Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers – Back In Your Life LP

I understand a lot of people’s interest in Jonathon Richman ends once the rope mooring his music to a dialogue concerning 60s counterculture and proto-punk sentiments has been severed, but there’s a lot of good to be heard once Jonathan is freed from the self conscious shackles of subculture.

1979s ‘Back In Your Life’ does not inhabit a world anywhere near ‘77 Punk explosion, or hint that New Wave is around the corner. It’s a universalist, timeless Richman, who is developing a rich inner life and isn’t afraid of the children’s music accusations… and neither am I.

‘Back In Your Life’ is full of innocent bangers, the title track being one of the many highlights. But truth be told, I think 2021’s ‘Want To Visit My Inner House?’ is even better. Unfortunately we only have a couple of copies on CD, we’ll keep tryna secure the LP, and hopefully I can write at length about it. - Nic