The Ataris - Anywhere but Here

Anywhere But Here is The Ataris debut, and while it isn't quite as polished as later output like the surprisingly excellent So Long, Astoria, there are still hints that The Ataris were destined for pop punk greatness.

My personal favorite track, while somewhat of a gimmick, is "Four Chord Wonder," which parodies the common simple formula for pop punk hits. The best thing about The Ataris is that they appear to be fully aware of the shortcomings within their own genre, and don't attempt to take themselves too seriously. Anywhere But Here may not be the most impressive album you'll ever hear, but it is a whole lot of fun.

Baleeted? No. This album has enough redeeming qualities to stick around a while.