[record 61]

"Expansive Heart"
Punk 7" vinyl
Lookout! lk94 (1994)
Lookout! lk94 (1994)
I don't remember how much I paid for this.
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Operation Ivy is a legendary band. If you're a member of a legendary band, you're expected to go on to do legendary things. Unless you're the drummer, then no one really cares. The bassist and guitarist went on to form a small band called Rancid, but the singer of Op Ivy, he led a different life. His post-legendary bands have been smaller.
Big Rig was the first musical offering from Jesse Michaels since the split of Op Ivy. According to the liner notes, the project lasted a couple months and this posthumous 7" is their only label release. They also have a self-released cassette with a couple other songs. It's not a bad record, but the comparison to that legendary band that came before leaves me wanting more. There's some good bass work and Michaels' vocals are a foreshadowing of his work with Classics of Love - a band that I think is nearing par with Op Ivy - but there is not a powerful attraction to the songs here.
"Will Alone" has a great sing along anthem feel to it. The call/response of "One day down, 1000 years to go" is begging to be shouted out at a show. The B-side is faster and more hardcore, with less attempt at hooks, leaving any trace of ska-punk behind for another hint at the Classics of Love sound. The last song, "Persistence" is a little sloppy and Michaels' takes a backing vocal role. Perhaps this hints at a little band tension? Since they were a band for such a short time, it's hard to say.
If you're a fervent Jesse Michaels fan, you probably already own this record. If you like Classics of Love nearly as much as Op Ivy, this might be a good one to add to your collection.
Big Rig was the first musical offering from Jesse Michaels since the split of Op Ivy. According to the liner notes, the project lasted a couple months and this posthumous 7" is their only label release. They also have a self-released cassette with a couple other songs. It's not a bad record, but the comparison to that legendary band that came before leaves me wanting more. There's some good bass work and Michaels' vocals are a foreshadowing of his work with Classics of Love - a band that I think is nearing par with Op Ivy - but there is not a powerful attraction to the songs here.
"Will Alone" has a great sing along anthem feel to it. The call/response of "One day down, 1000 years to go" is begging to be shouted out at a show. The B-side is faster and more hardcore, with less attempt at hooks, leaving any trace of ska-punk behind for another hint at the Classics of Love sound. The last song, "Persistence" is a little sloppy and Michaels' takes a backing vocal role. Perhaps this hints at a little band tension? Since they were a band for such a short time, it's hard to say.
If you're a fervent Jesse Michaels fan, you probably already own this record. If you like Classics of Love nearly as much as Op Ivy, this might be a good one to add to your collection.
Tracks:
A1: Expansive Heart
A2: Will Alone
B1: New Fist
B2: Persistence
A1: Expansive Heart
A2: Will Alone
B1: New Fist
B2: Persistence
Nathan (09/22/2009):
wow... i'm pretty sure this is the most beautiful blog entry ever written about any arts event at the Abbey...
thank you Don, whoever you are... and thank you Google Alerts for finding this for me...
this kind of honesty is inspiring many more people than you know...
peace
wow... i'm pretty sure this is the most beautiful blog entry ever written about any arts event at the Abbey...
thank you Don, whoever you are... and thank you Google Alerts for finding this for me...
this kind of honesty is inspiring many more people than you know...
peace