Iowa Basement Tapes

As mentioned in the SDT/ Suburban Death Trip post, Iowa Basement Tapes is a project started by Kristian Day to catalogue the Iowa music scene using out of print releases from the period. There’s a lot to find here from the 80s scene, so instead of doing separate review for each release I got from the label, I decided to do one big entry with all of the 80s HC/punk I found here. The SDT post is separate because I really like the band, and also they’re are four releases from the band on this label. I’ll include a link to the label itself, and let you have some fun digging through it. A pretty good mix of styles can be found and range a few decades.


Link: https://iowabasementtapes.bandcamp.com/music


Stiff Legged Sheep - S/T 7”, 1985: Very interesting structures and time changes make this a surprisingly interesting and enjoyable release that suffers a bit in the vocal department, as the singer seems to want to be a jazz singer in a punk band. Would still recommend.


Pent-Up Aggression - Defining The Problem, 1986: This must have been a tape only release, as the band doesn’t even have a discogs entry, but it’s pretty ripping stuff. Singer reminds me of the guy from Boston’s P.T.L. Klub. They also have an unreleased album on this label which takes track from the tape which I think are the same recordings.


Abscess - Demo, 1983: Decent HC, that has more of a punk component to it at times. This actually has an official release on the label Hard Art which was put out after it was posted here as a demo, so in fairness to the band, I would recommend buying the official version here:

https://hardart.bandcamp.com/album/political-vomit


A Child’s Trust In God - Star Spangled Banner demo, 1986: Decent hc by way of early DC meets Fang kind of sound. Vocal delay gives it a bit of a live sound. Varied enough to sound original, though the Bay City Rollers cover reveals the singers lack of ability.


Welfare Skate - Demo, 1986: Don’t have it yet, but gave it a listen and the sound is pretty bad, being a tape only release. The band is kind of terrible though, so only grab it if you must obsessively own everything that ever came out in the 80s. There is also a live tape from the band on the label. Same level of terribleness, though the crowd was diggin’ it.


Sarcasm - Live Demo, 1986: This was all the band released, as a live show recorded on an actual tape recorder. Kind of fun but unoriginal punky HC.


Shamrock Shakes - House of Jep e.p., 1989: Fun snappy melodic punk/HC that moves along at a great pace. Recommended.

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