Rating: NNNN
Recorded before a hushed crowd at an intimate Brussels club in 2003 shortly after Songs: Ohia morphed into Magnolia Electric Co, Trials & Errors is really a showcase for the captivating powers of singer/songwriter Jason Molina, who sounds poised to usurp Will Oldham’s king of beardfolk throne. As good as this stuff certainly is, Molina’s since matured as a bandleader and arranger. He’s now comfortable enough within the Magnolia Electric framework to step back and let other members take the lead now and again. So Trials & Errors is really just the warm-up for the main event, due this spring.