owl and bear

2006, Secretly Canadian

When Magnolia Electric Co. frontman Jason Molina released the last (so far) Songs: Ohia album entitled Magnolia Electric Company, it was pretty damn revelatory.

He had switched from whispery folk troubadour to meat and potatoes rock n’ roll. It wasn’t like Dylan going electric, but it was nonetheless a big step beyond his earlier output.

With Fading Trails, we’re a few years down the dusty road he’s chosen, and things haven’t changed much. Molina still strives towards Neil Youngness; unfortunately, his innate Bob Segerness is holding him back. Listeners will remember getting chills from Songs: Ohia’s “Farewell Transmission,” but will wonder why Molina struggles to top the older efforts. Fading Trails comes relatively close, but close doesn’t count in this brand of rock.

Molina should lighten up a bit and try to cut loose- an asset to his live shows, but an obvious shortcoming on Fading Trails.

C+