“Welcome the Night”, the new album from The Ataris, is the first release from the band since their major-label debut in 2003. And a lot of things have changed. Bassist Mike Davenport and drummer Chris Knapp left the group while remaining members Kris Roe and John Collura made a decision to take the band in a different direction. The drastic
changes in the lives of the members are reflected in the sounds of this release. The new sound is less energized but more soulful and introspective.

I appreciate Roe & Collura’s attempt to mature and reinvent the
sound with each release, but this one fell short of impressing me. The first time I heard it, I was struck a lot more by the changes than the quality of the music. As a loyal fan of The Ataris, I played it a
few more times and was glad to find out it is one of those albums that grows on you. The sound is indie-rock which can only be described as ordinary because of its repetition, but it is emotionally charged with lyrics that are extremely striking.

I expect a drastic reinvention in an album like this one to blow me away. And while it was
solid, nothing jumped out to me as extraordinary. “Welcome the Night: gets lost in the chaos of realizing new ambitions and fails to satisfy old fans or attract new ones. Check this album out, but if you are expecting anything like The Ataris past, you will be disappointed.

-Mikayla Eyer