Magnolia Electric Co. (album)
Encyclopedia
Magnolia Electric Co. is the seventh regular and final album by Songs: Ohia
. It was recorded by Steve Albini
at Electrical Audio
in Chicago and released by Secretly Canadian
on March 4, 2003. It received critical acclaim according to Metacritic
(with a composite rating of 85, ranking 24th among best albums of 2003). Delusions of Adequacy called it "a watershed album, an artistic breakthrough, and the first album to fully realize Molina's potential." Allmusic was more reticent in its wording, claiming that "Magnolia Electric Co. may not be the best Songs: Ohia album, but it is certainly the most approachable. It has a big, open feel certain to appeal to any classic rock fan, but retains the warm intimacy of previous albums."
The naming of the album and comments by Jason Molina have led to discussions whether it is not, in fact, the first album by Molina's new band, also named Magnolia Electric Co. In fact the artwork for the album does not contain the name Songs: Ohia anywhere. On the other hand, the album was recorded with different musicians than the current members of Magnolia Electric Co., and the decision to take on the new name was not announced until the tour following the release in the Spring of 2003. Molina has later declared Didn't It Rain
the final Songs: Ohia album.
The Japanese edition contains an additional track, "The Big Game Is Every Night". The first U.S. edition contained a bonus disk of demo recordings by Jason Molina.
Songs: Ohia
Jason Molina is an American singer-songwriter, originally from Lorain, Ohio. He first came to prominence performing and recording as Songs: Ohia, both in solo projects and with a rotating cast of musicians...
. It was recorded by Steve Albini
Steve Albini
Steven Frank Albini is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...
at Electrical Audio
Electrical Audio
Electrical Audio is a recording facility founded in Chicago, Illinois by musician and recording engineer Steve Albini in 1997. Hundreds of independent music projects have been recorded there....
in Chicago and released by Secretly Canadian
Secretly Canadian
Secretly Canadian is an American independent record label based in Bloomington, Indiana. It was started in 1996 by Chris and Ben Swanson, Eric Weddle, and Jonathan Cargill. Their first release was a re-issue of an album by June Panic...
on March 4, 2003. It received critical acclaim according to Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
(with a composite rating of 85, ranking 24th among best albums of 2003). Delusions of Adequacy called it "a watershed album, an artistic breakthrough, and the first album to fully realize Molina's potential." Allmusic was more reticent in its wording, claiming that "Magnolia Electric Co. may not be the best Songs: Ohia album, but it is certainly the most approachable. It has a big, open feel certain to appeal to any classic rock fan, but retains the warm intimacy of previous albums."
The naming of the album and comments by Jason Molina have led to discussions whether it is not, in fact, the first album by Molina's new band, also named Magnolia Electric Co. In fact the artwork for the album does not contain the name Songs: Ohia anywhere. On the other hand, the album was recorded with different musicians than the current members of Magnolia Electric Co., and the decision to take on the new name was not announced until the tour following the release in the Spring of 2003. Molina has later declared Didn't It Rain
Didn't It Rain
Didn't It Rain is the sixth regular album by Songs: Ohia, named after a song popularized by Mahalia Jackson and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. It was recorded by Edan Cohen at Soundgun Studios in Philadelphia and released by Secretly Canadian on March 5, 2002...
the final Songs: Ohia album.
Track listing
All songs written by Jason Molina.- "Farewell Transmission" – 7:22
- "I've Been Riding with the Ghost" – 3:20
- "Just Be Simple" – 4:20
- "Almost Was Good Enough" – 4:28
- "The Old Black Hen" – 5:48
- "Peoria Lunch Box Blues" – 5:48
- "John Henry Split My Heart" – 6:09
- "Hold on Magnolia" – 7:51
The Japanese edition contains an additional track, "The Big Game Is Every Night". The first U.S. edition contained a bonus disk of demo recordings by Jason Molina.
Recording information
- Jason Molina – voice, guitar
- Jennie BenfordJim & Jennie and the PinetopsJim & Jennie and the Pinetops is a bluegrass group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-History:Jim Krewson first played bluegrass in a group called the Slobber Mountain Boys; Jennie Bedford learned bluegrass from her father, a banjo player. The two first met in New York City in 1998 and began playing...
– voice, mandolin - Mike Brenner – lapsteel
- "Three Nickel" Jim Grabowski – piano, organ, wurlitzerWurlitzerThe Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, usually referred to simply as Wurlitzer, was an American company that produced stringed instruments, woodwinds, brass instruments, theatre organs, band organs, orchestrions, electronic organs, electric pianos and jukeboxes....
- Dan Macadam – guitar, voice, violin
- Jeff Panall – drums
- Lawrence Peters – voice (on "The Old Black Hen")
- Scout NiblettScout NiblettEmma Louise Niblett , better known by the stage name Scout Niblett, is an English singer and songwriter. Her music is frequently minimal in style, many of her songs consisting merely of vocals accompanied by either drums or guitar, which she mostly plays herself. She is known for her intimate live...
– voice (on "Peoria Lunchbox Blues") - Dan Sullivan – guitar
- Rob Sullivan – bass
- Songs by Jason Molina
- Recorded by Steve Albini