Tribute to Jason Molina

After the truly saddening loss of a great American songwriter in Jason Molina, former members of his projects Songs: Ohia and Magnolia Electric Company in conjunction with Hiss Golden Messenger (who's new album is a 2014 standout) - will play a series of tribute shows to the late songwriter. Molina's best work, the outstanding The Magnolia Electric Co. album got the 10 year anniversary treatment to outstanding reviews.

"Songs: Molina - A Memorial Electric Co" will find its way to Durham, NC, Asheville, NC, Indianapolis, IN, and finally to Chicago, IL. Jason Molina's voice stands out as one of the most unique, urgent, and beautiful of songwriters from the last twenty years, and while it cannot be replaced, "Songs: Molina - A Memorial Electric Co" will attempt to pay tribute to it and help coax it out of the amazing songs that Jason left with us.

Jason Molina Returns with Autumn Bird Songs

We haven't had music from Jason Molina (of Magnolia Electric Company) since 2009, and for a time, we didn't know if we were going to have new music from him ever again. After a donation campaign to get the singer back on his feet during his struggles with substance abuse, Molina announced in May he would be returning to music. Today, he releases the timely and VERY welcome new mini-album Autumn Bird Songs. Welcome back. Read what I wrote in 2008. Additionally, via Pitchfork:

The songs were written to accompany a book of artwork by William Schaff, titled From Black Sheep Boys to Bill Collectors: The Music-Related Artwork of William Schaff. The book includes writings from the Mountain Goats' John Darnielle and Okkervil River's Will Sheff, as well as album artwork done by Schaff for Songs: Ohia, Okkervil River, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and more... In related news, in London, the musician Laurie McNamee recently organized a benefit concert for Molina, accompanied by a benefit covers compilation featuring Alasdair Roberts, Jack Hayter of Hefner, and more, that is still for sale at Bandcamp.

Daytrotter Session Aggregation

The Daytrotter Sessions have slowly become the indie-staple of the next step for certain artists, while for others, it serves as a time to strip down and hold your voice accountable -- Daytrotter reveals one's true colors, which makes it a great acoustic and musical benchmarking system. Some Stark favorites have graced the studio over the past week or two, all of which are worth mentioning here (in no particular order):

1) Tallest Man on Earth -- This is from way back, but talk about someone born to record at Daytrotter -- Kristian Matsson is an artistic enigma capable of crushing your soul, lifting you up, then making you stop to think about why your body still hurts. Truly one of the most uniquely genuine and inquisitive songwriters of the decade. Worth a good listen -- "I Want You (Dylan Cover)" and " I Won't Be Found (played on piano -- exquisite.)"

2)Or, the Whale -- San Francisco's answer to the wants of a fanbase that champions rainy days and ominous harmonies. Their self-titled '09 release came out on Sept. 19. Worth a good listen "Keep Me Up."

3)Carly Simon - Never Been Gone is her newest effort (dropped Oct. 27) which has met Luke warm reviews in the media, but we all know what she is famous for -- "You're So Vain" -- worth a good listen.

More after the jump.

4)Magnolia Electric Co. - Another band made to play this musical venue, which is probably why they recorded seven songs while there. Their newest release Josephine doesn't stray far from their linear, yet pristine song writing style which is why we love it. Worth a good listen - "Arrow in the Gale/Josephine."

5)Wavves- Really? OK. What you got kid? Well, yeah, it sounds like Wavves in a cave -- two songs is about right; let's keep it at that.

6) The Antlers -- their 2009 release Hospice is a front runner for top spots on many Best of List's this year. Worth a good listen "Two."

More From the Pool: Crystal Antlers, Magnolia, Dirty Projectors

Another LOVELY Sunday out at the ole' Jelly sponsored Williamsburg Waterfront. Sunshiney, warm and just generally the best bang for your buck (it's free) you can get on a Sunday (if you can manage to stay away from Time Out New York reporters trying to trick you into being in their "singles" section. There's no easier way for you to stop getting laid, immediately.)

Crystal Antlers were good, not great -- high energy psych/punk songs with great stage presence. Yet, from the "Crystal" name to the group choruses and jangley staccato guitar lines, the 'Antlers were fairly cookie cutter indie rock. Not bad in the least, but certainly needing something to set them apart from the million other bands out there. Hear our thoughts on some recent fashion trends (yup, we're qualified), as well as sets from Dirty Projectors and Magnolia Electric Company alongside more great photos from resident photog Karp. 

