Magnolia Electric Co

Our review
Customer reviews
Press release

3...according to our Business Lady on Thu 16 Jul, 2009.

The Magnolia electric co. is the recording pseudonym of Jason Molina (previously known as Songs:Ohio) and this is officially his 16th record (his fifth as Magnolia Electric Co.) and is dedicated to Evan farrell, the Magnolia electric co. bass player who tragically died at the end of 2007. The press release tells me that 'Josephine' is a concept album about the loss which i assume is meant to symbolically represent Evan. Anyway, throughout the record Jason makes constant reference to Josephine whilst addressing universal themes of loss, regret and heartache. The album is incredibly well crafted and shows Jason Molina to be more than capable song writer. My only gripe is that it's almost to pro. It's as if it was recorded with a bunch of old time Memphis studio musicians and sounds heavily influenced by traditional american country rock. So it doesn't have that urgency of the early Songs:Ohio material and, much like many of the artists that came out of the american punk rock underground, Jason Molina has really mellowed out (his changed). Not necessarily a bad thing but it doesn't work that well for me i'm afraid.

Without a doubt, this is Magnolia’s most focused and strongest recording to date, and
a tribute to Evan Farrell, the former bass player who died tragically in December 2007.

• A concept album about the loss of ‘Josephine’, which in
turn is about the loss of Evan Farrell, the former bass
player who died in a house fire in 2007.
• Jason Molina, now living in the UK, crafted the songs
over the year that followed and recorded them late 2008
with Steve Albini in Chicago
• A full UK tour takes place in September, with many
dates selling out already.
• This is Jason Molina’s 16th record for Secretly
Canadian, and 5th as Magnolia Electric Co. The last
release was the incredibly successful ‘Sojourner’ box set.

O! Grace * The Rock Of Ages * Josephine * Shenandoah *
Whip Poor Will * Song For Willie * Hope Dies Last *
The Handing Down * Map Of The Falling Sky * Little Sad Eyes *
Heartbreak At Ten Paces * Knoxville Girl * Shiloh * An Arrow In The Gale