Best of the Oughts: Albums 71-80

This list reminds me of a lot of my last couple of years in Ohio. Other than a couple of the selections, this was most of my listening during that period. It's weird how certain years have lumped together on this decade list. Makes me think I didn't do a very good job of mixing things up.

Oh well.


80. Modest Mouse - The Moon and Antarctica
A lot of people have identified this as Modest Mouse's best work. While I don't agree with that assessment, I do feel this is as solid an a major label debut as there has been this decade by a former indie band who should have always stayed indie.

79. Thao Nguyen and Get Down Stay Down - We Brave Bee Stings and All
The first eight or so tracks on this record can carry you a long way. Thao makes you want to hold her hand and go to punk rock shows and protest the war and be her boyfriend. Then you wake up and realize you're in your mid-thirties with a kid. It was a nice dream while it lasted. Luckily, you still have the record.

78. The Strokes - Is This It
I forgot about this one until I started looking through some other best of decade lists. The hype on this band was unreal. I remember hearing a story of Sonic Youth being asked overseas what they thought of The Strokes, being a fellow NYC band and all. They had never heard of them. Strangely enough, The Strokes backed up that out-of-nowhere hype with this solid effort. It's too bad they were the decade's first Vampire Weekend, making it impossible for them to ever have any kind of indie cred or critical love.

77. Broken Social Scene - You Forgot It in People
This is the Canook co-op to end all Canook co-op. Sometimes too many cooks in the kitchen makes a bad stew. And sometimes all those cooks get it right.

76. ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead - Source Codes and Tags
When bands were simplifying their sound and their monikers, this band with the really long name was adding layer upon layer to create some of the most vibrant music of the oughts.

75. Belle and Sebastian - Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant
Some of the most gut-wrenching moments ever can be found within "I Fought in a War" or "Don't Leave the Light on Baby."

74. The Moldy Peaches - The Moldy Peaches
My sister once teased me that a mixed tape must have been made that summer I bought the Moldy Peaches as every other song was by the duo. They made fun of hipsters (themselves) way before people did that through blogs.

73. Bright Eyes - Lifted, or the Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground
This sort of felt like Conor Oberst's first attempt at a big, theatrical album. He pulled it off and has toned it down ever since. This was when you knew Oberst had arrived.

72. Spoon - Kill the Moonlight
Some point to this as Spoon's finest moment. I think they were just getting started at this point.

71. Songs: Ohia - Magnolia Electric Co.
Honestly, I never gave this band a chance because of the name. I only purchased this album this year, but I have to admit I was wrong. It's beautifully sad and poetic and full of all the twang I love. That and it's from Ohio.

Jason Molina and His Terrible Hawaiian Shirt

I haven't been out to see a show in a while. Luckily, someone reminded me that Magnolia Electric Co. was scheduled to play Mojo's last night.

Also playing was Old Light, an alt.country band from STL, and COMO local alt.twangers Malone. Both bands were good. Maybe I'm over being over alt.country. Old Light gave away a demo for signing their email list. They showed promise as a new band and won over a few folks with the free tunes. I know a couple of the guys in Malone and had been meaning to make it out some time to see them. They did not disappoint with their three-headed songwriting attack.

This all brings me to Jason Molina and his Magnolia Electric Co.

Molina showed up donning an ugly Hawaiian shirt. On top of that, he's rather short and has a receding hairline. I don't point these faults out to make fun of Molina, rather I want to illustrate just how regular he is.

This is why I love indie rock. The brightest and best artists are just regular Joes trying to make ends meet like the rest of us. It makes their work all the more authentic, accessible.

I was once talking to a friend about his encounter with his Tori Amos. As he struggled to explain how in awe he was, he turned to me and said "Well, you know how it is when you meet one your bands." I didn't and I don't. I've talked with tons of musicians who've I've also idolized, but I was rarely speechless or humbled...Well, except that one time I met members of Sonic Youth. I knew they were just trying to get my like me. They weren't better than me. I wasn't better than them. We were equals in a lot of ways.

My point is that I prefer things that are great but accessible, like indie rock or beer or whatever. You can enjoy the best indie rock and see the bands live without paying an arm and a leg just to sit two miles away. Similarly, I can drink the best beers in the world without spending a small fortune. This is how I like to live. I like things that can be great, yet accessible.

So, this brings me back to Jason Molina and his Hawaiian shirt. His genius was even more captivating in that bad shirt. Here he was: a regular guy. His songs, as always, were true. The meaning behind them held more authenticity knowing that he was capable of feeling the real human emotions found within his songs. All of this in that damn Hawaiian shirt.

The Revinylization Project: Songs: Ohia - Magnolia Electric Co.

Music
I avoided Jason Molina and his Songs: Ohia for a long time. I always tried to separate Ohio from that idea we were a state full of hicks who pronounced our home state "Ohia". It seemed as if Molina's band was poking fun at that. So, I wanted nothing to do with it.

Eventually, something I read or heard made me decide that I needed to check out Molina's work. I posted an inquiry on Twitter as to which album should begin my study. The Magnolia Electric Co. was the only suggestion.

The album really is amazing. Since I'm worse than a lazy rock critic (a blogger), I'll just make some lame analogies and comparisons. Molina is like Will Oldham who sings an octave or two lower and is backed by the Eagles. Songs: Ohia sound like the Jayhawks with better songs and a softer/gentler Uncle Tupelo. This album reminded me why I ever proclaimed love for alt.country...whatever that is.

Insert
The insert consists of more of the same artwork as on the sleeve and a photocopy of liner notes scribbled onto notebook paper. The artwork is really quite mesmerizing in its complexity and ugliness. It's very reminiscent of Okkervil River's album artwork. The pen and ink illustrations of strange ugly, mutated forms with bird-like characteristics all over are both haunting and strange. Steve Albini is mentioned as the one who recorded the album. Interestingly, Scout Niblett contributed to the record as well. The rest of the liner notes is a short letter from Molina cryptically explaining the composition process.

Sleeve
As mentioned in the insert, the artwork is truly menacing. You can see the cover above and the back side below for a better idea of what I'm saying. The inside of the sleeve features a slightly out of focus black and white photo of the band.

Extras
I wasn't expecting extras, but I got them anyway. There was a digital download that not only featured this really great album, but also featured all the demos for the record. The stripped-down versions of Molina's songs really expose them for the beauty within this work. Also, there is at least one bonus track in the download, but I'm too lazy to figure out the track's title right now.

Record
The record is nothing special. However, the Secretly Canadian label is pretty slick with its silver-on-white print job and snazzy, retro logo.

whY
You should buy this record because it really is a fine example of Midwestern alt.country. Plus, if you live in COMO, Mr. Molina is coming to town later this spring. This could be a nice preview before the show.