Magnolia Electric Co.

Songs: Ohia

2003

3.28

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12%

51%

19%

14%

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Album Summary

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 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.

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Dec 03 2025 Author

"Magnolia Electric Co." by Songs: Ohia is one of my favorite americana/indie albums ever. These alt-country folky indie singer songwriter songs are beautifully instrumented and the overall mood is a bit depressing, but there is so much beauty to be found in fantastic compositions. Several tracks start quietly and then slowly erupt into guitar heavy indie rock. Another album produced by Steve Albini, so you know it must be something special.

Nov 30 2025 Author

A lot of things I could say about this one that doesn’t come to mind. Thanks for the music Jason

Dec 09 2025 Author

This is the second Songs: Ohia album I've had on the post - list (the first being The Lioness). This is the better of the two. Both were good, but this one in particular was fantastic! Sound was better, more polished. The only song I didn't like on the album wasn't because of anything Jason Molina did. It was Scout Niblett's voice in Peoria Lunch Box Blues. It was God awful. The rest of the album was stellar! Favorite songs: Farewell Transmission, The Old Black Hen, I've Been Riding With the Ghost, Just Be Simple, Hold on Magnolia Least favorite songs: Peoria Lunch Box Blues 5/5

Dec 11 2025 Author

jason molina soaring over stars, clouds and lands of ghosts weeping 4.5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums, rounded up to 5 9.5/10 for more general purposes. ---- Number of albums from the original list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 465 Albums from the original list I *might* include in mine later on: 288 Albums from the original list I won't include in mine: 336 ---- Number of albums from the users list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 63 (including this one). Albums from the users list I *might* select for mine later on: 81 Albums from the users list I won't select for mine: 148 ---- Emile... Ma propre balise temporelle... Tu trouveras mes trois dernières réponses sous les albums d'Eric B. & Rakim, Shpongle et Ookla The Mok

Dec 21 2025 Author

Never heard of but yet brilliant.

Jan 03 2026 Author

Really solid, I enjoyed the extended version with bonus tracks and demos too. Not quite as good as The Lioness, which I had a few weeks ago, but still a cracking voice and beautiful songs, and still easily five stars for me. Thanks for the pointer!

Nov 27 2025 Author

i dig this album! like a 4. reminds me of a bluesier weepies.

Nov 28 2025 Author

I liked The Lioness, the Songs: Ohia album on the original list. I didn’t get to spend as much time with this one but I liked it. Reminded me a bit of Neil Young.

Nov 30 2025 Author

I was already quite familiar with this album, and already loved it. I need to check out more of their work. 4 stars.

Dec 06 2025 Author

Sounds very much like a Neil Young project and I mean that in the best way possible

Dec 06 2025 Author

I love Neil Young!

Dec 12 2025 Author

Another Americana, alt-country highlight

Dec 28 2025 Author

I love this a lot. Refreshing production. The vocals feel untouched. Just raw and full of emotion. Instrumentation feels the same way. Lyrics too. Songwriting doesn’t contain the most range on this eight track album, but it’s overall different enough from most other things that it never gets boring for a second. At forty five minutes, this is a nice dive into a relatively unknown band and a great album. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do. 4/5

Jan 07 2026 Author

Pretty sure there's been another album by this band, or at least its principle artist. I don't recall how it struck me, but I think I mused then too on how I'm often struck by the jaw dropping physiological destruction a catastrophic alcohol addiction can inflict. The strength of will to produce like this under the weight of that must be prodigious indeed. A double tragedy. Anyway I liked this very much. Slightly marred by some jarring shifts in tone. But in its parts and mostly in its totality very good.

Nov 29 2025 Author

Too long.

Nov 30 2025 Author

Don’t get the hype

Dec 02 2025 Author

Alternative country, Americana, country rock, outlaw country, roots rock. Ni fu ni fa.

Dec 11 2025 Author

One or two songs every now and then. Not a whole album, or the mournful vocals and spare instrumentation leave the listener unsatisfied.

Dec 13 2025 Author

Not a country guy but I appreciated the tracks.

Dec 13 2025 Author

Det börjar bra men sen går det mer och mer utför. Plattan är alldeles för lång.

Dec 15 2025 Author

Too long, but what I heard was all right

Dec 20 2025 Author

The sonic equivalent of a comforting, warm hug – this is my second time around listening to this LP, and I was in a more receptive mood for Molina’s thoughtful indie take on country. The lyricism is inspired without being melodramatic, and the fuller production and instrumentals make this singer-songwriter effort feel like it has some real meat on its bones. This LP is all over the other best of lists, and I would say its inclusion here is well-warranted.

Dec 22 2025 Author

A pretty solid indie songwriter album. Kind of like a younger more raw Jason Isbell with storytelling lyrics and impactful sounds of life. This is something where certain songs resonate more depending on the listeners mood. This is an underrated album for sure. 7.6/10

Dec 25 2025 Author

Nice

Jan 04 2026 Author

okayish country album

Dec 25 2025 Author

2.5. Some were ok, some were excruciating.

Dec 10 2025 Author

Had enough Neil Young type nonsense on the list. Music to suck the joy out of life