Customer Reviews

This Is Unity Music

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Wow, based off the previews i thought this CD would be just alright but this is an AWESOME CD!!! after a couple listens I was totally in love with it. I think I might even like it better than "Last Wave Rockers" and thats saying alot! However if you are an Op Ivy fan getting into Common Rider I recommend Last Wave Rockers first, then this CD. Last Wave Rockers is pure, simple and great ska/punk, this CD is truley original, using elements from all types of music, it also sounds very well produced! Do yourself a favor and pick this CD up, you wont regret it!

1. Firewall 8/10
2. Set The Method Down 9/10
3. Small Pebble 10/10
4. Cool This Madness Down 10/10
5. Long After Lights Out 8/10
6. Blackbirds vs. Crows - 9/10
7. Time Wont Take Away - 10/10
8. Prison Break -8/10
9. Midnight Passenger - 8/10
10. One Ton - 10/10
11. Toss Around - 9/10
12. Longshot - 10/10

they are all incredible songs, my very favorite:
Cool This Madness Down, Time Wont Take Away, One Ton

What more can you say? This is Common Rider - formed by Jesse Michaels of Operation Ivy. Put this on and turn it up!

While "This Is Unity Music" may not be my favorite Jesse Michaels album, it still radiates in musical creativity and the sheer love of making music that Jesse always put on display (at least with his 2 previous full length albums).

My main problem with this album is the production: it's far too tightly produced. On alot of other bands, tight, clean production is a pro, but Jesse's music wasn't really supposed to have crystal clear studio production. Hopeless Records obviously isn't the most fundable label in town, but the production quality they can afford certainly dwarfs that of Panic! Button or Lookout in the late 80's. I suppose it's good that a musician as inventive and non-commercial as Michaels can have a more accessible sound. But what I love about Operation Ivy's Energy and Common Rider's first album, is the almost homemade feel of them, and they really have an underground, Gilman/Berkeley sound to them, which this album unfortunately lacks. Great production just doesn't fit well with this musician, I think (unlike Green Day, another Gilman-pioneer band).

But the music is still there, and alot of it is still great. I find the lighter tracks to be the ones that stick out; Jesse goes into more serious, sometimes depressing, material here; and alot of that, I think, doesn't fit with Jesse's spirit, and with the rest of the album. But that happens rarely on this album, so it's not much to complain about. This is still about as "punk rock" as Common Rider was before; except with better production.

I will say that this is an album that seems to have this band mature even more and progress into new territory, and it would've been interesting to see what the planned third album would sound like. Jesse has said that, because of financial reasons, a Common Rider reunion doesn't look something to happen anytime soon; but of course, it's more likely than an Operation Ivy reunion.

The highlight tracks for me were Time Won't Take Away, Cool This Madness Down, Prison Break, One Ton, and my persona favorites Small Pebble and Midnight Passenger.

operation ive keeps operating with this album, Jesse Michaels shows his best and keeps singin about unity and more good stuff......extremely good punkish ska' influenced album........gotta buy it and stop wasting your time suckas

I love operation ivy. i also like last wave rockers alot.this cd is slightly different its not near as much ska and punk as last wave rockers had.this still has some punk and some ska. this cd is all about unity same message op ivy was giving when they were still around. this is almost as good as last wave rockers but they both are great they both deserve 5 stars. everything jesse ever put out was good.operation ivy-energy,big rig ep (i forget the name), and now both common rider cds. he is a lyrical genius.this is also a mellow cd that you cna sit around the house on a hot day drinking leamonade.its definently worth it. the art looks a little boy bandish but comon riders not a boy band. it has some stand out track including cool this madness down,long after lights out,blackbirds vs crows,prison break.buy this cd and join my common rider forum. commonrider.iboardplus.com

this album is just what i needed- a fresh, new, intelligent sound. with all the garbage that bands are putting out today, this is a breath f fresh air and a gem. its not necessarily a punk album. if yer a fan of good music,, check it out.

There's quite a-lot to say about Jesse Michaels....... to be put simply, he's got the most unique voice and inflection in the industry. You understand his words in ways that countless others just don't even comprehend, let alone reproduce. This album is as good if not better than 'Rockers' and if you're steadfast fan of punk/ska/etc.. you'll appreciate this album for its intensity and propheticism.

Peace,
Karmasoda

from operation ivy, to last wave rockers to this is unity music jesse keeps putting out nothing but great music.

I am a huge fan of Jesse Michael's and all of the work he puts out. He puts all his emotion into his lyrics and gives off an great peaceful message that is hard to find these days. This is Unity Music is no exception to his endless hard work. It gives of more of a rock edge that a ska edge but still shows it's punk roots. My favorite tracks on the cd are Cool the Madness Down and Blackbirds vs. Crow. They both give off raw enery and a message that leads back to Jesse's Operation Ivy Days. Jesse Michael's is my idol for the message he puts out and his amazing voice. I highly recommend this cd.

This album blew me away big time. I was one of those intense op ivy fans who just wanted go get all of their later music. Rancid was dissapointing, so where Transplants, then, finally, my favorite member of the band, Jesse makes this. WOW. I like this almost as much as Energy and that is saying a LOT. Every track is great, just like energy, and while it isn;t as much ska or punk, it still has a little of both.

If you are an ivy fan looking for new music you'll love. This is it. This album is almost to good for words, Energy is right up there with this. This album is incredible, and I am so impressed with Jesse I just don;t know what else to say. 11 years later he can bring back absalutely incredible, powerful lyrics just like in op ivy. Again, this is really good. I'm going to go buy Last Wave Rockers as soon as I possibley can.

PEACE OUT!