The Magnolia Electric Co.
2003 studio album by Songs: Ohia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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. It was critically acclaimed on release.
| The Magnolia Electric Co. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Cover art by William Schaff | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 3, 2003[1] | |||
| Recorded | July 1–3, 2002 | |||
| Studios | Electrical Audio, Chicago, Illinois | |||
| Genres | ||||
| Length | 45:09 | |||
| Label | Secretly Canadian | |||
| Producer | Steve Albini | |||
| Songs: Ohia, or Magnolia Electric Co. chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 85/100[2] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| The Boston Phoenix |  [4] |
| Consequence of Sound | [5] |
| The Independent | [6] |
| Mojo | [7] |
| Now |   [8] |
| Pitchfork | 8.2/10 (2003)[9] 9.0/10 (2013)[10] |
| PopMatters | 9/10[11] |
| Record Collector | [12] |
| Uncut | [13] |
Title
The title 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 artwork for the album does not contain the name Songs: Ohia anywhere, though its hype sticker and the center label on later pressings of the vinyl record do 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] In her 2026 book Won't Back Down, Erin Osmon called The Magnolia Electric Co. "...one of counterculture's most celebrated and defining heartland rock offerings".[16]
Track listing
- Original release
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
Personnel
- Jason Molina – voice, guitar
- Jennie Benford – voice, mandolin
- Mike Brenner – lap steel guitar
- "Three Nickel" Jim Grabowski – piano, organ, wurlitzer
- Dan Macadam – guitar, voice, violin
- Dan Sullivan – guitar
- Rob Sullivan – bass
- Jeff Panall – drums
- Lawrence Peters – voice (on "The Old Black Hen")
- Scout Niblett – voice (on "Peoria Lunchbox Blues")
- Steve Albini – recording engineer