Feature – Jason Molina

“No! You listen! All my life, you have told me that the world is a dark, cruel place. But now I see that the only thing dark and cruel about it is people like you.”
– Quasimodo, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, (©Disney, 1996)

Jason Molina is one ugly son of a bitch; resembling a member of a freaky circus more than a heartfelt – slightly effeminate – folk singer. On stage, he looks a bit pathetic, rocking slowly from side to side and often sporting a camp neckerchief. He stares vacantly into the stage lights, happy to block out the presence of his ever-expanding audience.

It’s quite necessary to be self absorbed at a Jason Molina gig, shut your eyes and drift off to the music, just don’t for the life of it look into his eyes. After trying to read his expression for just under half an hour, the only conclusion is, a) he experiences agonising pain whilst performing and b) not even Man Friday could solve his loneliness.

New album Black Ram, released as part a Magnolia Electric Co. box set, started being recorded in November ‘05. During the initial studio sessions, Molina’s mother suffered a serious heart attack and has since been comatose. The sessions were completed the following February at Sound Of Music in Richmond, Virginia. The record was initially a collaboration between Molina and David Lowery -of legendary alt. country rockers Camper Van Beethoven. Before too long, Andrew Bird of Andrew Bird fame and the embarrassingly talented Rick Alverson had also joined in, amongst others.

Black Ram is a great representation of the emotional swill that travels with Molina on his yearlong tours. Lyrically it is as honest as ever. There are few like him. A major pitfall however, is that he occasionally adopts a Quasimodo complex, for instance on The Dark Don’t Hide It…

Magnolia Electric Co. – The Dark Don’t Hide It

Buy into it: Jason Molina
1. What Comes After the Blues by The Magnolia Electric Co.
2. The Magnolia Electric Company by Songs: Ohio
3. The Lioness by Songs: Ohio
4. Sojourner Box Set by Magnolia Electric Co.
5. A gig ticket

For more information, including tour-dates, go here and here.