SONGS: OHIA Magnolia Electric Co. (Secretly Canadian) Rating: NNNN Rating: NNNN
Although it was always apparent that Songs: Ohia mainman Jason Molina had at least a passing familiarity with country music, the dramatic shift from the emo-type strumming of the past to the sobering honky-tonk twang of Magnolia Electric Co. is a surprising yet remarkably self-assured turn. The songwriting and arrangements are exceptionally solid (closer in spirit to a 70s outlaw country vibe than you’d expect), with inspired vocal and mandolin support from Oberlin pal Jennie Benford of Jim & Jennie and the Pinetops fame. If they’d only had the sense to record with someone who owned a country album instead of Steve Albini, they might’ve cut a classic.
