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 Magnolia Electric Co.
Cover art by William Schaff
Studio album by Songs: Ohia, or Magnolia Electric Co.
Released	March 3, 2003 (2003-03-03)[1]
Recorded	July 1–3, 2002
Studio	Electrical Audio, Chicago, Illinois
Genre	Alternative country Americana country rock outlaw country roots rock
Length	45:09
Label	Secretly Canadian
Producer	Steve 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
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]

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

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