There's a sticker on this album that proclaims the Ataris are, "one of the fastest growing punk bands in recent memory." No shit! I remember when the band only played venues on the west coast. I sat here in Buffalo, crossing my fingers in hope that maybe, just maybe they would do a tour and come to our little corner of the country. Now, the End is Forever tour has just about as many dates in Europe, Asia, and Australia as they do in the U.S.

So, maybe you'll find your car blocked by a line of mommy-driven minivans after a show, or start wishing people would just drop crowd surfers on their heads. I think this is a small price to pay for a good band finally getting recognized as such. Not that "finally" is exactly the best word; the band released their first album only four years ago. In a short time, Kris Roe and his various cohorts have gone from unknown hopefuls to prominent punkers; working with some of the best people in the industry.

Basically, the story goes like this. Kris gives the Vandals a demo tape when they come to his hometown in Indiana. A few weeks later, Vandals bassist Joe Escalante calls him with an offer to do a release on his label, Kung Fu Records. Kris moves to California, hooks up with Lagwagon's old buddy Derrick Plourde, and the Ataris record Anywhere But Here as a three-piece. Not long after, Fat Mike of NOFX takes a liking to the band. With a new lineup, the Ataris record Look Forward to Failure, an EP released on Fat Wreck Chords and produced by Bill Stevenson and Stephen Egerton (of ALL and the Descendents). About this time, the rest of the punk rock world gets clued in, and the Ataris' expanding following eagerly awaits the release of Blue Skies, Broken Hearts... Next 12 Exits and Let it Burn, respective full-length and EP from Kung Fu.

This brings us to the present, and the Ataris' latest CD, End is Forever. This release is comprised of fourteen sing-along songs that will leave you with a big silly grin on your face. The energy of this album is infectious, and the songs are catchy as ever. The Ataris' style is still pronounced, but the overall sound of this disc is a bit more polished and mature than past releases, and the songwriting is more complex.

One of the best things about this album, and the Ataris' music in general, is the lyrics. They might as well go ahead and call their next release Charming Things to Say to Your Girlfriend because I can tell you first hand, chicks swoon over this stuff. Who can read lyrics like, "Will you be my best friend/if I offer you my heart?/'cause it's already yours/We could hang out every night/and watch the sun go down/as long as we could watch it rise again" without turning into a giant mushball? Whoever they are, I bet they slaughter babies. The love songs are heartfelt, sincere and unique. The non-mushy songs are witty. Take for example the inevitable "Teenage Riot:" "Three years gone by and everyone still screws up our name." Combine these great lyrics with tight music and what do you get? A good explanation for the Ataris' success.

I could go on and on about this disc, but that's bordering on obsession. So how about this: I'll let you put down the magazine on the condition that you go out and buy End is Forever as soon as you do. Okay? Ready? Go! Thank me later.