The Magnolia Electric Co.

The Magnolia Electric Co. is the seventh 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. The naming of the album and comments by Jason Molina have led to discussions whether it is not simultaneously, in fact, the debut album by Molina's new band, also named Magnolia Electric Co.

The Magnolia Electric Co.
Cover art by William Schaff
Studio album by
Songs: Ohia, or Magnolia Electric Co.
ReleasedMarch 3, 2003 (2003-03-03)[1]
RecordedJuly 1–3, 2002
StudioElectrical Audio, Chicago, Illinois
Genre
Length45:09
LabelSecretly Canadian
ProducerSteve Albini
Songs: Ohia, or Magnolia Electric Co. chronology
Didn't It Rain
(2002)		 The Magnolia Electric Co.
(2003)		 Trials & Errors
(2005)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic85/100[2]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
The Boston Phoenix[4]
Consequence of Sound[5]
The Independent[6]
Mojo[7]
Now[8]
Pitchfork8.2/10 (2003)[9]
9.0/10 (2013)[10]
PopMatters9/10[11]
Record Collector[12]
Uncut[13]

The artwork for the album does not contain the name Songs: Ohia anywhere, though the center label of the vinyl record does say "Songs: Ohia." On the other hand, the album was recorded with different musicians than the later 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 later declared Didn't It Rain to be the final Songs: Ohia album.[14]

Composition

Magnolia digs into alt-country and "red-blood, full-throated" country rock, as well as seeing the band draw from both “orthodox” Americana and “otherworldly atmosphere”.[10][15] It also works in roots rock, while the arrangements and songwriting echo 70s outlaw country.[5][8]

Track listing
Original release

All songs written by Jason Molina.

  1. "Farewell Transmission" – 7:22
  2. "I've Been Riding with the Ghost" – 3:20
  3. "Just Be Simple" – 4:20
  4. "Almost Was Good Enough" – 4:28
  5. "The Old Black Hen" – 5:48
  6. "Peoria Lunch Box Blues" – 5:48
  7. "John Henry Split My Heart" – 6:09
  8. "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.

Deluxe edition reissue, November 2013
LP 1 (The Magnolia Electric Co.)
  1. "Farewell Transmission"
  2. "I've Been Riding With the Ghost"
  3. "Just Be Simple"
  4. "Almost Was Good Enough"
  5. "The Old Black Hen"
  6. "Peoria Lunch Box Blues"
  7. "John Henry Split My Heart"
  8. "Hold On Magnolia"
LP 2 (Jason Molina's demos for The Magnolia Electric Co.)
  1. "Farewell Transmission" (Demo)
  2. "I've Been Riding With the Ghost" (Demo)
  3. "Just Be Simple" (Demo)
  4. "The Old Black Hen" (Demo)
  5. "Peoria Lunch Box Blues" (Demo)
  6. "John Henry Split My Heart" (Demo)
  7. "Hold On Magnolia" (Demo)
  8. "The Big Game Is Every Night" (Demo)
  9. "Whip Poor Will" (Demo)
10″ (Studio Outtakes)
  • A – "The Big Game Is Every Night"
  • B – "Whip Poor Will"

The 10” was only available with the first 3,000 copies of the 2xLP. Both tracks are included at the end of first CD on the 2xCD edition.[16]

Recording information
  • Jason Molina – voice, guitar
  • Jennie Benford – voice, mandolin
  • Mike Brenner – lapsteel
  • "Three Nickel" Jim Grabowski – piano, organ, wurlitzer
  • Dan Macadam – guitar, voice, violin
  • Jeff Panall – drums
  • Lawrence Peters – voice (on "The Old Black Hen")
  • Scout Niblett – voice (on "Peoria Lunchbox Blues")
  • Dan Sullivan – guitar
  • Rob Sullivan – bass
  • Songs by Jason Molina
  • Recorded by Steve Albini

References
  1. "Jason Molina | Magnolia Electric Co. - Magnolia Electric Co". Archived from the original on June 13, 2017. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  2. "Reviews for Magnolia Electric Co. by Songs: Ohia". Metacritic. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  3. Nickey, Jason. "Magnolia Electric Co. – Songs: Ohia". AllMusic. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  4. Miliard, Mike (October 3–9, 2003). "Songs: Ohia: Magnolia Electric Co". The Boston Phoenix. Archived from the original on December 24, 2003. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  5. Terry, Josh (November 13, 2013). "Album Review: Songs: Ohia – The Magnolia Electric Co. [10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition]". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  6. Richman, Simmy (November 22, 2013). "Songs: Ohia, The Magnolia Electric Co (Secretly Canadian) – Album review". The Independent. Archived from the original on August 29, 2014. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  7. "Songs: Ohia: Magnolia Electric Co". Mojo (113): 102. April 2003.
  8. Perlich, Tim (April 3, 2003). "Songs: Ohia". Now. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  9. Carr, Eric (March 12, 2003). "Songs: Ohia: Magnolia Electric Co". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  10. Heller, Jason (November 12, 2013). "Songs: Ohia: The Magnolia Electric Co". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  11. Layman, Will (December 4, 2013). "Songs: Ohia: Magnolia Electric Co. (Ten Year Anniversary Edition)". PopMatters. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  12. Atkins, Jamie (Christmas 2013). "Songs: Ohia – The Magnolia Electric Co". Record Collector (422). Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  13. "Songs: Ohia: Magnolia Electric Co". Uncut (71): 105. April 2003.
  14. Magnolia Electric Co. | Beta Music Interview
  15. Josh Jackson (August 4, 2016). "The 50 Best Alt-Country Albums of All Time". Paste. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  16. "Jason Molina | Magnolia Electric Co. - Magnolia Electric Co". Archived from the original on March 9, 2014. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
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