"Apocalypso" is an album by the American new wave band The Motels. Previously unreleased, it was supposed to be the group's third studio album and was intended to be the follow-up to their 1979 record, "Careful." However, it was rejected by their record label at the time, Capitol Records, in 1981 because it was deemed too experimental and not commercial enough.
Around this time, the band released an album titled "All Four One," which was a great commercial success and spawned the hit single "Only the Lonely." Years later, the "Apocalypso" tracks surfaced as bonus content on some editions of "All Four One."
In 2011, almost 30 years after its original intended release, "Apocalypso" was finally released on CD for the first time. This was made possible by Omnivore Recordings. The 2011 release presented the originally intended album version, complete with artwork and sequencing from 1981. The album includes various notable songs such as "Only the Lonely" and "Take the L."
"Apocalypso" today is regarded as a highlight in The Motels' discography, showing the band's creative range and the depth of Martha Davis's songwriting abilities. The music in the album leans towards a dark and atmospheric new wave style, significantly different from the more commercial pop sound found on the released version of "All Four One."
