Operation Ivy Songs Ranked

Operation Ivy was an American punk rock band from Berkeley, California, United States, formed in May 1987. The band was stylistically important as one of the first bands to mix the elements of hardcore punk and ska into a new amalgam called ska punk and was 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 before breaking up in May 1989, Operation Ivy is well remembered as the direct antecedent of the popular band Rancid and for wielding a lasting stylistic influence over numerous other bands in what became the third wave ska movement. Here are all of Operation Ivy’s songs ranked.

Don’t miss out on the music of this American Rock band. Click below and listen to their most memorable songs!

10. Vulnerability (Energy, 1989)

“The title says it all. “Energy” is a ska punk album full of energy, with fast tracks, Operation are very raw and powerful and take their influences from The Clash, The Specials and Black Flag and create an incredibly entertaining and sweeping record which would later influence many other ska punk bands like No Doubt, The Offspring, Green Day, and of course the follow-up band Rancid.”

9. Take Warning (Energy, 1989)

“OPERATION IVY was a short-lived ska punk band that only existed from 1987-89 but has gone down in history as one of the most influential punk bands that paved the way for the entire ska punk and more popular pop punk bands including grunge to emerge in the 90s and beyond.”

8. One of These Days (Energy, 1989)

“With some hilarious tracks like the Nancy Sinatra “One of These Days” and the lyrics that deal with social injustice and political issues it’s definitely not as well known as it should be and deserves credit as a very influential and highly entertaining punk album.”

7. The Crowd (Energy, 1989)

“For many years this was my favorite album and the first I ever considered to be the “greatest album ever”. With this album they pioneered the ska punk genre, along with a few other artists, however it was this album that spread the genre much more than the rest did.”

See more: Operation Ivy Albums Ranked

6. Bad Town (Energy, 1989)

“Incredible album, so much raw energy, so little time! I always find myself making at least 15 mph over the speed limit when i pop this cd in. Mad props on the crops dawg.”

5. Sound System (Energy, 1989)

“When I listen to this, I can’t help but to picture the band in a small garage, thrashing away at their instruments…quick fingers walking around the bass guitar, the guitar just the perfect balance between messy and tight, behind them the drums, the frantic driving force behind everything, and then Jesse Michaels pouring every ounce of himself into his grating, yet passionate vocals. Just a group of teenagers playing music.”

4. Big City (Energy, 1989)

“This song is about how cities are taking over and how they can be so different for different people and how they can either be great or hell. what does the line “and I think I wanna be a brick layer so I can put another brick in the wall mean?” ive been trying to figure out for a long time.”

See more: Cobra Starship Albums Ranked

3. Room Without a Window (Energy, 1989)

“I think this song is about ignorance, impatience, hedonistic individualism, nationalism, class division, religious intolerance, etc. etc. Essentially about all the methods Jesse Michaels felt the people of the world use to divide ourselves from one another, leaving us in a “room without window”, with a door closing fast…”

2. Jaded (Energy, 1989)

“This is about the punk rock scene. it talks about fights and six bucks which is symbolism for the mosh pits and how cheap the shows use to be. the second verse is about punk dying out.”

1. Knowledge (Energy, 1989)

“I like Green Day’s covered version… but they chopped this song to bits. This version kills their poppy drunk-sounding one. I have nothing against Green Day, but that wasn’t a good cover. Why did these guys have to break up? They had unbelievable potential, and songs like this just make you sad to find out they aren’t making anything else like it. I’m glad some of them are still making music… but Op Ivy was awesome.”