Category: Review

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

The song, "Nothing's Sacred" seems to summarize the general theme behind most of the songs on these tapes, and also the general attitude of this band. These songs are filled with anger and cynical humor, usually shouted with acoustic guitar/drums backing up very low in the mix. I think if these guys took some time with the recording process (sound-wise at least-- the performances are good as they are) and made the instruments bite as hard as the vocals, they would definitely have a powerful piece of work here. -- Bryan Baker