What Comes After The Blues

On the heels of Magnolia Electric Co's recent limited edition live release, the raw and incendiary Trials and Errors, comes what is perhaps Jason Molina's most fully realized studio project yet. Recorded live-in-the-studio by Steve Albini, What Comes After the Blues captures the simpatico chemistry of Molina's touring band, crackling with connective electricity that can only be generated by the mutual experience of the road. On the writing end of the equation, the song cycle of What Comes After the Blues is a conscious step forward for Molina in songwriting approach and intent. Most of the songs on it were written and arranged on the band's recent relentless touring of Europe and North America. The current incarnation of Magnolia Electric Co is the fullest and longest-running band the former Songs: Ohia frontman has formed so far. These musicians fashion kinetic and organic underpinnings for Molina's thematic quests, with arrangements that carry a primal feel for poetic American rock. In the tradition of Bob Seger, Tom Petty, John Fogerty, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen and Ronnie VanZant, Molina is revered as being very personal songwriter who is unafraid to be vulnerable in song. And, like those artists, in Magnolia Electric Co, he has his Silver Bullet Band, Heartbreakers, CCR, Crazy Horse, E-Street Band and Skynard to balance the personal nature of the work with rock & roll of just such a collaborative and sublime nature that it defies being pigeon-holed as folk.