10,000 Maniacs

US 1988 press. Partially Unofficial, Reissue.
Before the hits and the grown up production, this is 10,000 Maniacs in full jangly, slightly goth, definitely owns a library card mode. Nervy guitars, big thoughtful feelings, proper early 80s college radio energy with zero polish and zero interest in being cool. It’s earnest in a way that would be embarrassing if it wasn’t actually… class. FFO R.E.M. early era, The Smiths but less dramatic, The Go-Betweens, The Sundays