So Long, Astoria

So Long, Astoria
Studio album by The Ataris
Released March 4, 2003
Recorded August 19 to November 1, 2002 at Ocean Studios, Burbank, California; Grandmaster, Hollywood, California and Orange Whip Studios, Santa Barbara, California
Genre Pop punk, Alternative rock
Length 48:55
Label Columbia
Producer Lou Giordano
The Ataris chronology

All You Can Ever Learn Is What You Already Know
(2002)		 So Long, Astoria
(2003)		 Live at the Metro
(2004)
Singles from So Long, Astoria
  1. "In This Diary"
    Released: February 2003
  2. "The Boys of Summer"
    Released: September 29, 2003
  3. "The Saddest Song"
    Released: November 5, 2003

So Long, Astoria is the fourth full-length album released by The Ataris on March 4, 2003.

This is The Ataris' first and only album on Columbia Records, having previously been signed to independent punk label Kung Fu Records. It peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard 200[1] and has been certified gold status.[2] The album's title song alludes to the 1985 film The Goonies, which is set in Astoria, Oregon. To date So Long, Astoria is The Ataris’ most successful album.

Background and recording

Origins

After promoting their previous album End is Forever and ending their contract with Kung Fu Records the band signed with major label Columbia Records to begin the recording of their fourth full-length album. The band hired Lou Giordano to produce the record.

Recording

The band officially entered the studio to begin recording sessions for So Long, Astoria on August 19, 2002 at Ocean Studios, Burbank, California.

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source Rating
Metacritic 57/100[3]
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic [4]
PopMatters positive[5]
Punknews.org [6]
Rolling Stone [7]
Sputnikmusic 4.0/5[8]

Initial critical response to So Long, Astoria was very average. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received an average score of 57, based on seven reviews.[9]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Kris Roe, except where noted. 

No. Title Length
1. "So Long, Astoria"   3:22
2. "Takeoffs and Landings"   3:56
3. "In This Diary"   3:54
4. "My Reply"   4:14
5. "Unopened Letter to the World"   2:38
6. "The Saddest Song"   4:15
7. "Summer '79"   3:57
8. "The Hero Dies in This One" (Roe, John Collura, Mike Davenport, Chris Knapp) 4:07
9. "All You Can Ever Learn is What You Already Know" (Roe, Collura, Davenport, Knapp) 3:31
10. "The Boys of Summer" (Don Henley, Michael Campbell) 4:18
11. "Radio #2"   3:20
12. "Looking Back on Today"   3:53
13. "Eight of Nine"   3:30
Total length:
 48:55

Personnel

The Ataris

denotation: * did not play on the album

Artwork
  • Sergie Loobkoff – Art direction, design
  • Kristopher Roe – Photography
  • Danny Clinch – Band photos
  • Chuck Meyer – Water Tower photos
  • Brent Vann – Tattoo Art
Additional musicians
  • Angus Cooke – Cello
  • Mike Herrera – Additional backing vocals on "Radio #2"
  • James Muhawi – Piano on "The Saddest Song"
  • Glen Phillips & Tim Pagnotta –Additional backing vocals
Production
  • Lou Giordano – Producer, mixing
  • The Ataris – Track arranger
  • Tim Devine – A&R
  • David Ashton, Jason Cupp & Dean Nelson – Assistant Engineers
  • Andrew Alekel & Thomas Flowers  – Engineers
  • Jack Joseph Puig – Mixing
  • Johnathan Cox – Programming
  • Elissa Meihsner – Additional Tracking
Management
  • Darren Lewis – Management
  • Christel Layton, Nicole Palmer, David Weise – Business Management
  • Alan Mintz – Legal
  • Andy Somers – North American Booking
  • Dave Chumbley –International Booking
  • Anne Alderete – Management Assistant
  • Jon Pikus – A&R Associate

Charts

Album
Chart (2003) Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart 38
UK Albums Chart 92
US Billboard 200[10] 24
Singles
Year Song Chart Position
2003 In This Diary U.S. Modern Rock Tracks 11
The Boys Of Summer Billboard Hot 100 20
U.S. Modern Rock Tracks 2
Top 40 Mainstream 10
Top 40 Tracks 16
Mainstream Rock Tracks 36
Adult Top 40 18
The Saddest Song U.S. Modern Rock Tracks 27

Certifications

Country Certification Sales
United States Gold 700,000 Units+

References

  1. ↑ "So Long, Astoria: Charts & Awards: Billboard Albums". Allmusic.
  2. ↑ RIAA Search 'The Ataris'
  3. ↑ "So Long, Astoria". Metacritic.
  4. ↑ Allmusic Review
  5. ↑ "The Ataris: So Long, Astoria". PopMatters.
  6. ↑ "The Ataris - So Long, Astoria". Punknews.org.
  7. ↑ Rolling Stone Review
  8. ↑ Sputnikmusic review
  9. ↑ "So Long, Astoria reviews at Metacritic.com". Metacritic. CNET Networks, Inc. Retrieved October 22, 2009.
  10. ↑ "So Long, Astoria - The Ataris". Billboard. Retrieved March 18, 2012.