Look, I’m gonna level with you. I already have my top 10 albums of the year list done and typed up and scheduled for release in the near future. I had a really hard time cutting it down to 10 from the 20 or so albums I had jotted down for consideration. I don’t want to rewrite any of that, and it’s honestly pretty rude of Bad Operation to release an album this dope this late into December. That said, this album absolutely slaps and while there’s just not enough time to know if I should knock one of my top 10 out of the running for this one, I still needed to talk about it.

Bad Operation are a NOLA-based ska band who just dropped their debut self-titled album via Community Records and Bad Time Records. They definitely have more of a second wave two tone kinda sound than a lot of the pop-punk fueled acts that have been dominating things since the 90s, but I wouldn’t exactly call them a throwback. The term “new tone” has been tossed around, which I feel is appropriate. Their songs are upbeat and danceable, and instead of a full brass section the horns tend to take a backseat to some really memorable organ melodies. Additionally, their frontman Dominic Minix stands out immediately. His vocals are smooth and soulful, and his lyrics are hella poignant. The track Peachy opens with the line, “Eat the rich, feed the kids” and I’m 100% here for it.

What’s really impressive about Bad Operation is that they’ve seemingly come out the gate fully formed. Their sound is simultaneously both nostalgic and fresh, in a totally natural kind of way. Aesthetically, they’re super consistent. There’s a gritty black and white DIY vibe in their videos, band photos, and album cover. While the punk influences are toned down in the music, that ethos bleeds through in all of their visuals and matches up with their lyrical content perfectly. Anyway, Bad Operation is dope. The band, the album, the song. All of them. Dope. Is this one of my top 10 albums of the year? I have no idea, but you should check it out if my rambling description sounded cool to you.

Check out Bad Operation on Bandcamp and Spotify.