Just as
Lois has divided much of her time between Olympia, WA, and Washington D.C., the spare
folk-pop on this 1993 release fits neatly between the '90s music of Northwest bands like
the Spinanes (
Rebecca Gates is a former collaborator) and Northeast bands like
Jenny Toomey's
Tsunami.
Lois' commitment to the DYI aesthetic is another connection she shares with the two camps. A worthy follow-up to the
Stuart Moxham-produced
Butterfly Kiss,
Strumpet features a strong collection of economical (read: short, to the point), melancholy-tinged tracks.
K Records'
Calvin Johnson (
Beat Happening,
Dub Narcotic Sound System) is credited with the
lo-fi production. The set concludes with a touching
a cappella rendition of
"The Way I Feel Inside" by
Rod Argent (
The Zombies,
Argent).
"Evening in Paris," which opens the set, and
"The Trouble With Me" ("The trouble with me/is that I'm trouble") represent
Lois at her clever and enchanting best. ~ Kathleen C. Fennessy