From the very beginning, there was always a certain blue-collar quality to
Jason Molina
's songs, a working-class element informing his lyrics. But nowhere is it more visible than on
Magnolia Electric Co.
, the seventh
Songs: Ohia
album. The assured, denim-clad, '70s
rock
feel of the album positions it on the dark edge of town, in the neighborhood of
Bruce Springsteen
,
John Mellencamp
, and
Bob Seger
. But these are no bombastic anthems like the songs of those populist rousers.
Molina
remains subjective and confessional in tone even when singing, "Someone must have set 'em up/Now they'll be working in the cold gray rock/Now they'll be working in the hot mill steam/Now they'll be working in the concrete," as he does on the incredible seven-plus minute opener,
"Farewell Transmission."
The song also serves as possibly the first real recorded display on a proper full-length album of what the
touring band is capable of doing. Seasoned, powerful, and dynamic -- for at least this one song --
is an actual band and not just
and company. In fact,
Magnolia
as a whole has a much more open and collaborative feel than previous albums;
even relinquishes lead vocal duties on two occasions.
Lawrence Peters
applies some
outlaw country
grit to
"The Old Black Hen,"
but the words sound somewhat awkward coming from him and as a result the song doesn't quite work. Much more successful is
Scout Niblett
on the rambling
"Peoria Lunch Box Blues."
Sounding like a female
Van Morrison
, you can almost see her obsessively pacing back and forth as she sings. But despite all the input from others, the most interesting and compelling thing about this release (like any
album) is
's voice, which has grown beyond being simply an idiosyncratic instrument into a wonderfully expressive one as well. He uses it to stunning effect on
"John Henry Split My Heart,"
a classic B-side rocker in the tradition of
"Cowgirl in the Sand"
and
"Free Bird,"
and likewise on the relatively somber closer,
"Hold on Magnolia,"
which gets help from slide guitar, violin, and a swaying rhythm to create a beautifully bittersweet mood.
may not be the best
album, but it is certainly the most approachable. It has a big, open feel certain to appeal to any classic
fan, but retains the warm intimacy of previous albums. Not an easy line to walk. ~ Jason Nickey