At The Drive-In This Station Is Non-Operational CD

Disc One contains tracks culled from the group's 1998 EP, EL GRAN ORGO, through to its final full-length album, 2000's RELATIONSHIP OF COMMAND (the songs are chronologically arranged), and appends them with a series of rarities (including covers of tunes by the Smiths and Pink Floyd). Disc Two is a DVD with videos, a discography, and extras. Though its life-span was relatively brief, and its output small, ATDI fused the angst-ridden fire of emo, the moody angles of indie rock, and the sonic intensity of hardcore with an integrity that few of its imitators have been able to match. This excellent, well-selected set is a testament to the band's influence.

4 years after the band's indefinite hiatus, the members have decided to unveil many rare and unreleased songs and performances. This anthology pays tribute to their story. It is a collection of greatest hits, videos, BBC sessions, b-sides, re-mixes, EPK, and covers of The Smiths and Pink Floyd tunes. The package includes an 18 track audio CD and companion DVD. The booklet features 20 unreleased photographs from At the Drive-In archives. The anthology spans their entire career.

Given the success and artistic range that the members of At the Drive-In achieved in the bands they formed after their initial group's breakup--singer Cedric Bixler and guitarist Omar Rodriguez in the Mars Volta, and guitarist Jim Ward, bassist Paul Hinojos, and drummer Tony Hajjar in Sparta--it might be tempting to overlook the accomplishments of their first project. As THIS STATION IS NON-OPERATIONAL reminds us, however, that would be a mistake. A CD-plus-DVD compilation of hits, B-sides, BBC sessions, remixes, and videos, THIS STATION is a career-defining retrospective worthy of this influential indie band.

At the Drive-In: Cedric Bixler (vocals); Jim Ward, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (guitar); Paul Hinojos (bass guitar); Tony Hajjar (drums).

Spin (p.104) - "[T]hese El Paso iconoclasts were one great band. Ward and company focused Bixler-Zavala's and Rodriguez-Lopez's flailing arms into powerful one-two combinations. And the Volta duo scuffed up the others' verse-chorus-verse format." - Grade: B+
Uncut (p.114) - 4 stars out of 5 - "[T]his 18-track compilation is a vivid reminder of both their songwriting prowess and their incendiary live shows."
Magnet (p.88) - "This collection contains some essential album tracks...Good, for sure..."