web analytics

slowcoustic

Slowcoustic Essentials – Jason Molina

Jason Molina.  The man of many faces (or identities at least) in the realm of what many might call “indie” music.  He just might be the “essential of essentials” for the type of music I love.  Whether he is Magnolia Electric Co., Songs: Ohia or even just Jason Molina…this guy should be a staple in everyone’s library.

While you might not immediately latch on to Molina’s vocals and possibly find yourself a bit lost on where to start if you are new to him – keep listening and keep it to Songs: Ohia and you will be fine.  Of Jason Molina’s identities, I believe Songs: Ohia is the pinnacle of woozy, pained songwriting.  It tends to never be “fields of flowers and puppy dogs”, but if it was, would you be here right now??  Not that all down-tempo music needs to be about loss, finding yourself and discovering what you thought was true actually isn’t…it sure helps!

This Ohio native (what, you didn’t guess this yet?) started out in Cleveland in a few metal bands (!!) and eventually moved to his solo persona and officially started recording in 1996 as Songs: Ohia.  He has recorded numerous albums and such since then which is reflected in his release library.  When I say the library of music and projects for Jason Molina is large, the Wikipedia page for him shows just how vast it actually is.  Again, I am partial to his Songs: Ohia stuff so check out some info below.

Songs: Ohia

Albums
EPs
  • 1997 Hecla & Griper
  • 1998 Our Golden Ratio (Acuarela)
  • 2001 Howler (Absalom)
  • 2001 Travels in Constants (Temporary Residence)
Singles
  • 1996 “Nor Cease Thou Never Now” (Palace Records)
  • 1996 “One Pronunciation of Glory”
  • 1999 “Untitled” (Western Vinyl)
  • 2002 “The Gray Tower”/”Black Link to Fire Link”
  • 2002 “Keep It Steady”/”United or Lost Alone”
  • 2004 “No Moon on the Water”/”In the Human World” (Chunklet)

Jason Molina

Albums

Magnolia Electric Co.

Albums
EPs
  • 2005 Hard to Love a Man

Collaborations

EPs
Singles
  • 1998 “Nay, Tis Not Death” (Alternate) on split 7″ with Appendix Out (Liquefaction Empire)
  • 1999 “Journey On” on split 7″ with Oneida (Jagjaguwar)
  • 1999 “How to Be Perfect Men” on split 7″ with Rex (Temporary Residence)
  • 2000 7″ single with Alasdair Roberts
  • 2000 “Fade St.” on split 7″ with Glen Hansard (Road Relish)
  • 2001 “Lioness” (Version) on split 7″ with Scout Niblett

Jason Molina is currenlty signed to the fantastic Secretly Canadian label (hell, that’s a great name for a label, by the way) which has a ton of tracks to get you started, such as:


Whether you consider him “Rock n’ Roll” or “Alt Country” or simply “Great”, there is such a library for Jason Molina recordings (as you can see above) that would span these descriptions.  There are especially a large amount of live performances floating around that I had to include a favourite solo performance from Columbia, South Carolina at the New Brookland Tavern from March 12, 1999 – frickin’ awesome.  This recording is from the soundboard, so it is great quality, the “crowd” is a quiet at the right times so it is incredible.  I first posted a song from this set HERE and have included it again as it is great.

Well there you have it, massive amounts of downloads – more than enough to keep you going until you pick up every last one of the above…well maybe a few of them at least.

Visit Jason Molina:  Website, Label Site, MySpace.

~Smansmith

Posted

in

, , , , , ,

by

slowcoustic

Tags:

Comments

5 responses to “Slowcoustic Essentials – Jason Molina”

  1. saltfarmer Avatar
    saltfarmer

    Molina is definitely an underappreciated artist. “The Big Game is Every Nite” is one of my all-time favorite songs. I first found it in a 9:55 incarnation on a Connect/Insound compilation. Then it appeared as a demo (The Big Game is Every Night), clocking in at 6:27. A remarkable song.

  2. Smansmith Avatar
    Smansmith

    I know! Molina is incredible, I have spent many an hour listening. There are just soo many “all time” tracks.

  3. nele Avatar
    nele

    Great entry. I love the music of Jason Molina and I think he should be more popular….we have to spread his wonderful music :)

  4. Paste Avatar
    Paste

    Extraordinary guy. Its not the guitar, its the tone in his voice that makes him special. Haven’t heard this kind of singing anywhere else before. I hope he’ll keep on making this great songs.

  5. Dillon Avatar
    Dillon

    The Ghost has been re-issued! I believe it was recorded completely on a boombox, and if it wasn’t, it sure sounds like it was.