Blue Skies, Broken Hearts...Next 12 Exits

The songs are undescribable...they are just amazing. Kris Roe's vocals are just so interesting that you can't help but not like his songs. Moreover his guitar skill is likewise awesome, kind of makes you think when you find out that his amazing guitar skills are played by him while he is playing his guitar upside down.

Best and most memorable songs for me have got to be Losing Streak, San Dimas High, I Wont spend another night alone, and The LAST song i will ever write about a girl. Those are just the best songs. If you want a cd that will continue to shine and be one of your favorites for years to come i really suggest you buy this cd. it is beyond what any current commercial bands have put out. It is simply music for those with an ear for intelligent and deep lyrics, and awesome guitar melodies. You are only causing yourself grief by not buying it.


A Foundation Album   April 21, 2005
Nicholas J. Palatucci (Williamstown, NJ)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful

Well after reading the last review on here saying how So Long, Astoria was much better than this one and how anyone who disagreed doesn't know what good music is, I decided to add my two cents. This album was clearly The Ataris' stepping stone album. Anywhere But Here was great, but it blended in with many other bands at the time. Here, Kris Roe and the Ataris beautifully flex their story-telling, song writing muscle here. So Long, Astoria is their fourth full length, and most mature album to date. But without Blue Skies, it would be nothing. It is here where they adopted their style and built onto it with experience and the improving benefits of time. This is very heartfelt album with great stories to tell. Lyrically, Roe took from the usual "things were great, she broke my heart - life sucks" idea, incorporated it into his own experiences and wrote great relateable, not cliche, lyrics to it. Musically, the chord progressions and melodies are superb and un-matchable for the time, and even today. Just listen and read into songs like 1*15*96, the infamous San Dimas Highschool Football Rules, In Spite of the World and ESPECIALLY My Hotel Year, you'll get what I mean (and also read the book it was based on, Coupland's Life After God).

So for those who think this album sucks and So Long, Astoria is much better - you're entitled to your opinion. But respect the fact that this album was a foundation with which they would be nothing without.


Amazing Album!   December 1, 1999
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

This CD is awesome. Every single song is really catchy. If you're a fan of punk music and/or you like more popular bands like Green Day and Blink 182, you'll love this CD as much as I do.


Awesome cd   May 5, 2001
Drew (Earth)
5 out of 6 found this review helpful

The Ataris may be the most technical and musicly talented punk band ever.They create incredibly crunchy guitar riffs that you think could only come up in magical dreams,which are showcased on the standouts 1-15-96,San Dimmas High School Football Rules,Your Bouyfriend Sucks,and Angry Nerd Rock.All of the songs are very deeply emotional about relationships and breaking your heart,which is vocalized over spot-on perfect,creative melodies.In Angry Nerd Rock,the vocals sound submerged under water and then at the end are released with a breath of incredibly fresh air.My Hotel Year is the slow one on the cd and is arranged nicely with more awesome lyrics.My favorite songs though,in order are-1:Your Boyfriend Sucks-2:Angry Nerd Rock-3:San Dimmas High School Football Rules-4:1*15*96-5:Last Song I Will Ever Write About a Girl.Please check this one out for your own sake.


AWESOME   February 23, 2000
Jina (New York)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

This is really an AWESOME CD! if you're debating on which Atari's CD to get first or whatever THIS IS THE ONE TO GET. The other ones are AWESOME too, not to downplay them, but this is a really great starter. They are AWESOME live. I just saw them play last week and they were great! Totally buy this CD and support the ataris!