The Lioness

Magnolia Electric Co. is one of my favorite albums of all time, so it's great to see some Jason Molina on this list. He has to be one of the greatest songwriters of all time and it's such a shame he died so young. Brilliant, dark, heart-breaking. Definitely a 5/5.

This is the best album of Jason Molina. It's full of tragedy and overwhelming sadness, but also brings a bit of cheerfulness and relief. The title song is one of my favorite songs of all time.

I think this was a more even experience, but had lower highs compared to Magnolia Electric Co. Rock solid either way.

Wow.. Amazing album..

Brilliant

Jason Molina is one of my favourite singers and this is one of his most heart-rending performances. Glad that someone else included this great work on here

Stripped back slowcore alt-counyry/folk/Americana. Really rather good. Would listen to more of this.

I listened to this and thought “this high quavering tenor is the voice of barely-concealed trauma”. I then read about Jason Molina and saw that he died of alcoholism in 2013. I guess it’s good to always be aware that anyone might be in agony and fighting an invisible battle. Be kind, motherfuckers. Be kind.

Meh. My personal rating: 3/5 My rating relative to the list: 3/5 Should this have been included on the original list? No.

This was really amazing. Props to the listener that suggested it. The tracks are well earned sincere escalating pain and sorrow. In tracks like The Black Crow and Tigress, the climb in energy and fierceness is palpable. Though it felt a bit samey through the experience, this was a fantastic discovery.

I really liked this - I was surprised to never have heard of this before. Started off after the first listen thinking this was a 4 but after listening a second time on my headphones it moved to a 5.

Great selection of a user album. Hard choice between all these S:O's albums but would definitely include this album in my own 1001 list. One of these albums that completely grabs your attention.

Rating: 8/10 Best songs: The black crow, Tigress, Nervous bride, Lioness

The first Songs: Ohia album I’ve heard other than The Magnolia Brewing Co., which I always thought was the band name with Songs: Ohia being the album name. The fact that Jason Molina seems to have followed that album up with multiple releases under the name The Magnolia Brewing Co. makes this even more confusing Anyway, this was a beautiful album. Very emotional and fragile, basically all just acoustic guitar and vocals, and kind of like a cross between Elliott Smith and Magnetic Fields

This was nice and put me onto some Mike Mogis, Bright Eyes, Monsters of Folk kick for the rest of the day

Mostly dark and sad songs. Music and lyrics fit well together

Didn't know the artist at all, enjoyed this but definitely have to be in the right mood to listen to this album

I've never heard of this but I like it. Only just listened at work with interruptions, but it's miserable and dynamic without sounding like hipster shit. 4/5.

I liked this a lot. Sad bio on the principle artist, a reminder if any such were needed that while all kinds of drugs can mess you up in all kinds of ways, when it comes to killing the body, pound for pound it's still hard to beat a serious alcohol addiction.

I really like this. I've listened to one other album by them (him?) - Magnolia Electric Co. - and always liked it but for some reason never delved deeper into their catalog. It's very intense, reminiscent of Neil Young to some degree, but not an imitation by any means. I didn't know anything about Jason Molina and was sad to see that he died in 2013 as a result of years of alcohol abuse. Such a shame and major loss of a talented man. Thanks for adding this album, random person! 4 stars.

Hauntingly beautiful songs.

Thought this was an interesting album. Rather melancholy but with strong songwriting that gives a picture book of stories in song. This coming out in 2000 is perfect given a mood of uncertainty and loneliness with the turn of a century. Overall it was a well made album. 6.8/10

This is a great exercise in how albums meet you where they are. I started listening to this the other day and found it so dull, low key, and QUIET that I was just like "why would anyone like this". I didn't finish. Today I revisited it, with a different mood. I appreciated the mellow approach, and the thoughtful lyrics accompanying calm melodies. Definitely not something you'd throw on at a party or driving in the summer with the top down, but I'm glad I gave it a second shot! 3.5, really, but a low 3.5 so I'm going to round down.

Probably better than the owl one

Found this one a bit dull and boring.

me aburrí

Did I listen to the same album as everyone else? What I heard was a whiny man child who simultaneously blames women for everything that is wrong and expects them to fix everything. I couldn’t get past the lyrics to enjoy anything of the music.

The Lioness hit me harder than almost anything I’ve heard in years. Forty minutes in and it felt like this record carved out a permanent space. The recording is so pure you can hear fingers on strings, every drum tap puts you in the room. Jason Molina sounds three feet away, working through wreckage in real time, and somehow it becomes yours too. Andy Miller's production is raw but full, stripped down but complete. Nothing is polished. Nothing is hidden. It’s intimate to the point of feeling a little dangerous. That's what took me by surprise mostly: how un-American this album feels for an American songwriter. The last band that touched me like this was Arab Strap, and the overlap is clear. It's the same emotional directness, the same sense that someone is telling you the truth. Desolate, yes. But not hopeless. It made me want to hug someone I love, remind me that connection still matters even when everything else is gone. I don’t really know what to do with this album yet. It left me almost in tears, and that doesn’t happen often anymore. But I know it’s one I’ll carry with me.

