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In My Tribe

Of the couple of hundred albums I bought on cassette between the ages of 18 and 21, some I've been glad to re-acquire on vinyl and others I've been content not to revisit. In the latter category are the likes of Licensed to Ill, The Best Of The Doors and Lou Reed's Berlin; in the former, Purple Rain, Fisherman's Blues and In My Tribe by 10,000 Maniacs.

It's a record that, if it were made today, might be characterized as "woke" (in the UK of the late '80s, "right-on" would perhaps have been the equivalent designation). It includes socially-conscious songs touching on child abuse ('What's The Matter Here'); illiteracy ('Cherry Tree'); alcohol abuse ('Don't Talk'); militarism ('Gun Shy'); and environmentalism ('A Campfire Song'). And Natalie Merchant was ahead of her time in taking an acutely critical look at "The Beat Generation" authors in 'Hey Jack Kerouac' - in those days they were much oftener put on a lofty pedestal. Fortunately, she largely avoids coming across as preachy or didactic - 'Gun Shy', for me, being an exception.

Merchant's lyrics and distinctive singing are only part of the picture: the whole band sound in fine form here, with their beguiling arrangements admirably well-captured by producer Peter Asher. I'm especially partial to Dennis Drew's contributions on the keyboards. It's a record I still enjoy now as much as I ever did.

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