Didn’t It Rain

A frequent topic of conversation in the circles of Jason Molina listeners is actually where the line is drawn between his work as and Jason himself said that the story of Songs: Ohia ends with this album, while all other sources claim otherwise, that Magnolia Electric Co. is the last album.

And really, from one point of view, Didn't It Rain sounds like Jason wanted this to be the last album in the Songs: Ohia catalog. The s/t song is unlike the rest of the songs Jason has written, full of cautious optimism. Cautious, but it is still some kind of optimism and the desire to lead the inexperienced on the right path. Stylistically, very similar to the previous one, but much more vocally similar to, in the sense that it has that vigor and energy that adorns that album.

The highlights of the album are the opening song that I have already described, but also the trio at the end of the album, Blue Factory Flame, Two Blue Lights, and Blue Chicago Moon. It's only when I'm writing this that I realize that all three songs have blue in the name, which is not surprising because if I had to use one color to describe these songs, it would be that dark, deep blue, but just bright enough to be navigable. All three songs have a characteristic Molina sound, but with a touch of accessibility for passing listeners. And again, with a touch of optimism and a cry for a change in your ways.

To me, probably an album in the top 5 of his entire studio discography.