you need to make every song 4 minutes long, its pop'punk' for gods sake. Rap sucks!! (so does pop) you can find me in da club. The Ataris USED to be my favorite band... when i picked up BLue Skies and End is Forever i was amazed and overjoyed. When the news came that they were heading to a major. i was shocked and extremely disapointed. but my friend reassured me that they will be just as good if not better. wel ii picked up the CD listened to it a few times and realized there is about 2 good songs and the rest i cannt stand Kris's original sound that he used to possess is now replaced by a more poppy gayish kind of sound i am extremely dissapointed, dont waste ur timeon this album go by an ALkaline Trio album and see a real original band in action. Yes, growing up can be tough. I still long for life on the farm. I agree with the review. I like the Ataris....I own just about all their CDs actually. But this album coming from a guy that cites Bad Religion and Fugazi as major influences just befuddles me. I mean, I like the album, but they've kinda drifted over that thin line from "pop punk" to "power rock" or whatever it's being called these days. But hey, as long as they let all these emo kids know who Jawbreaker are, they can't be all that bad... I am sick of people saying that "He is 26 now so why would he want to write song's about girls anymore" Well...lets see EiF came out 2 years ago so what would he have been then 24. Wow. That makes sense. Also, It was probably the label's idea to put the remake of "I won't spend another night alone" on the album. Whoever approves the songs for the label was probably like "shit, he doesn't want to write songs about girls anymore. What the fuck are we gonna do now we're totally gonna split our market. Teenage boys don't give a shit about growing up, they want soft music about love and shit, to fuck to, and teenage girls want to hear how much they suck..." So down the road someone was like let's take a song that's four years old pretty it up and no one will know the difference. So the band is like "now people will think we're sellouts...put it at the end of the record." So that is just one possibility of how it got on the record. This is one of the better written reviews I've seen on this site. oh yeah, i forgot something. No bands want to make the same record over and over again. Even the Ramones experimented with tempo and melody. That being said, The Ataris are no exception here. It gets boring not just writing the same record ad nauseum, but also recording it, playing it live and the audience listening to it. It's just the nature of the beast that is the music industry. ok..it's been said before, but what the hell, here goes. come on, listen to the cd people, the ataris havent changed at all, the only thing you guys are bitter about is when you turn the cd over you see the "columbia records" logo instead of "kungFu records"....... i dont know, but the ataris have been very influencial in my life and im sure many of yours, "blue skies..." got me through many of hard times..as did theyre other cds, but the great thing is, they havent changed...AT ALL! great cd guys, nice job. the album was ok...but the remake of i wont spend another night alone? what the fuck was that? no other cd ever put out by this band will ever even come close to blue skys...so stop trying to make old songs better. that goes for all bands(period) wuss i gotta agree end is forever is a horible alblum i must have broken or burnt it or something this is much better than that i hesitated to give it a chance beacsue of the last alblum but this is certainly a good cd and will be enjoyed by fans, any new ones they will be making however will probably be ones seeing them on TRL or hearing them on the radio o well from way back when u knew it was going to happen when mark hoppus did guest vocals on the anywhere but here alblum so i have heard thought i am not totaly sure just so somone doesnt come bash me correct me if their is somtihng inacurate about that This album has some cool songs but 80% of the songs on this album sound the same. In my opinion "Blue Skies..." has been their best album thus far, and I'll listen to that over this disc anyday. I'm not trying to say this is a bad album, its just nothing amazing. This is a cd that sounds like it was made for radio, at least all your non "punk" friends wil dig it... The last guy went a little overboard. Now for the real comment: This CD isn't too bad, much better than I had anticipated. I still personally think, that "end is forever" is their shittiest record to date. The songs on that were horrid. I think it's time i stepped up to the plate... i like the ataris and i think this cd is good, not great but it's a good buy for $6. I won't get mad at them for playing TRL or jumping into the mainstream but i will say they are hypocrites. A band that always spoke of keeping it indie and do it yourself is now pretty far from that. The band that made a good anthem against the radio and all the bullshit they play has now jumped into that mess of garbage. It seems like they aren't the same people in a way, somewhere along the way their beliefs changed. It's their choice so i guess i shouldn't judge them but it is still a let down I always thought Kris's voice sounded ten times better live than on record. I was really stoked when I first saw them, then bought Blue Skies (their latest at the time) and was really let down. Decent songs though.. man, what an elitist, "punk-rock" fucking reviewer. i absolutely HATE that word over-production. its so fucking overused. you want a good example of real