The Ataris - So Long, Astoria

Kris Roe, leader of the Ataris, would seem a little young for nostalgia, but So Long, Astoria (its title referring to Astoria, OR, the town in the 1985 film The Goonies) is his musical version of a memory play, a series of reflections on his youth in the late '70s and '80s. Roe, who grew up in Anderson, IN, and moved to Santa Barbara, CA, to pursue his rock & roll dreams, reminisces fondly about adolescence in songs like "Summer '79" and addresses his own young fans in "My Reply." The Ataris' fourth full-length album of new material and their major-label debut on Columbia Records, So Long, Astoria is, musically, a collection of speed punk tunes, similar to the work of Green Day and blink-182. Roe's lyrical identity makes the band's songs stand out; his sentimentality stands in contrast to the music's aggression. Includes a cover Don Henley's "The Boys of Summer" as a punk anthem, revising the famous line about the "Deadhead sticker on a Cadillac" by referring to Black Flag instead. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide

Name Credits Andrew Alekel Engineer Angus Cooke Tracking, Cello Brent Vann Tattoo Art Chris Knapp Drums Chuck Meyer Photography Danny Clinch Photography David Ashton Tracking, Assistant Engineer Dean Nelson Assistant Engineer Elissa Meihsner Producer, Tracking Eric Palmquist Producer Glen Phillips Vocals (Background) Jack Joseph Puig Mixing James Muhawi Piano Jason Cupp Assistant Engineer John Collura Vocals, Guitar Jonathan Cox Programming Kris Roe Vocals, Mellotron, Guitar, Moog Synthesizer, Photography Lou Giordano Producer, Mixing Michael Davenport Bass Sergie Loobkoff Art Direction, Design The Ataris Arranger Thomas Flowers Engineer, Producer Tim Devine A&R Tim Pagnotta Vocals (Background)