Over the period of two years, Operation Ivy was created and then purposely deconstructed.  Their raucous hybrid of ska and punk rock gained them acceptance from the heart of the underground, and sadly, it was this attention that unavoidably destroyed them.  Many question why a group that has such a profound effect on punk and ska would so strongly resist a reunion.  The answer is simple - Operation Ivy never intended to take over the world.

Track 14: "Caution"

One of the highlights of “Caution” is again the melodious interaction between Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman.  From the strike of the first notes, Freeman rips out of the gate only to remain neck and neck with the ravenous attack of Armstrong's guitar.  Michaels' lyrics craft a curious landscape where the listener is left to decipher the singers perspectives on cautious living.  Is “Caution” a literal warning, or does Michaels suggest throwing caution to the wind?

Track 15: "Freeze Up"

“Freeze Up” is a cold and shocking depiction of a society dictated by “systematic profit plans.”  As “the course of human progress staggers like a drunk", and morals begin to fade to virtually non-existent levels.  This track is a real portrait of the world in nineteen eighty-nine, but still the aspect that most terrifies me about “Freeze Up” is that it was written twenty-two years ago, and today it reflects our society even more.

Track 16: "Artificial Life"

When the rockers of the 80s realized there were mountains of dough to be made manufacturing fluffy power ballads, radio and television were overrun.  Michaels sees this scheme as a commercial plot to keep television viewers firmly planted on their couches or steadily purchasing the newest line of life changing products. 

Favorite lyric: “This I say to you, what I say is true / Emotions aren't a product to sell and cannot be consumed.”

Track 17: "Room Without a Window"

“Room Without a Window” poetically describes the many different self-created obstacles we surround ourselves with, and how eventually our opinions, pride and rage will close us off from any other views.  Before defining the infrastructure of said system, Michaels states, “The position being taken is not to be mistaken / For attempted education or righteous accusations. / Only a description, just an observation / Of the pitiful condition of our degeneration.”

Track 18: "Big City"

The harsh reality of big city life is that “some people here got it real good” while “other people starve in the street.”  In the city it has now become a necessity for one man's victory to also be another man's failure.  Operation Ivy's “Big City” is a complex overview of this fact in action. 

Favorite lyric: “This town is fucking insane / How one will starve and another will gain.”

Track 19: "Missionary"

Each time I hear the song “Missionary” I find my mind wandering with the lyrics, conjuring images of a brutish and beastly warrior.  Righteousness and valor lead this slashing giant through his conquest with “unconditional devotion and unquestioning belief.”  As the pummeling draws to a close and a flag is planted in the corpse of the enemy, we discover “The flag is hard to read because all flags start to look the same when covered with the blood of the faithless and insane.”

Track 20: "Junkie's Runnin' Dry"

With “Junkies Runnin Dry” Michaels comically compares the working class to junkies searching for a fix.  Even I have to admit his criticisms are slightly harsh, but I still laughed when comparing the mannerisms of someone late for work and someone late to score. 

Michaels puts himself at the heart of the situation when he notices his efforts with Operation Ivy is actually considered to be “work” by most standards.

“But now I'm working just like everyone else / But I'll get out, I'll get out of here.”

Hmmm.  How fitting.

Operation Ivy is available through Hellcat Records.

Visit Eazy-D @ Facebook.com!

By Correspondent: Dennis "Eazy-D" Spence

Eazy-D was born on a rainy morning in the sultry July heat of 1978.  His mother fondly recalls the day with a tale of going into labor while watching Roadrunner cartoons.  On the ride home, "We Are the Champions" played on the radio and the two speechless parents wondered what this child's future would be. 

Chronological list of Inspirations Leading to the Development of Eazy-D:

1) His Mom's Band  2) Children of the Corn  3) La Bamba  4) "Sweet Child of Mine"  5) Lost Boys

6) Black Sabbath  7) The Buddy Holly Story  8) Slick Rick  9) The Ramones  10) His Mom teaching how to play "House of the Rising Sun" on the guitar

All this has led Eazy-D to be a distinguished local artist and writer as well as the lead singer/songwriter/guitarist and founding member of the barcore pint rockers, Jackmove.  Eazy-D is available for contact on MySpace and Facebook.