Op Ivy’s CD is also catchy. There were plenty of hooks that snagged my attention. Songs like “Take Warning” and “Vulnerability,” an instrumental, drive this point home. Combining those catchy ska hooks with the energy and rawness of the punk rock mentality made me listen to this CD over and over.
While Op Ivy lacks a brass section, their ska influence can be easily heard. They really like to pull back and play relaxed tunes like “Take Warning” and “Unity.” They manage to stay true to ska roots and incorporate a saxophone into the song “Bad Town.” For those Rancid listeners out there, you can tell how Matt Freeman and Tim Armstrong, Op Ivy’s guitarist who would later become Rancid’s frontman, got their influences from.
There is not a boring song on this CD. While they kind of all sound the same, all of them are overflowing with energy and fun. Operation Ivy were still punk kids at this stage and it comes out in their attitudes, which are presented not only lyrically, but musically as well. It’s neat to get a feel for what formed the basis of the ska-core scene. This CD will be influential for years to come.
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