The Subtractions - Modern Kids Cassette (Lynx Rufus Edition)

The Subtractions “Modern KIds” unreleased demo tape from 1980. Fresno California. Includes 2 stickers.

Fresno, 1979: the Subtractions begin playing out as this city’s first punk band. Sure, there were established new wave and independent rock bands operating – the Clams, Hot Action, Aynulzpyew – but none played legitimate punk rock. The Subtractions did. The band rehearsed among the dented fenders and scratched bumpers at an auto body shop on East Olive Avenue. It was at this location, in late ’79/early ’80, where the band recorded a series of demos (before later entering a proper studio to cut what became its posthumous ‘IT’S EXPOSED’ EP – released 35 years after it was recorded!) However, what you hold here is the second Subtractions demo tape. This earlier material was recorded live (needle in the red) on a two track tape machine, in the body shop’s spray booth—a small enclosed room used for painting vehicles. These crudely-recorded songs exemplify the band’s mastery for high energy punk and paint fume-induced proto-hardcore. These compositions are exclusive to this release.
- Cory Linstrum 2021