Criminal IQ Records
Criminal IQ Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois, founded by Jon Babbin (co-founder of Ruthless Records (Chicago)) and Darius Hurley to facilitate releases from Chicago's no-wave/punk scene that began in around 2003. Notable releases include garage pop-punk band M.O.T.O.'s LP Kill Moto, the Functional Blackouts S/T LP, and dark wave psyche punk band Vee Dee's Furthur LP.
Early releases were met with critical acclaim from underground music zines such as Maximumrocknroll and Horizontal Action, and more mainstream publications such as Arthur, Thrasher, Kerrang!, and Concussion Magazine. The records received airplay and occasionally topped charts on college radio stations around the country, as well as getting airplay on the BBC via the late John Peel Show. Criminal IQ later signed The Krunchies and all-female band The Manhandlers. The Manhandlers' compilation album Maybe Chicago? was co-released with Proto-Mersh Records, and featured original sound recordings by the Ponys, the Baseball Fury, the Tyrades, Twat Vibe, White Outs, Busy Kids, and the Hot Machines.
In 2006, Criminal IQ relinquished its Chicago-only policy and released singles by Texas hardcore band Army of Jesus, Milwaukee's Bear Proof Suit, Green Bay, and Portuguese punk band The Youths.
Discography
- Phenoms/Mushuganas - split 7-inch May 2003
- M.O.T.O. (aka Masters of the Obvious) - Kill Moto CD/LP (LP co-released with Little Teddy Recordings of Germany) Jun 2003
- Digital Sampler - 3" CD Comp
- Functional Blackouts - S/T LP Oct 2003
- Functional Blackouts - S/T CD Jan 2004
- Maybe Chicago? - V/A Compilation CD Jan 2004
- The Krunchies - Interrobang 7-inch EP Mar 2004
- Vee Dee - Furthur LP/CD 2004
- The Manhandlers - S/T LP/CD 2004
- M.O.T.O. - Single File CD 2004
- The Krunchies - In De Winkel CD/LP 2005
- Rotten Fruits - A Bomb In The Nation 7-inch EP 2005
- M.O.T.O. - Raw Power CD/LP 2005
- I Attack - American Dream 7-inch EP 2005
- The Pedestrians - Future Shock CD 2005
- The Functional Blackouts - The Severed Tongue Speaks For Everyone LP 2006
- Army of Jesus - Book Bomb 7-inch EP 2006
- Bear Proof Suit - Science is Dead 7-inch EP 2006
- The Gravetones - Dig It! CD 2006
- The Youths - 7-inch EP 2007
- Out With A Bang - Few Beers Left But Out of Drugs 7-inch EP 2007
- The Effigies - Reside LP 2007
- Terrible Twos - S/T LP 2008
- The Runs - 7-inch
- The Effigies - “…on the move, or in danger (stop) This will have been my life (stop)” EP (digital release) 2009
- Useless Children - 7-inch 2010
- Catburglars - S/T LP 2010
- Claw Toe - Ingrown Ego 2009
- Claw Toe - S/T 12-inch EP 2012