Logo
DiS Needs You: Save our site »
  • Logo_home2
  • Records
  • In Depth
  • In Photos
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Search
  • Community
  • Records
  • In Depth
  • Blog
  • Community

THIS SITE HAS BEEN ARCHIVED AND CLOSED.

Please join the conversation over on our new forums »

If you really want to read this, try using The Internet Archive.

Songs:Ohia

The Magnolia Electric Co.

Label: Secretly Canadian Release Date: 10/03/2003

3496
Jane-O by Jane Oriel March 13th, 2003

Firstly, my credentials - I adore Songs: Ohia.

Jason Molina, the man behind the name, has had the vicarious pleasure of wrecking my self-defence bravado, often leaving me shivering but warmed after a cathartic lights-out session.

Molina is one of those rare souls who takes himself wherever he is musically inclined to go regardless of trend, be it over- or underground. Schooled in the deep ways of US folk music, he, like Bill Callahan or Will Oldham, not only rifles his own past but that of his forebears too.

This is a new direction for Molina; a comment that can probably be said of most Songs: Ohia offerings. This time, he's a paid-up band member for 'The Magnolia Electric Co.' instead of sticking to augmented solo projects. The creative dynamics of a real working band are reflected with Molina's input taking more of a back seat at times. Four vocalists have been drafted in, two of which are former label mate Scout Niblett and Lawrence Peters from Wichita Shut-Ins who have been given songs all to themselves. Although feeling slightly resentful at the thought of an interloper taking over the centre mic, Peters' warm, good ol' boy delivery on 'The Old Black Hen' won me over with as much ease as a 1lb bar of Dairy Milk labelled 'I'm sorry!', and it's this track which has spent more time on repeat than the rest of the album put together.

Because of its unadulterated cleanliness, Ms Niblett's high pitched vocal on 'Peoria Lunch Box Blues' grates the senses a bit for the first few listens, but after the shock of the new has worn off, an ingenue beauty shines out as a cautious light onto an uncomfortable subject, providing another real high for this album.

A sensitive, self-revelatory writer, Molina's name is never to be found atop the Muscular Music team sheet but this new communal effort has forged several cuts that would suit the redneck club runaway scene in 'Thelma and Louise'. At gigs last year, 'John Henry Split My Heart' was heard in pared down fashion, but for the album version Lynyrd Skynyrd are alive and well and behind the wheel of this diesel-oozing trucker's standard.

Keeping with the text of a hard working community, the album closes with 'Hold On Magnolia', a lilting dance hall waltz where the sound of cowboy boots knocking ungracefully together can almost be heard above the end of the night slow dance.

Each of Molina's many former recordings differ in personality but still carry recognisable paternal features, such as feelings of detachment amidst friends and lovers and this one is no exception. Compared to his classics 'The Lioness' and 'Ghost Tropic', or even last year's movie soundtrack for the imagination 'Didn't It Rain', some may feel 'The Magnolia Electric Co.' falls short of vintage Molina, but I say accept it as it is, as the work of a profoundly talented writer. Appreciate his prolific output and treasure his accomplishments.

  • 8
    Jane Oriel's Score
Log-in to rate this record out of 10
Share on
   
Love DiS? Become a Patron of the site here »


LATEST


  • Why Music Journalism Matters in 2024


  • Drowned in Sound is back!


  • Drowned in Sound's 21 Favourite Albums of the Year: 2020


  • Drowned in Sound to return as a weekly newsletter


  • Lykke Li's Sadness Is A Blessing


  • Glastonbury 2019 preview playlist + ten alternative must sees



Left-arrow

The Futureheads, The Kills at 100 Club, London, Tue 11 Mar

Mobback

The Vines at Camden Electric Ballroom, Camden, Thu 19 Feb

Mobforward
Right-arrow


LATEST

    news


    Why Music Journalism Matters in 2024

  • 106145
  • news


    Drowned in Sound is back!

  • 106143

    news


    Drowned in Sound's 21 Favourite Albums of the Y...

  • 106141
  • news


    Drowned in Sound to return as a weekly newsletter

  • 106139

    Playlist


    Lykke Li's Sadness Is A Blessing

  • 106138
  • Festival Preview


    Glastonbury 2019 preview playlist + ten alterna...

  • 106137

    Interview


    A Different Kind Of Weird: dEUS on The Ideal Crash

  • 106136
  • Festival Review


    Way Out East: DiS Does Sharpe Festival 2019

  • 106135
MORE


    news


    The Neptune Music Prize 2016 - Vote Now

  • 103918
  • Takeover


    The Winner Takes It All

  • 50972

    Takeover


    10 Things To Not Expect Your Record Producer To...

  • 93724
  • review


    The Mars Volta - Deloused In The Comatorium

  • 4317

    review


    Sonic Youth - Nurse

  • 6044
  • feature


    New Emo Goth Danger? My Chemical Romance confro...

  • 89578

    feature


    DiS meets Justice

  • 27270
  • news


    Our Independent music filled alternative to New...

  • 104374
MORE

Drowned in Sound
  • DROWNED IN SOUND
  • HOME
  • SITE MAP
  • NEWS
  • IN DEPTH
  • IN PHOTOS
  • RECORDS
  • RECOMMENDED RECORDS
  • ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
  • FESTIVAL COVERAGE
  • COMMUNITY
  • MUSIC FORUM
  • SOCIAL BOARD
  • REPORT ERRORS
  • CONTACT US
  • JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
  • FOLLOW DiS
  • GOOGLE+
  • FACEBOOK
  • TWITTER
  • SHUFFLER
  • TUMBLR
  • YOUTUBE
  • RSS FEED
  • RSS EMAIL SUBSCRIBE
  • MISC
  • TERM OF USE
  • PRIVACY
  • ADVERTISING
  • OUR WIKIPEDIA
© 2000-2025 DROWNED IN SOUND