over-production? the starting line's new cd. this new ataris cd is overproduced...it just SOUNDS GOOD. god forbid the ataris wanting to make a great sounding cd. a pre-remix of ABH sucks. the remixed version sounds ten times better. stupid idiot. overproduced...i cant fucking believe that. That's because you like men Fuck this review. Got this cd a couple of days ago. Dunno, everytime I buy an Ataris album (4th time) at first I'm rather disappointed, but when I give the album another listen or two... Well, let's say I like it better each time I hear it. (End Is Forever even became one of my all time faves.) end is forever is the absolute worst cd ever made in the history of bad cd's. Piece of art? ha. The most uninsightful lyrics i've heard in a while. Anything can top that cd. The CD is really good, but when I listen to it in relation to their previous albums, it's clearly not as good. End Is Forever was abosulte genius, slightly better than Blue Skies IMO, so this is kinda dissappointing that they didn't keep getting better. I got this the day it came out, and even though its a side step into new sound i love it. This isn't a punk cd. I doubt it was ment to be, christ Kris himself has said it's more in the tone of foo fighters than nofx. They just finally realised that it was time for the band to stop or evolve. They chose to do the later. I dont know how i feel about them playing TRL, but you know what? if this album gets some 14 year old Avril clone into blue skies great! that album was important to me getting into the scene and getting out of my "mall punk" stage. "They covered "I won't spend another night alone" WHY?" it's so stupid to sit there and disect someone elses lyrics. i mean it's their thoughts and feelings. regardless if u feel they're cheesy or fake, it's not really anyone's place to criticize someone's thoughts and feelings. i coulda used more song quotes in the review though. as for ripping on the production of the cd. yeah, i guess they should have used the money the label provided for recording to buy a car or something and record shitty sound quality songs in their garage instead of making the cd sound nice and crisp. "Why the hell are they still singing about growing up? Kris Roe is losing his hair so he's pulling a Ronnie James Dio move and attempting to grow out a comb-over. If anyone knows about growing old, its him so why the hell is he still playing the role of a teenager." They covered "I won't spend another night alone" WHY? "I think you should give them a break. Their like 26 now so can't continue singing songs about how much they want to ask a girl out but cant find the courage. No its not as good as 'blue skies' but in its own right is a good record." this album seems so....generic and the lyrics are cheesy. it's a good CD to put on thought when you want noise but dont really want to have to pay attention to it...but i have to admit, covering cheesy rock songs is great. If you even think about listening to the Ataris, you should throw yourself off a bridge.. The ataris used to have it. Now they are money hungry, sell outin', bad haircut wearing wankers. Their new album is crap. Songs always about the past and topics every 15 year old girl can relate to. 'The boys of summer' is a fun cover, but other than that, steer clear of this album. Also, doesn't the word hypocrite come to mind when watching MTV and listening to the radio and hearing the ataris. Does anyone remember a little song called 'the radio still sux?' Well, now it really sux cause the ataris are blurring up the air waves. Five stars is for your nice review, but for the Ataris's album, only two stars are OK. One word : DISAPPOINTMENT ! Travisangst, So Long, Astoria is also full of t-shirt-ready soundbites I think you should give them a break. Their like 26 now so can't continue singing songs about how much they want to ask a girl out but cant find the courage. No its not as good as 'blue skies' but in its own right is a good record. I heard them on the radio the other day... 3 words.. Goo goo dolls-oldpunker-oh yeah. Total shite- all you assholes are so arrogant and jaded...the ataris ahve never really been punk rock, and they have always been trying to seel this shit to a 13 year old audience. i actually kinda dig the songs i've heard on this album way more than any of the ones on previous albums. didn't anyone care to realize that maybe, just maybe the band is growing up and they don't want to play the same shit? maybe they want to be an awesome pop band instead of a shitty rehashed punk band? What happened to the Ataris? Cah-ching. Have any of you morons seen the other fat bastards in this band? No wonder Kris Roe is the only one shown in the video. It wouldn't get played otherwise if they showed the other dudes in the band. Those guys look like they work at a fucking car wash. Never liked them, don't care now. Same old sh*t. Ataris are such fucking sell outs. Have u seen the in this diary video??? They might as well change the name of the band to Kris Roe. He was the only one in the band showed for more than two seconds They always played boring music. I liked these guys and when I saw them live I was like "good stuff why is everyone coming down on them?" then I heard this cd.... dammit. This is just the exact reason it would take me to stop being a fan. Repitious and the only good parts are rips off the old albums. Whatever happened to songs like Song 13? This album is horrible. I am going to pretend the only Ataris albums ever released were Anywhere But Here and Blue Skies, Broken Hearts. Yeah that guy sounds like the Goo Goo Goo Goo Goo Dolls guy |
