YIFTM Album of the Week
GLENDALE, CA (YIFTM) – This week’s delicious selection is Energy by Operation Ivy. As a “gateway” music drug, this album stands above just about every other in how it was able to carry so much weight with its presence. Rancid, Big Rig, DHC, Common Rider, and a plethora of other newly discovered bands followed this perfect album. Meaningful in your face lyrics with the sound of a garage band on speed, this album consists of catchy ska/punk songs that make for an endless buffet of ear candy.
Acting as the band’s entire catalog (sort of), the CD version of Energy includes the 7” Hectic, and a few songs only available on previous comps. My favorite of the bunch is Hoboken, an unrelenting fist fight of hatred towards a city (not unlike the feelings I once had for my hometown), followed shortly after by Junkie’s Runnin’ Dry (a song whose meaning I’m appreciating more in my aging years).
This is a horrible review for such a monumental piece of my adolescent life. I can truly say I don’t know what my interests in music would be had it not been for this album.
Coming in at #8 on my top 105 albums of all time (see posts for 4/13 under Previous Rants) Energy by Operation Ivy IS A NECESSITY and should find a proper home in any music lover’s collection.
2 comments:
Another tape from A.M. - I remember the days when I couldn't really tell the difference between Vacuum Scam & Op Ivy - not music-wise - more like you could have told me they were both from Wisconsin and I would have believed you.
Nobody could give me any info on either band, I couldn't find any of their music at Best Buy or the Portage K-Mart. This was before Google, All Music, Wiki, etc. All I had were cassettes that were copied over a dozen times before, beat up, with my own handwriting on the label.
Back when music was dangerous or mysterious - probably a better word for this.
Now (mostly thanks to the net) I know Op Ivy's proper place in music history and I still don't know anything about Vacuum Scam.
That's right. It was from A.M. I forgot about that.
And the Ministry Live album. Shit, I owe that kid.
Yeah, 10 years later and still nothing on Vacuum Scam. They do have a myspace account though.
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