Kris Roe also took on the role of managing other punk bands such as Useless ID from Haifa, Israel. They collaborated on a split EP entitled "Let It Burn". Kris also acted as co-producer with Mass Giorgini (whose other production credits include working alongside Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day) for a ]label]Cincinnati, OH-based band called the National Trust in 2004, an album which is as-of-yet unreleased..
After a long delay, the album End Is Forever was released in 2001. This album was a testament to Kris Roe's increasing maturity as a songwriter. Most of the songs, especially "Fast Times at Dropout High", touched on very personal and emotional topics such as losing a sibling because his parents gave his newborn brother away for adoption. Once again the lineup changed, with John Collura replacing Peña on guitar.
On the 24th of June 2002 The Ataris left Kung Fu Records and signed with Columbia Records. Later in that year they recorded their 6th album, "So Long, Astoria", released on March 4th, 2003. This album was responsible for giving them their break into the mainstream audience and generated many successful singles, including "In This Diary" and their cover of Don Henley's "The Boys of Summer".
After touring behind the album for most of 2003, the band began writing the follow-up to "So Long, Astoria". Much of 2004 was spent in inactivity. In February of 2004, the band released "Live At The Metro", an album containing a full concert at The Metro in Chicago, as well as acoustic tracks. Mike Davenport and Chris Knapp left the band in early 2005.
Recording of "Welcome the Night" began in February 2005. Along with it came five new members - Sean Hansen filling the bass position, Shane Chickeles on drums, and guitarist Paul Carabello, Angus Cooke (Who played Cello on "End Is Forever"), and Bob Hoag on 3rd guitar, Cello, and Keyboards respectively. The group spent all of spring and summer recording at Seedy Underbelly in Los Angeles. "Welcome the Night" was orginally due out in April or May of 2006 but as of March 2006 the release date was pushed back to July of 2006. The release date of this album was once again been pushed back to possibly early 2007 after The Ataris asked to be released from their contract with Columbia Records, which the label agreed too. The "Welcome the Night" album was released in late February to an eager Ataris fan base. Unfortunately, it was not what they expected. The "Welcome the Night" album took a completely different approach to music. In a drastic deviation from his past traditions of whimsical, nostalgic pop songs, Roe used the new album to pursue a much more mature post-rock/progressive sound, an initiative which many speculate arose from the divorce of his wife and other personal conflicts. While "Welcome the Night" is certainly a great departure from The Ataris' roots, Roe has indicated that their upcoming release will attempt to return to the happy, youthful overtures that older fans have grown accustomed to.
Four Chord Wonder
The Ataris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can name at least fifty
I bet you could name a hundred more.
There's over a couple thousand chord progressions around
Will someone tell me who decided
They'd run this one into the ground?!
I'm putting a stop to it once and for all
I'm telling you one and all
You better not write this stupid song again
"I've got a little plan, so listen up
We could write a four chord wonder
And make a million bucks"
No need to mention names cause' you know who you are.
Take word of my advice or I'll break your guitar
I think it's time to set things straight
I just write the song I hate.
And, I'll write it again and again and again
The Ataris's song Four Chord Wonder is a fun and irreverent take on the often-repeated and overdone chord progressions in pop music. The singer laments how many bands have written this same song before, and how there are thousands of chord progressions to choose from, yet this one seems to be recycled endlessly. The lyrics then take a humorous tone as the singer criticizes the writers of these songs and even threatens to break their guitars if they continue to use this chord progression. The chorus humorously repeats the phrase "I'll write it again and again and again," signaling the irony that even the singer might be tempted to use this same progression.
The song is a commentary on the state of popular music, and the tendency of writers to repeat the same formulas and tropes in order to achieve commercial success. The four-chord progression the singer is referring to is the ubiquitous I-V-vi-IV sequence, which has been used in many hits, from "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey to "Let It Be" by The Beatles. The Ataris seem to be pointing out that while this progression may be catchy and effective, it is also overused and unoriginal.
Line by Line Meaning
How many bands have wrote this song before?
I'm tired of hearing the same overused chord progression in every song. It's not original anymore.
I can name at least fifty
It's not even hard to come up with multiple examples of bands who have used this chord progression in their songs.
I bet you could name a hundred more.
There are just too many bands who have used this same chord progression, it's ridiculous.
There's over a couple thousand chord progressions around
It's baffling that so many bands keep using the same four chord progression when there are thousands of other options available.
Will someone tell me who decided
I want to know who started this trend and made it so popular in the first place.
They'd run this one into the ground?!
This chord progression has been used so excessively that it's now completely stale and unoriginal.
I'm putting a stop to it once and for all
I've had enough of hearing this same chord progression in every other song, so I'm determined to change things.
I'm putting my fist right through the wall
I'm so frustrated with this repetitive trend in music that I want to take drastic measures to put an end to it.
You better not write this stupid song again
I'm warning all the bands out there that if they continue to use this same chord progression, they'll face consequences.
"I've got a little plan, so listen up
I've come up with an idea to create an extremely simple and catchy song.
We could write a four chord wonder
The idea is to use the same four chord progression that everyone else has used to create a hit song.
And make a million bucks"
The main goal is to make a lot of money, even if it means sacrificing originality.
No need to mention names cause' you know who you are.
I'm not going to call out specific bands, because they all seem to be using this same tired chord progression.
Take word of my advice or I'll break your guitar
I'm serious about ending this repetitive trend, and I'm willing to take action if necessary.
I think it's time to set things straight
It's time to take a stand against this overused chord progression and promote more originality in music.
I just write the song I hate.
Ironically, I'm going to write a song using this same chord progression that I despise so much.
And, I'll write it again and again and again
I'm going to prove a point by using this chord progression to show just how tired and unoriginal it is.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Kristopher Lee Roe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind