Xixax Film Forum

Non-Film Discussion => Real-Life Soundtracks => Topic started by: NEON MERCURY on November 06, 2005, 08:12:58 PM

Title: songs:ohia and/or magnolia electric co.
Post by: NEON MERCURY on November 06, 2005, 08:12:58 PM
i really owe props out to meat for pimping this group to me and since the shit is soooo fucking great i decided to share it with the goo people here...

basically songs:ohia and magnolia electric co [m.e.c.] are the same thing=jason molina.
musically, its singer-songwriter stuff in the same vein as neil young or will oldham.  those are the two comparisons that go round bout molina.  and in a way they're fair.  for instance his voice is what makes him unique.  it sounds like young but more fragile and scared.  and his lyrics are mostly the "depressing transcendence" variety...examples:

The Body Burned Away
death as it shook you
you gave it a fool's look
you said I am an empty page to you
give me your hand give me your blood
don't misunderstand
I once had all the words
I forgot all the words
held the binding lightning
began to burn away
we began to burn away
held the binding the lightning
began to burn away
the body burns away


Lioness
it is for me the eventual truth
of that look of the lioness to her man across the Nile
it is that look of the lioness to her man across the Nile
wanna feel my heart break if it must break in your jaws
want you to lick my blood off your paws
you can't get her fast enough
I will swim to you
whether you save you me
whether you savage me
want my last look to be the moon in your eyes
want my heart to break if it must break in your jaws
want you to lick my blood off your paws
it is for me the eventual truth
it is that look of the lioness to her man across the Nile
and you can't get here fast enough
I will swim to you


Gambling Song(an ace unable to change)
tonight i am gambling with my sentiment
tonight i am gambling with my repentance
deny i am losing in a crowded room
to a gambler in a crown of thorns
tonight i am down to my soul
tonight i am gambling with my sentiment
tonight i am gambling with my salvation
deny i am losing in a crowded room
to a gambler in a crown of thorns
tonight i am damned to my soul
[/size]   

..those are just three random songs from huge catalog of quality songwriting.  i dont think its just creepy dark lyrics for the sake of being dark..  i think theres a beauty to it also.  that takes talent.  anybody can write depressing shit but few can make it stick w/ you and accompany the lyrics with a dark alt-country sound.  here are some of the albums i own...

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songs:ohia-"the black album"
> first one.  its very acoustic-like and has a strong alt-country flavor to it.  i think polkablues would like this cd.
favorite track: cabwaylingo

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songs:ohia-impala
> much like the first one but more slow folk rock and theres some pleasent key instruments also.
ono would like this one
favorite track: this time anything finite at all

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songs:ohia-axxes and ace
> this is more traditional and feels like a companion piece to neil youngs "tonights the night" minus the blues.  ghostboy would like this one
favorite track: love leaves its abusers

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songs:ohia-ghost tropic
> with a name like ghost tropic you can guess that this is the arty concept album that meant to be listened in one sitting.  yes it is.  very spare, meditative, depressing, dark, etc.  you guys know the drill.  this one is killer.  i think pubrick would like this one.
favorite track: the body burned away

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songs:ohia-lioness
> this is also a brilliant mood piece minus the arty concept thing.  it sounds like an alt-country version of radioheads' ok computer.  life_boy would like this one.
favorite track: tigress

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songs:ohia-didn't it rain
> fucking brilliant.  my favorite one.  full or darkly composed singer-songwriter type ditties.  it sounds like neil youngs harvest w/ hard liquor and cigarettes.  its like "lioness" but more acoustic an low key.  reinhold messner would like this one.
favorite track: ring the bell

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songs:ohia-magnolia electric co
> the popular one.  and it deserves it status.  more upbeat than the predecessors.  but contains the solid alt-country/old school rock vibe. even has two peeps guest lead vocals.  modernage and gamblor would like this one.
favorite track: i've been riding with the ghost

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magnolia electric co-what comes after the blues
>  much like the previous one but lower in tempo.  besides the opening rocker and the second song beautifully song by some chick who sounds suicidal, its  filled w/ low-key numbers and reminds me of neil youngs solo debut.  i think walrus would like this one.
favorite track: the night shift lullaby
Title: Re: songs:ohia and/or magnolia electric co.
Post by: polkablues on November 06, 2005, 08:30:07 PM
Quote from: neon mercury on November 06, 2005, 08:12:58 PM
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songs:ohia-"the black album"
> first one.  its very acoustic-like and has a strong alt-country flavor to it.  i think polkablues would like this cd.


:yabbse-angry:  Amazon doesn't have previews for this album... still, I like everything about your description of it, so maybe I'll make it a blind-buy (deaf-buy?).  Thanks!
Title: Re: songs:ohia and/or magnolia electric co.
Post by: NEON MERCURY on November 06, 2005, 08:37:48 PM
Quote from: polkablues on November 06, 2005, 08:30:07 PM
Quote from: neon mercury on November 06, 2005, 08:12:58 PM
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songs:ohia-"the black album"
> first one.  its very acoustic-like and has a strong alt-country flavor to it.  i think polkablues would like this cd.


:yabbse-angry:  Amazon doesn't have previews for this album... still, I like everything about your description of it, so maybe I'll make it a blind-buy (deaf-buy?).  Thanks!

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:becm964ohep3
you have to create an account [free] to listen to samples.  i go here instead of amazon b/c they have everything...hope you like it :yabbse-thumbup:
Title: Re: songs:ohia and/or magnolia electric co.
Post by: ono on November 06, 2005, 09:20:19 PM
I seem to recall matt35mm mentioning he had acquired the rights for one of their songs for his short film, so you already have one other fan.

Quote from: neon mercury on November 06, 2005, 08:12:58 PM
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songs:ohia-impala
> much like the first one but more slow folk rock and theres some pleasent key instruments also.
ono would like this one
favorite track: this time anything finite at all

Is this a silly, neon thing, or a genuine observation?  Always looking for new music to try out, so I'm considering a deaf buy.
Title: Re: songs:ohia and/or magnolia electric co.
Post by: NEON MERCURY on November 06, 2005, 09:27:43 PM
Quote from: onomabracadabra on November 06, 2005, 09:20:19 PM
I seem to recall matt35mm mentioning he had acquired the rights for one of their songs for his short film, so you already have one other fan.

Quote from: neon mercury on November 06, 2005, 08:12:58 PM
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songs:ohia-impala
> much like the first one but more slow folk rock and theres some pleasent key instruments also.
ono would like this one
favorite track: this time anything finite at all

Is this a silly, neon thing, or a genuine observation?  Always looking for new music to try out, so I'm considering a deaf buy.


silly neon thing!!! :shock:.................. :wink:

nah, man i am for real.  got to allmusic/amazon check them samples.  i think/hope you will like it.
and matt35mm...what song....thats awesome...sorry dont check the filmmaker forum that much b/c it makes me feel bad that people are doing their thing and i am wasting my life....but props matt.
Title: Re: songs:ohia and/or magnolia electric co.
Post by: ᾦɐļᵲʊʂ on November 08, 2005, 11:09:54 PM
I love these guys to pieces!!

Axxess and Ace is my favorite so far.  Redhead/Captain Badass always gets me excited, but not in an energetic way... it just sends some strange emotion through my body.

Seeing Magnolia Electric, Co. live was great, they put on a great show.

Have you heard the Coke Dares?  They're a bunch of the guys who got together from Jason Molina's bands Songs: Ohia and Magnolia Electric, Co.  They're pretty sweet, too.
Title: Re: songs:ohia and/or magnolia electric co.
Post by: matt35mm on November 08, 2005, 11:56:32 PM
"The Lioness" is one of my favorite songs of all time.  Great album, great band.

I was given the right to use "No Limit On The Words" off of Ghost Tropic.  I put it in the trailer as well as the film, which I'm almost finished with.  You can hear it in the trailer at the link to the trailer in my signature.
Title: Re: songs:ohia and/or magnolia electric co.
Post by: ᾦɐļᵲʊʂ on November 09, 2005, 11:18:24 AM
Quote from: matt35mm on November 08, 2005, 11:56:32 PM
which I'm almost finished with.

*Anticipating*

I remember you told me you got the rights to one of their songs, then I saw your trailer and was like "Ohhhhhh snap!"
Title: Re: songs:ohia and/or magnolia electric co.
Post by: matt35mm on November 09, 2005, 12:16:21 PM
Yeah.  One of the coolest parts is that I'm sending the record label and the artist each a copy, per request.  So, Jason Molina should be getting a copy of Thomas Edison soon.  Eee.
Title: Re: songs:ohia and/or magnolia electric co.
Post by: matt35mm on August 06, 2006, 04:56:41 AM
Saw Magnolia Electric Co. tonight in LA.  Great fucking show.  Got their new album a month before the release.  Shook Jason Molina's (and the other guitar player's) hand.  Eee.
Title: Re: songs:ohia and/or magnolia electric co.
Post by: I Love a Magician on August 06, 2006, 03:41:29 PM
I've met Jason Molina before too. Talked to him for a little while after seeing the Magnolia Electric Co. play in Lexington a couple years back. Real, real nice guy. And short. But I've got both of these new CDs downloaded (Let Me Go Let Me Go Let Me Go and Fading Trails) and Fading Trails is just straight up boring. Let Me Go is good but I haven't had time to really sit down with it yet.

also my favorite songs ohia album is didn't it rain
Title: Re: songs:ohia and/or magnolia electric co.
Post by: matt35mm on August 06, 2006, 04:29:33 PM
Quote from: I Love a Magician on August 06, 2006, 03:41:29 PM
I've met Jason Molina before too. Talked to him for a little while after seeing the Magnolia Electric Co. play in Lexington a couple years back. Real, real nice guy. And short.
He's my height.  It sounds silly but it almost felt like, "Wow, short people can be amazing, too.  I have a chance."

He was very nice, yes.  Almost disarmingly so.

