Pepper and Little Stranger have each dropped covers of ’90s classics, part of an upcoming compilation album called Operation Irie.
“Formed in the image of the Punk-O-Rama, Fat and Warped compilations that came before, we are excited to announce Operation Irie, a covers collaboration record that pays homage to the ground breaking punk scene of the 90s & 2000s while showcasing a thriving reggae rock scene,” Pepper announced on social media, adding that a new single will arrive “every week until the record drops October 10th.”
If the first two covers are any indication, Operation Irie will become an instant classic among reggae rock fans and ’90s alt-lovers alike.
For their cover, Pepper took on Bad Religion’s “Generator.” Released on the punk group’s 1992 album of the same name, “Generator” was originally a high-octane, frenzied track. Pepper’s rendition turns that energy on its head — the backbeat is breezy and the ska skank is in full effect. Impressively, the change in style doesn’t dilute the lyrical message, and when the reggae rockers amp up the intensity on the latter half of the cover, you can feel the natural connection between Bad Religion and Pepper’s respective sounds.
Little Stranger opted to cover Green Day’s 1995 classic “Brain Stew.” The Philadelphia duo add their distinctive spin to the tune, infusing psychedelic sounds and hip-hop beats into the mix. Little Stranger further make the song their own by adding a new original rap verse midway through the track. With a blitzkrieg of lyrical flow they namedrop everything from black Cadillacs to Finding Nemo, before delivering one of our new favorite lines of 2025: “Emo hipsters ate my friends.”
Listen to both of the covers below. Operation Irie can be pre-saved now.
