Tremendous
Shamus Macgillicuddy | Brooklyn, NY United States | 08/14/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"SOJOURNER is Magnolia Electric Company's best release since the final Songs Ohia / first Magnolia CD.
Some songs will be familiar to fans of the earlier albums, but there's lots of all-new material here, as well as some wonderful alternate versions of Magnolia 'classics'. The way all the tracks are organized (on four separate CDs, each representing a different recording session) helps to highlight the different moods and modes of the band, letting listeners enjoy the new songs for what they are, and hear favorite songs in an entirely new light.
What's more, there are numerous studio versions on the NASHVILLE MOON disc of tunes you've (until now) only been able to hear live, or in live versions. WHAT COMES AFTER THE BLUES (conspicuously absent from the album of the same name) is a standout favorite of mine, currently playing on obsessive repeat from every available audio output device within arm's reach. However, of the four CDs, BLACK RAM, with its dense sound and foreboding energy, really stands out as the superstar.
All in all, SOJOURNER is awesome, and I mean that both in the sense of its being awe-inspiring, and in the "Magnolia fan geek out" sense. If you've wanted to catch-up with Molina's work since Songs Ohia, this is a perfect crash course. For fans it's even more--filling in the blanks between former releases, and enhancing his band's considerable collective achievements."
Fantastically Moody Documentary
John P. Marsh | North Las Vegas | 08/09/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The extensive Sojourner box set is very good (in-and-out/familiar at times.) I tend to like different MEC songs at different times of the day. The mood here swings wildly, something here always to connect to. This set has a lot to mull over.
Some of it feels like out-takes or discards. That is not a complaint as hearing musical process, for me, is always better than hearing over-produced material. Molina's revisiting songs previously heard on other albums is great.
What is terrific, however, is the short (20min) DVD accompanying the box set which captures the ambiance of road life well. This wonderfully shot (DP compositions are very evocative) and elliptical statement (things are hinted at, never really presented on the nose) about road life is really compelling and meditative. This film is a mood piece not unlike MEC's best songs. Having seen lots of 'road' docs and rockumentaries, this one is simple, unique and a real delight. What's great, also, is that Molina is presented as part of the fabric. The film stays away from focusing on 'hero-guitarist' to concentrate on mood-location and road-tone."
Nice box for fans
cooksferry | new zealand | 09/28/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"First, for the reviewer earlier who couldn't get a disc to play, one is a DVD, not a cd, is this the problem?
I'm a fan of interesting packaging of boxed sets and a fan of Magnolia Electric Co so this item was a double dip for me.
The box its self is quite well made, somewhat along the line of the Great Goodbye Babylon set from Dust-to-Digital a few years back.
The music is typical Magnolia fare, you either love it or leave it,maybe not as immediate as some of their other releases but a definite grower and keeper.
My only real gripe is with the inner disc packing, it would be nice to have the tracklisting on the cd paper cover rather than have to hunt through the box to find the relevant card.Not much to complain about really."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1