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Operation: Cliff Clavin / The Max Levine Ensemble

Split [7 inch] (2005)
Plan-It-X Records

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: Sluggo
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on February 21st 2006

When I threw this badboy on the turntable, Cliff Clavin side up, I was confused when the vocals started. Too high. I switched from 45 to 33. Too low and too slow. Hmmm. Back up to 45? What the hell happened to Chris Clavin’s vocals? A quick look at the notes revealed that the lyrics being sung belonged to the other band: The Max Levine Ensemble, who, sure enough, discovered Operation: Cliff Clavin after being told that they sounded like them.

Eager to hear the new OP:CC above all, I flipped the record over to the side labeled “Max Levine.” Those whacky Plan-It-X tricksters. The first thing you’ll notice when listening to this latest release from the supposedly broken-up band in OP:CC, is that Hannah has either gotten way better at bass, or she is just going being a little more creative. Whichever it is, it sounds great, and it makes the first song “Punk Rock Is Not Just Something You Listen To,” one of the most memorable tracks the band has ever recorded. Of course, the lyrics are phenomenal as well. I’m sure you can figure out the subject if you read the above title over a few times. If not, just keep reading, it will dawn on you eventually. The other two offerings from OP:CC are “Punk Rock Is Not Just Something You Buy and Sell” and “Punk Rock Is Not Just for Kids.” Dude, concept album! Rock opera! Um…sorry, but yeah…if you’re a fan of Operation: Cliff Clavin, there’s no question here: You need this 7 inch.

After I had spun Clavin’s side 40 or so times, I was ready to check out the Max Levine Ensemble. If you’re familiar with Spoonboy, you’ll know what I was going through with the vocals when I first played the record, because he sings for this band. For those of you unfamiliar, think Atom Goren if Atom had a higher voice, sounded really, really fucking happy, and sang super fast. You might be thinking that such a voice would be obnoxious and maybe it is, but fuck, isn’t all good punk rock obnoxious on some level? I say if it’s too annoying for you, then the problem is probably that you think you’re cooler than you actually are (I’m looking in Will’s direction). The Max Levine Ensemble one-up OP:CC with four tracks instead of three, and while they’re not as strong as Side A (or B, depending on how you look at it) I think that anyone with an interest in pop-punk ought to check them out (and besides, you’ve got to buy it anyway for the Cliff Clavin songs). Plus, the liner notes have some writing from Spoonboy that will make you fall in love with DIY punk all over again. I tried to explain it to my girlfriend, but she just humored me with a slight grin. I turn to you, the readers of punknews.org, for the understanding I seek.

An awesome split from two bands doing punk rock right. If you’re new to OP:CC, go ahead and order this along with their discography, Out of Control. I think together they’ll cost $13 postage-paid. I can’t express in words how refreshing that is to me. Is anyone else sick of $8 EPs?

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Anonymous (February 25, 2006)

No. It promotes this boring "positivity in place of opinions" line of thinking that really gets stale. Also, the music isn't very good. And these bands all think they're really cute, but I just find them annoying.

-Will

Sluggo (February 25, 2006)

these bands have a positive influence on the kids that listen to them and wouldn't you rather have kids listening to this kind of stuff than the kind of mindless shit that seems to spew from the headphones of most kids these days?

there's no reason to have any gripe at all.

Anonymous (February 23, 2006)

My main gripe isn't against the bands, but the fans.

-Will

Benjasauruss (February 23, 2006)

Will:

I don't see how you could possibly construe either one of these bands as folk or folk-punk.
There are a lot more bands playing pop-punk than just these two. There are a lot more bands playing political pop-punk than just these two. Why do you single these two out as riding a trend when both have been around for upwards of 5 years?

sluggo (February 23, 2006)

Will,

i was just messing around. you need to chill out.

hobojew (February 23, 2006)

"Or maybe I don't like music just because it's trendy. Maybe I honestly think this shit sucks. Maybe the problem is that idiots like you refuse to accept that people out there (who are not too-cool hipster elitists or mindless hardcore thugs) know that this shit blows."

Oh yeah, that's right. I only like this band cause they're trendy...fuck you.

Anonymous (February 22, 2006)

Could you not of cut down the advertising at the end Brian?

fritobandito (February 22, 2006)

I love this split! It's sitting in my record player right now. I love both sides.

Anonymous (February 22, 2006)

TMLE is awesome. I have a man crush on Spoonboy.

Anonymous (February 21, 2006)

Nice attempted slam on me in the review- because we all know everyone who doesn't like to listen to bands with shitty singers simply has an ego problem. This seriously must be at least the third time some trendwhore wannabe critic has given my name the attention it so richly deserves in a review (though I think the first time, it might have been BSD).

Maybe I've fooled myself into thinking I'm "cooler" than I actually am. Maybe I'm just some know-nothing scumbag who's not totally down for the cause. Maybe I'm a teenage sellout.

Or maybe I don't like music just because it's trendy. Maybe I honestly think this shit sucks. Maybe the problem is that idiots like you refuse to accept that people out there (who are not too-cool hipster elitists or mindless hardcore thugs) know that this shit blows.

Seriously, this smelly-folk phad is ridiculous. The funniest thing being that I probably heard these bands well before the reviewer.

None of this matters, because on a base level, this review doesn't even really describe how these bands sound. How stupid.

-Will

Scruffy (February 21, 2006)

I thought Tim Armstrong was the most punxest ever?

Color me confused.

hobojew (February 21, 2006)

From what I hear, Spoon Boy's a dirty hippy, but that's neither here nor there. Regardless, the Max Levine Ensemble fucking rules, they fucking ruled, and they will always fucking rule. That said, why don't I own this?

Fuzzy (February 21, 2006)

OP:CC is fun, but nothing more. The Devil is Electric is really awesome though.

Benjasauruss (February 21, 2006)

The Max Levine Ensemble are a lot better than OP:CC, on the whole. And Spoonboy's solo cd is better than most of TMLE's stuff.

someoneanonymous (February 21, 2006)

Plan-It-X is mentioned in the new Blender Magazine, that's not punk rock!!!! Oi!!!

Anonymous (February 21, 2006)

"youll never show me another person more PUNK than chris! well, maybe jeff ott."

rape is sooo punk rock.

sorry, had to do it.

Anonymous (February 21, 2006)

youll never show me another person more PUNK than chris! well, maybe jeff ott. yea, thats right...go fuck yourself before leaving a comment. one more thing...go fuck yourself again, because i dont care! PLAN IT X is all thats keeping the spirit alive in these dark days of unemotional, uninspired shit.

gladimnotemo (February 21, 2006)

Punk Rock Is Not Something You Get From Plan-It-X

ILOVESCOTT (February 21, 2006)

Is anyone else sick of $8 EPs?

YES!!! i've even seen some for $10 and $11.

Anonymous (February 21, 2006)

yeahhhh tmle are amazing

Anonymous (February 21, 2006)

tmle are local heroes. legends. rejy.