This album is fragile, honest, and quietly unsettling. Stripped of any gloss or ornamentation, it feels less like a polished record and more like a collection of diary entries—raw confessions never intended for public eyes. There’s a vulnerability here that borders on voyeuristic; listening feels almost intrusive, as if you’re eavesdropping on someone’s most private moments. Yet, in sharing these intimate stories, the artist crafts a deeply personal and moving experience.

Slow, doom-folk. Very similar to Bonnie Prince Billy.

A good time to reckon with the fact that Jason Molina was one of the greatest songwriters of his generation. While I am partial to his more country-oriented Magnolia Electric Co., the Lioness is such a strikingly tender album with incredible songs throughout. Back On Top, Tigress, the title track, all bringing a beautiful study of emotions to listeners. Few songwriters capture the genuine spirit and sound of Molina's slow folk rock. A modern Neil Young? No, a man in a league of his own. Thank you and rest well, Jason. CONTENDER FOR THE LIST: Either this or Magnolia Electric Co....maybe both? I wouldn't complain.

Woah, this is good. I'd 'favourited' it in Spotify at some point but it must have fallen down the cracks and been forgotten. This really hit me this morning, and that was before I read Wikipedia.

Slowcore at its slowcoriest. One thinks of this lot as spiritual heirs to Giant Sand (when they are actually contemporaries, recognizing this came out same year as Chore of Enchantment). One prefers Sun Kil Moon and Red House Painters overall, but this is strong and original, fully authentic because of the clear and unwavering commitment to a singular sort of approach. It’s pretty deliciously dirge-y, and spectacularly spare (so thus a little one note). Magnolia Electric Co might be slightly more worthy based on extra musical bits. One wants more of such music on the list proper so could replace anything metal and from 2000 alone gimme this over Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park (of course anything would be an upgrade over those atrocious acts). Thanks, recommender, for reconnecting one to a band one doesn’t hang out with enough.

Thanks for choosing a 4th studio album. This album seems like a labor and a celebration. He's passionate and dedicated. Being in love doesn't really do much for me. The title track is dark and deep, spiritual. Seems like most of the songs wait about a minute before the vocals come it. Lets those of us late to the game listen without missing much.

It all went by quickly, and it all sounded emotional (and I always trust Secretly Canadian) but I don't know if it was interesting enough for me to go back to.

I enjoyed this. Earthy, gloomy stuff that gets a little weighty on the back half, but still really well made. Jason Molina's vocals don't always land well for me, but they suit the general mood of the album. Fave Songs: Nervous Bride, The Black Crow, Lioness, Tigress

Found it kind of morose for today.

Sad-voiced but unique lead vocals. The strain of the lead vocalist’s voice during every song made it a chore to get through. Good lo fi vibe, though.

Nice enough

The album art is spare but arresting. Best thing about the album, which otherwise failed to grab me. It isn't terrible, just not the kind of thing I enjoy. If this is your go to album I'm sorry and I hope things get happier for you soon. Sincerely.

Melancholy yet relatable when in the proper mood

This one just didn't speak to me. I didn't like the lead singer's voice, which is always a killer. The music progressed slowly. I don't think it's bad, but I didn't find myself enjoying it much either 3/5

Good. Not great. I need more variation. But I generally think this has some tracks I'll listen to more.

good, chill energy, 3-4 stars. a litle too sad to listen too daily, but a fun listen.

This album is like dark alt country/blues? Similar vein to MJ Lenderman or Bill Callahan (we had one of his albums on the 1001 list) or Bonnie "Prince" Billy (also had an album on the 1001 list). Almost like doom country. A unique genre of music that I have very little exposure to, but like quite a bit. I will have to explore it more. Favorite songs: Tigress, The Black Crow, Lioness Least favorite songs: Baby Take a Look 3/5

November 14, 2025 HL: "Being in Love", "Back on Top" First Songs: Ohia. He'd have been a nightmare on open mic night

While I’m not of the opinion that every album needs a full orchestra to create intrigue, the production and instrumentation on this project are too sparse to inspire any excitement. There’s nothing wrong with it, just kind of boring. 3/5

Turns out Aquaman is a pretty good musician.

Starts off strong with some bolder instrumentals for a singer-songwriter LP, but quickly fades into quiet ballads without much melodic variation. Credit for the electric guitar tone and impressive vocals, but the overall product just didn't stand out to me

Indie rock, alt-country. Muy aburrido. Un 2.

I personally found most of this album boring but I can see why it’d be a personal favorite I suppose. Being in love stood out though

Godspeed You! Black Emperor, but boring 2

It was the depressing kind of sadness, not the more uplifting kind. Droned on a bit.

Not a thing grabbed me.

The work is competent, but I've already seen so many people doing the same that it's tough to get something different from this record. PS: I swear I yawned at least 1 time per song, but I probably should not blame the album for my sleepiness. Or should I?

Reminded me of something but not exactly sure what. Cake maybe? Staind? Anyway, not that great

Indie rock, alt-country. Muy monótono.

Indie rock, alt-country. Muy aburrido. Un 2.

He was just one man. He sings and it's nice sometimes and occasionally there is atmosphere of a certain sort. Proximity to Canada is clear here. great album though truly