The Ataris

Anywhere But Here (Kung Fu)
by Austin Nash

I rarely delve into the lyrics and the meanings behind songs because typically, song lyrics have nothing more to say to me than I have to say about them, and the subject matter of songs is usually disappointing. Literal cognitive deficiency is inherent in the medium. It is not meant to ooze alphabetical intellect. Music is sounds. Great musicians of the classical past did not write lyrics. You might argue that not all music of the past is classical in nature, and I would agree. But the classical past is what stays with us. Name me a piece written in the eighteenth century that is still around that is not folk or classical.

The point is that The Ataris, like too many other bands, put out an excellent melodic punk rock album called Anywhere but here that is as fine in technique as it is in aural aesthetics, but lyrically makes the obvious point of not having a point. The lyrics are very clear in the mix, and remind me of a dead poet who was fond of and very good at telling me that he didn’t have anything to tell me, which is very difficult to do without sounding stupid or being insulting. Maybe it’s just late, maybe it’s the High Life, maybe it’s the tedium, Anywhere but Here is a good album, but maybe it could use some reverb or the guys could just hum.
(PO Box 38009 Hollywood, CA 90038)