My disclaimer for this Record of the Week is going to be as blunt as humanly possible. There was a point in time that I thought Jason Molina of Magnolia Electric Co. could fart in a microphone and release it on record and I would have told you it was the best fart I’ve heard all year.

Having said that though, after Songs: Ohia’s(Molina’s band prior to Magnolia Electic Co.) album Magnolia Electric Co.(yes the band is named after the album) I was so excited for his new band’s albums. Before releasing anything with the new band he ventured out solo with his debut solo album Pyramid Electric Co.. That album got me even more excited for the first Magnolia Electric Co. record. Then the first couple albums with Magnolia Electric Co. actually came out and well…turns out I didn’t really enjoy Jason Molina’s flatulance that much.

So I wasn’t really sure what to expect with the new Magnolia Electric Co. album. I heard it was going to be a bit darker, which Molina certainly works best when working within the realms of, so there was that. I certainly didn’t expect to love it though and that’s what has ended up happening.

Magnolia do quite a bit on this album. They tread new ground with “Rock of Ages” 1950′s melodies. They dip into the Songs: Ohia vault by breathing new life into “Whip-poor-will” which was on the Magnolia Electric Co. outtakes disc. On “Little Sad Eyes” they dip into the sound Songs: Ohia explored on  Axxess & Ace with the trademark organ sound that Molina played with on that album. There really is a bit of something for everyone on this album and Molina brings it all together very nicely.

This album undoubtedly marks as Molina’s best work while with Magnolia Electric Co. Lets hope he sticks with this as opposed to going back to trying to sound too Crazy Horse.

"Josephine" from Magnolia Electric Co.'s 2009 album Josephine

"Little Sad Eyes" from Magnolia Electric Co.'s 2009 album Josephine

Honorable mentions for July 21 Record of the Week:

• Peter Broadrick – Music for Falling From Trees (Western Vinyl)
• Greg Davis – Mutually Arising (Kranky)
• Megafaun – Gather, Form & Fly (Hometapes)