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Review Summary: I’ve been riding with a ghost Before his untimely death in 2013, Jason Molina was a cult icon among underground music fans, his extensive discography variously spread between the Songs: Ohia and Magnolia Electric Co monikers as well as under his own name representing some of the finest Americana and rootsy indie rock around. To this day, albums like 2002’s Didn’t It Rain and 2003’s Magnolia Electric Co are widely regarded as masterpieces, their sad and lonely beauty standing the test of time well.
Eight Gates is an album which was recorded by Molina during time spent in London in the late 2000s, but unreleased until now. It’s a brief affair, well under a half-hour in length, and one which feels unfinished at times (probably because it is). Nonetheless, most of the material here is quite solid, and at times masterful. Knowing that Molina has passed on since recording this makes his spectral vocals over often extremely sparse accompaniment a very potent combination. A few standout tracks would be “Shadow Answers The Wall” and “Old Worry”.
For those readers not familiar with any of Molina’s work, this is certainly not an ideal place to start. The album Magnolia Electric Co might be the best beginning point for new listeners, as it represents some of Molina’s finest craft while also remaining on the more accessible side. For Molina’s already-existing fans, though, Eight Gates is well worth a listen.
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Album Rating: 3.5
Just a quick writeup for an album which didn't attract much attention
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good review. i'll pay my respects and listen to at least Shadow and Old Worry
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Thanks! No classics here, but under the circumstances it's a pretty solid album
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The first two songs are amazing. Nice one, Sunny.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Thanks @dewinged, the album does start off nicely
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Review doesn't really say anything at all to anyone not familiar with Molina, and doesn't say anything that anyone already on board doesn't already know, aside from a couple track names.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
another great album. The songs keep growing on me as I listen over and over. This is a rather mellow album and very different style from his prev alb
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
@porcupinetheater, after reading this over again, that's a valid critique. There's definitely a few points I could expand upon, particularly in regards to sound/style of the album. Nonetheless, my main intent was a short writeup to give this album a tad more attention.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Okay review. The opening sentence runs on for quite a while, and "Nonetheless, most of the material here is quite solid, and at times masterful" feels like a slight cop out from delving into why that's the case. You sort of made up for it with this great sentence though, which I couldn't possibly agree with more: "Knowing that Molina has passed on since recording this makes his spectral vocals over often extremely sparse accompaniment a very potent combination." Like you said, for a short review just to help get word out it's adequate. I appreciate that someone reviewed this too, I thought about it but it didn't quite interest/inspire me enough to really make time.
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
Decent little writeup for this, glad to have a thread for it at least. Been listening on and off since it came out, decent stuff.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Thanks for the input Sowing!
@Boney, this has been fairly regular rotation for me as well.
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
Weirdly this is only the 3rd Molina release I’ve heard. I need to hear more of his classic material. Magnolia Electric Co is one of my favorite albums.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
What have you heard besides this and Magnolia Electric Co?
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
The Lioness
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Ah ok. I definitely recommend What Comes After The Blues as your next one to check out, it's similar to Magnolia Electric Co in some respects and also excellent. After that, Didn't It Rain is one of his best, a bit inaccessible at first though. And Josephine is also one of my favorites, probably the closest Molina got to straight-up country rock
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