Last summer, I was fortunate enough to review the album “I Will Swim to You – A Tribute to Jason Molina“. While researching Molina, I found Todd Chandler’s meditative documentary, ‘The Road Becomes What You Leave’ from 2005, following the band Magnolia Electric Co. as they toured across the Canadian prairies. At one point, there is close-up footage of a young girl attending a nondescript venue, being mesmerised by the music and Molina. It is such a beautiful documentary. The man and his music sure had something. Indeed, the “Didn’t It Rain” CD hasn’t been out of my Polo’s glovebox player since August. It is a magnificent album, and nothing can follow it. The season changes, but I continue to be mesmerised.
‘Farewell Transmission’ is the opening track from the self-titled album “The Magnolia Electric Co“. Erin Osman, in her wonderful book, Jason Molina Riding With The Ghost, says: “To this day, The Magnolia Electric Co. remains Molina’s best-selling and most anecdotally heralded album. On the album, there’s a marked pivot in Molina’s lyrical themes and vocal delivery, inspired by the increased channelling of his idols such as Neil Young, Warren Zevon, and Boz Scaggs. This is particularly true in the opening track ‘Farewell Transmission’ in which he speaks-sings the introductory lines, channelling Zevon’s style.” But, the repetitively spoken “Listen” at the closing out of the song is pure Molina. One comment on YouTube says, “I would stand on Bob Dylan’s coffee table and tell him this is the greatest song ever written”.
This clip is quite a big ask. Ten minutes out of your life. Over twenty years later, the first minute of banter now feels a bit awkward. But then, a year before the release of the Magnolia Electric Co. album, here’s a resplendent Molina, in a Butch Cassidy hat, closing out what must have been an incredibly cool set with aplomb. A great band behind him. He seems happy. An audience member calls out…”Thank You”. Doc Brown, where are you?
