Humans (Deluxe Edition)

Humans (Deluxe Edition)

Humans (1980) marks a transition-point in Bruce Cockburn’s career, reflecting the expansive Christian vision of his 1970s output and pointing towards the growing political consciousness found on his 1980s work. Cockburn clearly had a lot on his mind when he wrote these songs — a mounting outrage at government oppression and societal breakdown informs tracks like “Tokyo,” “Grim Travellers” and “Guerilla Betrayed.” Grappling with ominous world events didn’t rob him of his poetic sense, however. “How I Spent My Fall Vacation” and “What About The Bond” combine cascading imagery with free-verse phrasing, heightening the impact of Cockburn’s commentaries. Provocative insights (sample: “all you can do is praise the razor/for the fineness of the slash”) flash throughout. Musically, there’s some of the nimble folk-jazz found on his ‘70s releases, along with moody reggae (“Rumours Of Glory”) and sleek keyboard-driven rock (“Fascist Architecture”). Cockburn’s stylistic signatures — earnest singing, deft acoustic guitar-playing and genre-spanning arrangements — are in evidence throughout. What makes this album special is its wedding of an activist’s vision with an overarching spiritual view. Though Cockburn would speak out loudly on future albums, he never did so with more eloquence than on Humans.

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