This album is about as pop as it gets - but in an entirely kick-ass way. It's as if the past 35 years never existed and First Base took its cues directly from the almighty Ramones. If you ever wished that Teenage Fanclub had taken copious amounts of speed and decided to be a punk band, Not That Bad is definitely the album for you. The hooks just keep on coming and coming, with no song surpassing three minutes. Tracks like "Crybaby", "Eastchester Avenue", and "Dumber By the Day" are super-satisfying blasts of buzzsaw punk with bubblegum melodies. If the Undertones were the Irish Ramones, "Judy" has me thinking that First Base might be the Canadian Undertones! And when the band slows it down and goes for more of a straight power pop sound ("Sandra", "Not That Bad"), the results are spectacular.Whether you call it poppy punk or punky pop, Not That Bad is the best album of its kind I've encountered in a damn long time!
1. Crybaby
2. Eastchester Avenue
3. Sandra
4. Dumber by the Day
5. Cooking Up Trouble
6. Judy
7. Not That Bad
8. Busboy Job
9. This Guitar of Mine
10. Ding Dang Dong
11. Together Again
12. Secret Track(ABBA “Mama Mia” cover)
CD Bonus tracks
13. You've Got A Hold On Me(from "You've Got A Hold On Me" 7")
14. Follow Me(from "You've Got A Hold On Me" 7")
15. Just My Type(from "You've Got A Hold On Me" 7")
16. Your Love Is Paradise(from "You've Got A Hold On Me" 7")
17. Together Again(from Together Again 7")
18. If I See You With That Girl Again(from Together Again 7")