The Mystery Tramps | Cathedral of Lemmings

Jeff "Fingerhead" Jarvie and friends definitely stick with a style on this tape. Sort of a folk-rockish blend of Neil Young and Bob Dylan. The Mystery Tramps are a definite progression from Jarvie's earlier band, The Cheapskaters, in that the melodies are more diverse, and they actually employ hooks on a couple cuts, namely on "Fade To Black" and "The Fluffy Girl," which also happen to be the standouts on this tape. Jarvie's lyrics are as full of humorous cynicism and anger, while treating women as objects of such; and the rhymes often are forced-- so much so that it's becoming a trademark of sorts. -- Bryan Baker