SIDEBAR: I don't know whether it was us or not, but there was a lot of really stupid looking people there yesterday - more than usual. Not trying to jude here - my rolled up jeans did not look the sweetest - but the metallic gold, gladiator boot/sandal combo one girl was wearing was one of the stupidest looking pairs of shoes I've ever seen. It was all downhill from there. Just sayin' is all. Also, the crazy crack-dancer in front of the VIP section was a classic touch. 

Moving swiftly along. Magnolia Electric Company were a bit of a disappointment. We LOVE this band. Yet, outside in the sun, it wasn't the melancholy nature of the music, it was more the lagging tempos that brought the set down. We knew it would be slow and mellow, but not THIS slow. We'll never flatly criticize Jason Molina, but from Magnolia's vast catalog they could have easily brought out a few more uptempo numbers to spice up the vibe for the eager concert-goers. It was nice to hear the new material from Josephine that comes out today though. Of course, the vocals and musicianship were top-notch.

The headliners Dirty Projectors solidified themselves as the front-runner for band of the year. Anyone who claims they ride on hype alone is full of shit. This is a band of immaculately talented musicians (save one or two) who write music that is artistically challenging and accessible at the same time. Yesterday, (for us) was less about a quality show (it wasn't) but more about evaluating the band on a live basis for the first time. From crappy sound to a few sloppy moments on stage, it was clear this wasn't the DP's best show. Yet, from the likes of what we saw - it's obvious this band is capable of great things live. With the right venue and good sound, the Dirty Projectors will easily exceed all expectations. Highlights included the closer "Knotty Pine" (we're still waiting for Byrne to ride his bike on stage in a white suit and sing back-up) all tunes from Rise Above and of course the "hit" Stillness is the Move. 

(me masquerading as a photographer in the photo pit)

New White Denim and Here We Go Magic

Things have begun to bubble up from the new White Denim release Fits. NME is streaming the album, but apparently we only get snippets here in the US? No Little Boots LP and now only White Denim snippets?? No US release for Fits is set yet either! When did the UK become cooler than the US? I guess we'll have to start eating more fried eggs and Heinz Baked Beans. (Looking at you Lauren Brailey). We've been fans of this rollicking, garage-soul trio out of Austin since their last record Workout Holiday stormed onto our iPods last year. See our live review here. White Denim are part of the "are you fucking kidding me??" bill of Dirty Projectors and Magnolia Electric Company on July 19th at the Williamsburg Waterfront. A concert series that no one has any idea about. Whtat's going on? Gongshow. (VIA)

In other news....

We get the new video today for Here We Go Magic's fantastic tune "Fangela." We were impressed by their opening for Grizzly Bear, but Town Hall wasn't really the right room for them. Looking forward to seeing them elsewhere. If you haven't checked out their fantastic record. Do so immediately.

New Magnolia Electric Company Album

[mp3] Magnolia Electric Company: "Josephine"

It was a good day yesterday. Just as our constant listening of Jason Molina's back catalog began to wear thin, he announced the release of the newest Magnolia Electric Company record "Josephine" coming out July 21st on Secretly Canadian. Josephine promises to pack a strong emotional punch as it is an attempt to capture the emotions of the band in the wake of the death of bassist Evan Farrell who tragically passed away in 2007. Molina has honed his songwriting craft and the band matches his maturity with their playing. Most songs clock in at under the 3 minute mark. Produced once again by Steve Albini, Josephine is this writer's most anticipated album of 2009. To get a sense of what the album will sound like, you can sample the title track above, but also be sure to pick up their newly released EP It's Made Me Cry.

Molina's concept album is an honest-to-God effort on the part of Magnolia Electric Co. to pay tribute to the life and spirit of fallen bassist Evan Farrell (R.I.P. December 2007). Molina said each tune is a good faith attempt to make real Evan's hopes for the record. And in doing so, Evan's spirit becomes part of the concept.

