Editing So Long, Astoria (section)

==Background==
In February 2001, The Ataris released their third album ''[[End Is Forever]]'' through independent label [[Kung Fu Records]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/end-is-forever-mr0000660001|title=End Is Forever - The Ataris {{!}} Release Info|publisher=AllMusic|author=Jeffries, Vincent|access-date=February 18, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218181543/https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/end-is-forever-mr0000660001|archive-date=February 18, 2018}}</ref> In May, vocalist/guitarist Kris Roe revealed that the group would start writing for their next album later in the year.<ref name=AtarisNews>{{cite web|url=http://ataris.com:80/news/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021221040728/http://ataris.com/news/|title=News|publisher=The Ataris|archive-date=December 21, 2002|access-date=February 18, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> In June, guitarist Marco Peña left the group due to creative and personal differences. He was replaced by their guitar tech John Collura, formerly of the band Beefcake.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ataris.com:80/bandinfo/faq.cgi?id=12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020409040957/http://www.ataris.com/bandinfo/faq.cgi?id=12|title=What happened to Marco Pena, the old guitar player?|publisher=The Ataris|author=Roe, Kris|date=August 7, 2001|archive-date=April 9, 2002|access-date=February 1, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Roe said Collura "definitely brought us back to [being the] best of friends", as well making them "realize that this band has got a lot of life in it".<ref name=MCinterview/> Also in June, the group contributed a new track to the [[Warped Tour]] 2001 compilation, "Looking Back on Today". The band signed with major label [[Columbia Records]] in July.<ref name=AtarisNews/> Roe explained: "We wanted to go somewhere where we knew that even if our record didn't do well, that we would have a career still as a band".<ref name=MCinterview>{{cite web|url=https://www.mcall.com/2003/04/26/shooting-straight-and-forward-ataris-make-major-label-jump-but-keep-it-personal/|title=Shooting straight and forward|work=The Morning Call|author=Sculley, Alan|date=April 26, 2003|access-date=February 17, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119054345/http://articles.mcall.com/2003-04-26/features/3475089_1_roe-band-kung-fu-records|archive-date=January 19, 2016}}</ref>

Later in July, Roe revealed that the group would be releasing their next album in mid-2002 and that it would be in the musical style of their second album ''[[Blue Skies, Broken Hearts...Next 12 Exits]]'' (1999). In October, Roe said the album was tentatively titled ''Don't Ever Compromise What You Believe''. In December, the group said they had 13 songs that they were working on, and were planning to record in March 2002. In January 2002, the group contributed a new song to the ''[[Orange County (film)|Orange County]]'' soundtrack. In April, Roe said the group were expected to begin recording in May.<ref name=AtarisNews/> When looking for producers, bassist [[Mike Davenport]] said a few names came up: "Lou [Giordano] was always my choice. [[Ric Ocasek]] said [']I don't get it.' Mark Trombino told us to keep writing."<ref name=Farinella143>Farinella 2010, p. 143</ref> Davenport pushed for Giordano, "and the minute [Roe and Giordano] spoke, it worked."<ref name=Farinella143/> In early July, Roe said the album would be titled ''So Long, Astoria''.<ref name=AtarisNews/> Later that month, Giordano was enlisted as the album's producer and that recording would finally occur in August.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ataris.com:80/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020725150321/http://www.ataris.com/|title=Producer for our new record.... etc.|publisher=The Ataris|author=Roe, Kris|archive-date=July 25, 2002|access-date=February 18, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>