The last song they played was amazing.  He said it was new and not on any of the upcoming records yet.  He didn't say what it was titled, but I look forward to the next next album, I guess.
Title: Re: songs:ohia and/or magnolia electric co.
Post by: NEON MERCURY on August 06, 2006, 07:26:25 PM
Quote from: flagpolespecial on August 06, 2006, 07:18:37 PM
i saw jason molina play a solo show about 5 years ago. he was fucking brilliant. i bootlegged it. but i don't think i could find the minidisc i recorded it onto anymore.

try here:

http://pry.com/songsohia/



ILAM, in what way is fading trails boring...?  being a douche-like fanboy that i am, i dont see how molina could make an album that justs "boring"....?
Title: Re: songs:ohia and/or magnolia electric co.
Post by: ᾦɐļᵲʊʂ on August 07, 2006, 01:24:38 AM
I met Jason Molina for a second once.  It was at Intonation 2005, and he was walking around and I walked up to him, thinking it was him but not quite sure, and asked if he was Jason Molina and he looked up as if to think about it and then nodded.  I didn't know what to say being a little starstruck, so I nodded back and we parted ways.

Of all the Songs: Ohia albums, Ghost Tropic has become my favorite.  Especially the Ghost Tropic tracks where it's instrumental with the sounds of birds.
Title: Re: songs:ohia and/or magnolia electric co.
Post by: NEON MERCURY on September 18, 2006, 09:49:37 PM
Quote from: Walrus on September 18, 2006, 04:58:35 PM
Quote from: pyramid machine on September 17, 2006, 08:57:19 PM
jason molina- let me go, let me go, let me go

I'm always down for some Molina, but the newest Magnolia Electric, Co. is a bit lack luster to me.


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hmm...i like it...i think its better than what comes after the blues...molina's voice, accompanied by pedal steel, acoustic/electric guitaurs,, drum work and piano..is all i need...i am a huge neil young fan..and when young finally passes molina will be carrying his torch in my eyes...the only thing i dont like about the album is the way it flows in terms of track sequence and tempo...
Title: Re: songs:ohia and/or magnolia electric co.
Post by: ᾦɐļᵲʊʂ on September 19, 2006, 10:44:54 AM
I think it's mostly the order for me, too.  I didn't have any many gripes song to song, but as an album it wasn't too cohesive.
Title: Re: songs:ohia and/or magnolia electric co.
Post by: matt35mm on October 09, 2006, 01:07:09 PM
Quote from: matt35mm on August 06, 2006, 04:29:33 PM
The last song they played was amazing.  He said it was new and not on any of the upcoming records yet.  He didn't say what it was titled, but I look forward to the next next album, I guess.
Well, I went to the San Francisco show and figured out that this song is called Shiloh.  Texas 71 is also a great unreleased song.

Last time I was 10 feet away.  This time I was... oh, 5 feet away?  Well, 2 feet from the stage, 5 feet from Jason Molina (and one foot from Lucid).

The new Magnolia songs come off better live, but every song sounds great live from them.  But seeing Molina play some solo stuff would blow my mind, I think.  I do officially love Let Me Go, Let Me Go, Let Me Go now after several more listens.

Great night all around, despite the $30 worth of parking.
Title: Re: songs:ohia and/or magnolia electric co.
Post by: ᾦɐļᵲʊʂ on October 10, 2006, 11:49:07 AM
Check out Neon's guide on the last page to navigate through Songs: Ohia albums.

My favorite lately has to be Ghost Tropic, with Axxess & Ace following closely behind.
Title: Re: songs:ohia and/or magnolia electric co.
Post by: jenkins on October 01, 2017, 10:52:27 PM
matt35m (and anyone), is your favorite Molina album Trials & Errors? more than any of his albums that one digs inside of me, although never does he fail me, i mean any album of his would be a proper album to mention.



my particular soft spot, based on initial entry, is Impala



from back then in Songs:Ohia days, The Lioness too, of course



usually the early stuff is what i like best. especially when it comes to sincere stuff. but i don't see Molina as having a bad phase at any point.
Title: Re: songs:ohia and/or magnolia electric co.
Post by: Robyn on October 02, 2017, 12:46:43 AM
I've heard everything from Axxess & Ace to The Magnolia Electric Co. but The Lioness is the one I like the most. Probably one of my top 10 albums of all time. I might listen to the rest of his discography in the near future, because I'm sure there's a lot of good stuff that I haven't heard yet.
Title: Re: songs:ohia and/or magnolia electric co.
Post by: matt35mm on October 02, 2017, 02:24:43 PM
Too difficult for me to pick favorites, honestly. I like to let them all blur together, especially since he sang about the same themes over and over again. The albums are different flavors of basically the same thing, though I mean that in a good way. Sometimes I'm in the mood for the bigger band feel of Magnolia Electric Co stuff, sometimes the stripped down feel of his solo stuff, and sometimes the inbetween of the Songs:Ohia stuff.

If I had to name an album I'd say there is something particularly transporting about Didn't It Rain. The album "Magnolia Electric Co" is a home run, no ifs/ands/buts about it.

There's a book about Molina that came out a few months ago. It's a gripping read and very illuminating for Molina fans, though devastating. It's called Riding with the Ghost.