Tuesday Release Day: Passion Pit, Au Revoir Simone, John Vanderslice, Others

Artist: Passion Pit
Album: Manners (Frenchkiss/Columbia)
mp3: "Moth's Wings"

Today is full of great releases. Our favorite this week is Passion Pit's Manners. Passion Pit has been crafting excellent club-style indie pop since the release of their amazing Chunk of Change EP. They have signed to a deal with Frenchkiss and Columbia and today released Manners, their full- blooded dance rock LP that Vince raved about a few weeks ago. We missed them on the booze cruise last night in NY, but keep your eye on this band as they are poised for crossover success this year i.e. MGMT. Manners seems to lack a driving power single such as "Time to Pretend", but the consistent level of quality throughout this record should not be missed. See the rest of our picks after the jump...

Artist: John Vanderslice
Album: Romanian Names (Dead Oceans)
Mp3: "Fetal Horses"

Consistency is the word when it comes to John Vanderslice. Today, he offers up his seventh release Romanian Names, which is yet another example of this fine singer/songwriter's talent for crafting well developed and mature compositions. While we haven't heard the album in its entirety yet, the songs we have heard don't stray far from his previous output, but when it comes to John Vanderslice that's not a bad thing at all.

Artist: Polly Scattergood
Album: Polly Scattergood (Mute)
Mp3: "Nitrogen Pink"

London-based singer Polly Scattergood releases her self-titled debut record today on Mute. While there are some inconsistencies on this release, Polly Scattergood's potential shines brightly on this album. Standout tracks such as "Nitrogen Pink" demonstrate her talent for writing catchy songs that grow and develop around a unique voice that can recall anyone from Keren Ann, to Kate Bush orTori Amos. She puts her emotion clearly on display, sometimes to a fault, but the confessional style of her writing succeeds on more than one occasion, leading us to believe that as she continues to develop she can be a true standout on the scene.

Artist: Au Revoir Simone
Album: Still Night, Still Light (Our Secret Record Company)

Au Revoir Simone release their third, and arguably best record Still Night, Still Light, today. From what we've heard, there isn't much departure here from their previous efforts, but they have stepped up the songwriting quality a touch, delivering a more fully formed picture of the trio's sound. While incorporating elements of disco backed by drums tracks and synths, Au Revoir Simone still manage to convey an underlying emotion of pensive sadness, which gives Still Night Still Light an edge and a quality that brings it above their more pop oriented peers who often lack emotional depth. Au Revoir Simone will be touring with the Antlers in the coming weeks, making it a bill not to be missed.

Artist: Magnolia Electric Company
Album: It's Made Me Cry (Secretly Canadian)

Last and most certainly not least is the digital release of Magnolia Electric Company's Record Store Day exclusive 7" It's Made Me Cry EP. It's vintage Jason Molina songwriting here, and if you've ever read this blog before, you know that he's one of our favorite current songwriters. While they may not be the pumping the spring weather jams you are looking for right now, these slow country burners do well for any evening or gray rainy day. All proceeds from the sale of the EP benefits go to the Evan Farrell Memorial Fund, which was set up for the two sons of the former Rogue Wave bassist, who died from injuries sustained in a house fire a couple years back.

Magnolia Electric Co. Announce US Tour Dates, mp3

Magnolia Electric Co. "Texas 71" - mp3
Good news from the UK, where Magnolia frontman now resides -- chief songwriter Jason Molina will head back to the US in October for a string of dates. Last year, Molina issued the amazing Sojourner box set and it looks like there will be a new Magnolia record coming sometime in mid 2009. Last spring we went on at length about our love for Molina's rural-American rock, so it's no shocker that we're pretty excited here. Above is one of our favorite tracks from the Sojourner set. Unfortunately these dates are relegated to the South and Midwest, but hopefully this is only the first leg (although it sounds like Molina will focus exclusively on recording with producer Steve Albini after this run.)

TOUR DATES:
10/21/08 Bloomington, IN - Buskirk Chumley
10/22/08 Louisville, KY - Headliners
10/23/08 Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle
10/24/08 Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club
10/25/08 Birmingham, AL - The Bottle Tree
10/26/08 Memphis, TN - Hi Tone
10/27/08 Denton, TX - Rubber Gloves
10/28/08 Houston, TX - Walter's on Washington
10/30/08 Austin, TX - Mohawk
10/31/08 Norman, OK - The Opolis
11/01/08 Lawrence, KS - Jackpot
11/02/08 St. Louis, MO - The Bluebird
11/03/08 Chicago, IL - Abbey Pub