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From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Operation Ivy

Operation Ivy

1991

Operation Ivy
Album Summary

This album has been submitted by a user and is not included in any edition of the book.

Operation Ivy was an American punk rock band from Berkeley, California, formed in May 1987. They were critical to the emergence of Lookout Records and the so-called "East Bay Sound." The band's name was derived from the Operation Ivy series of nuclear tests in 1952. Although the band released just one full-length album (Energy) before breaking up in May 1989, Operation Ivy is well remembered as the direct antecedent of popular band Rancid and for wielding a lasting stylistic influence over numerous other bands in what became the third wave ska movement.

Wikipedia

Rating

2.97

Votes

86

Genres

  • Rock
  • Punk

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Reviews

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Feb 14 2025
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1

Like there's not enough western punk rock on this list Spending 3 years listening to albums just to add this is insane 1

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Feb 14 2025
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4

I heard some tracks by this band in the mid 90s, and liked it, though I did not seek out more and kind of forgot how ska- it leaned. This feels like original recipe, straight-ahead material on the hardcore/post-punk/ska spectrum. Smarter than average lyrics. I do feel like this is another one that suffers from its first song - Knowledge - being so strong that although there are tons of solid bangers after this, I didn't like anything quite as well.

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Feb 14 2025
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5

Probably the best album on this whole frigging list.

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Feb 14 2025
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3

It's not bad. Maybe trying a bit too hard to sound like the Clash. Not a huge fan of the ska thing. 3 stars.

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Mar 04 2025
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1

I can see the Ska vibes coming through at times but this is a 3rd rate band who were at least 10 years too late. There's even Clash echoes in here it's laughable. Jeez guys does it take that long for music to reach the West Coast? It's so devoid of talent and inspiration- not a shred of originality or talent (and I hate having to repeat the same word in the same sentence). Truly truly awful (there- I've done it again).

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Feb 14 2025
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5

A punk rocker's anthem album. I'm surprised this isn't in the main list, yet.

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Feb 14 2025
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5

Absolutely agree this is list worthy. Punk anthems of my youth.

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Feb 14 2025
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5

A great album at the intersection of punk and ska. Put it on a drink the shittiest beer you can stomach.

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Feb 14 2025
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5

Absolutely legendary American ska punk record . Sounds like shit. Kids can barely play their instruments. Dropped 27 bangers. How was this not on the original list?

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Mar 23 2025
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5

Definitely a 5 stars, so sad they called it it's quits after just an album.

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Mar 23 2025
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5

Jesse Michaels: Vocals so whiny he could’ve been the fifth Teletubby—screaming about unity while ditching the band faster than a one-night stand. Tim "Lint" Armstrong: Guitar riffs as original as a thrift store T-shirt—ran off to Rancid to prove he could recycle the same three chords forever. Matt "McCall" Freeman: Basslines so basic he’s the human equivalent of a metronome—lucky he found Rancid to carry his talentless ass. Dave Mello: Drums like a toddler banging pots—left the scene to herd cows, probably the smartest move he ever made.

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Feb 14 2025
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4

Ska punk, punk rock, hardcore punk. Me ha gustado. Un 4.

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Feb 14 2025
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4

Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Sound system, The crowd, Bombshell, Unity, Freeze up, Big city, Junkie’s runnin’ dry, Hoboken, Health body

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Feb 14 2025
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4

Cool punk/ska music. Had fun listening to this one

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Feb 28 2025
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4

Probably the closest I've come to giving a 5, but not. I do adore this band and everything they did for the scene though.

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Mar 02 2025
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4

Treat yourself to some raucous punk

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Mar 06 2025
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4

27 songs in under 51 minutes! Punk as hell, and very influential on a bunch of American bands who followed. An absolute blast, which I am glad to have heard, but would have to take the place of something similar (unless the book becomes 2,002 albums!)

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Mar 10 2025
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4

Banger!!! Great pick, even as a compilation record

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Feb 14 2025
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3

This was not bad, rowdy and energetic. I have a pretty limited tolerance for this style of music and sure didn't need to hear nearly an hour of it, but it has its moments. Fave Songs: Jaded, The Crowd, Bank Shot, Bad Town

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Feb 14 2025
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3

Thought this one was going to be rough given the initial vocals, but it quickly settled into a rapid-fire, aggressive groove that I found myself enjoying. Reminded me of a more in-your-face version of Wire, which is never a bad thing.

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Feb 14 2025
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3

More of the typical punk sound and style. I've grown somewhat fond of this kind of music. It's not something I seek out, but there's a good energy to it. This album's alright.

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Feb 14 2025
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3

I've heard the occasional Operation Ivy song over the years, and I know their big draw is that Tim Armstrong was in the band. It's not TOO bad but ska is a big ask most of the time for me. I don't mind a bit of Rancid but I'm more of a Lars guy than Tim. And I was always overall more of a Pennywise guy anyway. This album is ok. Songs like Jaded and The Crowd are bang up my alley, exactly what I like in late 80s punk, but then Take Warning is close to the worst thing I've ever heard. haha. Also, I know this is some kind of compilation and their actual album isn't on Spotify, but fucking hell 50min of shoddy Bay Area punk... yeesh. 3/5.

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Feb 22 2025
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3

This is something I definitely would have liked a lot more in college. Still I appreciated it more than I expected today. Solid!

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Feb 24 2025
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3

Fun, raucous, energetic hardcore/ska from a truly innovative punk band but, even though it’s under a hour, at 27 songs long this compilation is just far too long and repetitive. The album and EP are both pretty good on their own, but listening to them stuck together like this became a bit of a slog. There are some absolutely great tracks on here, and a lot of filler

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Feb 26 2025
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3

I agree with the top comment: there is already a few versions of this album on the list. At some point, a lot of the punk music just sounds interchanegable. Maybe if I had a better understanding of the whole history of the genre, I could appreciate the importance of these guys, but in the end it sounded similar to other stuff I've heard. My personal rating: 3/5 My rating relative to the list: 3/5 Should this have been included on the original list? No.

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Feb 28 2025
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3

What’s not to like. 27 songs in 50 mins. Shades of punk, pixies and the clash. Plenty of energy.

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Mar 27 2025
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3

Cool band but simply too rough around the edges for a consistent quality

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Feb 14 2025
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2

So much punk and it still continues. Kind of makes you wonder how important can some of these punk albums be if so many were being made for 30 years. This album is alright. It’s pretty much Cali garage punk. Not too aggressive lyricism and the instrumentals are good but again nothing really amazing. This is another album that came and went. 5.4/10

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Feb 14 2025
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2

I don't know what it is with punk bands and the super short songs over a span of so many tracks that all kind of sound the same. I always picture myself in a grunge basement or some very tiny venue with a group just rocking out.

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Feb 15 2025
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2

This is a best of album of a punk rock and ska band that is the direct antecedent of Rancid and I'm not a real fan of the latter. The songs on this album sound a bit interchangeable and the vocals are not so great. It's ok, I guess, but no need to add best off albums to this list.

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Feb 18 2025
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2

I mean it’s ska punk, I’m not sure what else to say.

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Feb 14 2025
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1

I found it more strident than harmonious in its manufacture, screams, accelerated musicians. I know that is the intention of the genre but I don't even feel it is well done... mmm I don't know, it's not for me, and it's not music that puts me in a good mood or even energizes me apart from being or seeming very long in duration.

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