Welcome the Night
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| Welcome the Night | ||
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| Studio album by The Ataris | ||
| Released | February 20, 2007 | |
| Recorded | 2006 | |
| Genre | Alternative rock | |
| Length | ??:? | |
| Label | Sanctuary Records | |
| Producer(s) | Nick Launay | |
| Professional reviews | ||
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| The Ataris chronology | ||
| Live At The Metro (2004) |
Welcome the Night (2007) |
N/A |
Welcome the Night is The Ataris' sixth studio album and long delayed follow-up to the previous release so long, astoria. It was originally scheduled to be released in 2005 but the release date has been pushed back to 2006 reportedly due to the record label Columbia Records not being entirely happy with the direction of the album. Rumors suggest they instructed singer/songwriter Kris Roe to write some more commercial songs so as to not completely alienate the band's fans; thus 2 tracks off the original tracklisting were removed and replaced with 3 new songs. The tracklisting was also changed around. Reports have also indicated that this record was not intended to be an Ataris record, but a new band with a new name; however, their record label convinced them to release it under The Ataris name.
In recording the new album, The Ataris stated that they wanted to make a more emotional album with more musical soundscape moments, similar to My Bloody Valentine, Death Cab For Cutie and The Album Leaf.
In April 2006, an unmastered version of the album was leaked onto many P2P and file-sharing networks. Early reports have been divided, with a majority of fans saying that the sound has changed too much for them to like the record. However, a number of fans have also expressed their liking for Welcome the Night, saying that The Ataris have grown up along with their musical tastes. According to Roe, the record was to be a musical soundscape for driving on a rainy Mid-Western morning. Those worried by the new sound of The Ataris will still appreciate the new album, with some heavy moments on a few songs, although not as many as their last record. The songs "The Cheyenne Line", "Secret Handshakes" and "Whatever Lies Will Help You Rest" are the most "Ataris"-sounding songs on the record. The title track even sounds somewhat like The Killers, whilst "The First Elegy" could be the Archers of Loaf.
Welcome the Night could be considered a concept album as it is based around a recurring dream that Roe has had since his childhood, as well as feelings of loss and redemption. The song "Secret Handshakes" brings details about Roe's ex-father-in-law's involvement with the Freemasons, "From The Last, Last Call" references Roe's overdose in Berlin, Germany whilst taking the drug PCP, and "Act Five, Scene Four; And So It Ends Like It Began" references Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet in the title and more subtly in the actual lyrics of the song - Romeo and Juliet finishes at Act Five, Scene Three: a churchyard; in it a tomb belonging to the Capulets. "New Year's Day" references to a tough relationship that Roe was involved in 2005 after his divorce with Denice.
The lyrics are more spiritual and introspective than any previous work by The Ataris and it is hard to relate any songs to any of their previous work. It appears that Roe went through a religious epiphany during the writing of this record.
It was announced on June 10, 2006 that Welcome the Night would not be released on Columbia Records and that the album will be delayed further, but it will release by the end of 2006 at the latest. Roe also mentioned that an additional 4 or 5 five songs are being worked on and may be added to the record, thus the final album could be vastly different from the unmastered leaked version.
The album is now set to be released on February 20, 2007 via Sanctuary Records. The first promotion single, "Not Capable Of Love," has been released at the beginning of November 2006 on Isola Recordings.
[edit] Track listing
(Unofficial)
- "The First Elegy"
- "Begin Again from the Beginning"
- "Cardiff-by-the-Sea"
- "Secret Handshakes"
- "When All Else Fails, It Fails"
- "The Cheyenne Line"
- "We All Become Smoke"
- "Not capable of love"
- "From the Last, Last Call"
- "A Soundtrack for this Rainy Morning"
- "New Year's Day"
- "Whatever Lies Will Help You Rest"
- "The Ghost of Last December"
- "Welcome the Night"
- "Act Five, Scene Four; and So It Ends Like It Began"
[edit] Songs from original tracklisting
- "Sonnet for the Recently Departed"
- "The Driftwood Sinn"
| The Ataris |
| Kristopher Roe | John Collura | Paul Carabello | Angus Cooke | Bob Hoag | Sean Hansen | Shane Chickeles |
| Previous Members |
|---|
| Jasin Thomason | Marko 72 | Derrick Plourde | Patrick Riley | Marco Peña | Mike Davenport | Chris Knapp |
| Discography |
| Studio Albums & EPs: Anywhere but Here | Look Forward To Failure | Blue Skies, Broken Hearts...Next 12 Exits | Let It Burn | End is Forever | All You Can Ever Learn Is What You Already Know | so long, astoria | Welcome The Night |
| Live Albums: Live At The Metro |
| Singles: San Dimas High School Football Rules | Teenage Riot | Summer Wind Was Always Our Song | In This Diary | The Boys of Summer | The Saddest Song |
| DVDs: Live At Capitol Milling |
| Record Labels |
| Columbia Records | Kung Fu Records | Fat Wreck Chords |
