I was browsing the used CDs at a bookstore the other day (what is this, 1996?) and found the 10,000 Maniacs album In My Tribe, which I have on vinyl. Did you see that? I just had to point out that I’m cool and old and have it on vinyl. Let me take the cool out of the equation by adding that I bought it at Wal-Mart, along with the Ziggy Marley album Conscious Party. Did Ziggy Marley bring up the cool again, or has it flatlined?

Anyway, I was delighted to rebuy In My Tribe. What I didn’t remember about In My Tribe is that the music is fine, but the lyrics are unbearable. They are so unbearable I can’t stop listening to them! Each song has a moral! It’s insufferable! I can’t stand it! I can’t stand not listening to it every day!

Enjoy.

Track One: in which we learn about child abuse
Track Two: in which we learn about beatniks
Track Three: in which we learn about chronic illness
Track Four: in which we learn about the illiterate
Track Five: finally, a regular song about love gone wrong!
Track Six: in which we learn about alcoholism
Track Seven: in which we learn that the military is bad
Track Eight: my sister is getting married!
Track Nine: in which we learn about greed
Track Ten: in which we learn about homelessness or something
Track Eleven: in which we learn about sad olds