The 10 Best Operation Ivy Songs of All-Time
Some bands can stick around for years without making much of an impression on the general public. In contrast, others can make themselves felt for decades with a single release. Operation Ivy is an excellent example of the latter. The band existed for two years during the late 1980s. During that time, it released an EP and an LP. Despite this, Operation Ivy became a forerunner of not one but two musical trends. One was third-wave ska, while the other was punk breaking into the mainstream. As such, Operation Ivy is remembered well despite its brief existence.
Here is our opinion of the ten best Operation Ivy songs ever released:
10. “Hoboken”
“Hoboken” is one of the six songs from the EP Hectic. It has a rather unusual name by most people’s standards. After all, “Hoboken” refers to a New Jersey city considered a part of the New York metropolitan area. Meanwhile, Operation Ivy’s members came from California on the other side of the country. It isn’t 100 percent clear why the city was mentioned in the song. However, it seems safe to say that the intent wasn’t positive. Hoboken had a much poorer reputation in the 1980s. Something that stuck around until the city underwent gentrification around this time.
9. “One of These Days”
Chances are good interested individuals can recognize that “One of These Days” is based on Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’.” It isn’t a complete cover. Instead, it consists of Operation Ivy’s take on the chorus. The result stands by itself, thus making it surprisingly enjoyable despite how different it is from the original.
8. “Bombshell”
One might be tempted to guess that there’s some deeper meaning to “Bombshell.” This is because Operation Ivy took its name from several nuclear weapon tests in the 1950s. Granted, nuclear weapons are different from artillery shells. Even so, it isn’t hard to see the similarities between them. Despite this, “Bombshell” has nothing to do with the term’s original meaning. The song is directed at someone the narrator has met at a party, though it is executed better than most such songs.
7. “Bad Town”
Punk isn’t always political. However, people often use it to express their frustrations and other sentiments, which often veer towards the political. Unsurprisingly, Operation Ivy is no exception to this rule. “Bad Town” is about the experiences of people growing up in not-so-safe and not-so-prosperous neighborhoods. It more or less lives up to its name.
6. “Big City”
The city has existed for millennia. However, there can be no doubt that it has undergone dramatic transformations in recent centuries. For proof, look no further than how more people live in the cities than in the countryside. Something that wouldn’t have been possible in the past because of the challenges in growing enough food to feed large populations that didn’t produce any. That said, the rapid expansion of the cities has resulted in ills that have inspired more than a few songs. Here, Operation Ivy expressed dissatisfaction with the inequalities found within cities, which is sharpened by the sense of its inescapability.
5. “Freeze Up”
“Freeze Up” is another political song. It is a product of its times, which are already several decades in the past. Despite this, there are parts of “Freeze Up” that feel hauntingly familiar, meaning the song retains much of its emotional punch in modern times.
4. “Take Warning”
Skinheads saw a second surge in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Initially, they were apolitical. However, the early 1980s were when some segments started affiliating themselves with extreme politics, thus provoking various responses from those who were less than enthused by such associations. “Take Warning” is clearly about these events. Specifically, it’s warning listeners about Nazi skinheads. “Take Warning” isn’t the only song to express this message, but it’s one of the better examples.
3. “Room Without a Window”
“Room Without a Window” is a name that evokes a strong sense of claustrophobia. After all, we are adapted to the outdoors, meaning there’s a well-established connection between our well-being and our exposure to natural air and light. It is easy to imagine how someone might feel trapped if they wind up in a space without any openings to the outside world. The neat thing about “Room Without a Window” is that it isn’t talking about a physical space. Instead, the lyrics describe someone walling themselves in by refusing to examine their opinions because of rage, pride, and other less-than-admirable emotions. The song is more moving because it rings true to life.
2. “Jaded”
Cynicism goes hand-in-hand with punk. However, “Jaded” is more specific than interested individuals might expect based on its name. The song expresses the fear that punk is dying out because it has lost its way. As a result, it won’t be the same, even if its hollowed-out shell sticks around. Funny enough, Operation Ivy released “Jaded” before punk broke into the mainstream, which tends to be seen as a watershed moment because of the increased commercial interest in the subculture. It’s hard to say whether the fears expressed in “Jaded” have proven true, but it’s clear that people were thinking about these things decades ago.
1. “Knowledge”
Someone who acknowledges their lack of knowledge is sometimes considered wise. That one can be blamed on Socrates, who is often labeled the father of Western philosophy, even though we only know him through his disciples’ writings. If this is true, wisdom can be a painful thing, as shown by the narrator’s feeling of being trapped in this song. One of the reasons that “Knowledge” is so well-known is because there’s a Green Day version. That band might be better known and much more successful. Even so, this version of “Knowledge” is in no sense inferior because each has its particular charm.
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