Energy

Energy
Studio album by Operation Ivy
Released	Original: 1989 CD: 1991
Recorded	September 1987 - January 1989
Genre	Hardcore punk, Ska punk
Length	49:51
Label	Lookout!
Producer	Operation Ivy
Professional reviews
Allmusic link
Operation Ivy chronology
Hectic (1988) Energy (1989) Operation Ivy (1991)

Energy is the only LP released by the hardcore punk/ska punk band Operation Ivy. It has been cited as one of the most important albums of the ska punk genre. Energy, consisting of 19 tracks, was released in 1989 only on Vinyl and Cassette. The material was remastered and released in 1991 on the self-titled CD Operation Ivy, which also contained material from the band's EP Hectic, and two tracks from the Maximumrocknroll double 7" compilation Turn it around.

In 2004 Hellcat Records re-released the original album as a 12" LP picture disc; and in 2007 re-released a remastered version of the self-titled CD.

In 2006, the album was ranked as the highest rated punk album of 1989 and 6th highest rated ever on Sputnikmusic.^[1]

Recording and style

Operation Ivy tried to record Energy at 924 Gilman Street but because of problems, they set out to record at Sound and Vision in San Francisco, in January 1989.^{[citation needed]} As did Hectic, Energy had outtakes that were later put into a CD called Unreleased Energy. Energy has been said to be more mature and less hardcore than Hectic.^{[citation needed]}

Influence and covers

Energy is widely regarded as a pivotal album of Ska-core. Many artists have covered the songs on Energy (and Hectic), including a compilation called Take Warning: The Songs of Operation Ivy. The Leftöver Crack song "Gay Rude Boys Unite" is a parody of "Unity" and the introduction music is deliberately similar to that of "Yellin' In My Ear".

Track listing

All songs written by Operation Ivy except "Knowledge" by Jesse Michaels and "One Of These Days" by Lee Hazlewood.

1. "Knowledge" – 1:40
2. "Sound System" – 2:14
3. "Jaded" – 1:49
4. "Take Warning" – 2:44
5. "The Crowd" – 2:10
6. "Bombshell" – 1:01
7. "Unity" – 2:13
8. "Vulnerability" – 1:58
9. "Bankshot" – 1:30
10. "One Of These Days" – 1:05
11. "Gonna Find You" – 1:52
12. "Bad Town" – 2:32
13. "Smiling" – 1:44
14. "Caution" – 1:23
15. "Freeze Up" – 2:19
16. "Artificial Life" – 2:03
17. "Room Without a Window" – 1:31
18. "Big City" – 2:14
19. "Missionary" – 2:05
    • Hectic EP (added for CD rerelease)
20. "Junkie's Runnin' Dry" – 2:03
21. "Here We Go Again" – 2:04
22. "Hoboken" – 1:10
23. "Yellin' in my Ear" – 1:31
24. "Sleep Long" – 2:06
25. "Healthy Body" – 1:40
    • Turn It Around compilation (added for CD rerelease)
26. "Officer" – 1:55
27. "I Got No" – 1:15

Personnel

• Jesse Michaels - Lead vocals (except track 12)
• Lint - guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on track 12
• Matt McCall - bass, backing vocals
• Dave Mello - drums, backing vocals

• Paul Bae - saxophone
• John Golden - remastering
• Kevin Army - engineer, producer, remastering, mixing
• Murray Bowles - photography
• Vivian Saykes - photography

References