Now is the time to stake your claim on a copy of Josephine, the first longplayer from Magnolia Electric Co. in three years. Pre-orders of the album will come with a free, digital download of the 2009 limited-pressing 7-inch, It’s Made Me Cry. The 7-inch is very much a primer for the songcraft and narrative arch displayed on Josephine (Released July 21 in the US and July 20 in the UK). It’s Made Me Cry is the brief and intriguing Hotel Chevalier to Josephine’s Darjeeling Limited, a soul-searching, celebration of brotherhood.
Pre-order Josephine with a free download of It’s Made Me Cry HERE.
In April, the band released It’s Made Me Cry 7-inch as an exclusive for Record Store Day. The band’s proceeds were given to benefit the family of its late bassist Evan Farrell, who passed away in late 2007 and is featured on Side B’s moody, instrumental “Protection Spell.”
The inclusion of Farrell on the 7-inch is befitting, as Molina’s concept album is an honest-to-God effort on the part of Magnolia Electric Co. to pay tribute to the life and spirit of Farrell. Molina said each tune is a good faith attempt to make real Evan’s hopes for the record. And in doing so, Evan’s spirit becomes part of the concept. The loss of Josephine becomes the loss of Evan. Molina’s familiar lyrical allegories are still in tact. But here, in what is no doubt the strongest set of songs Molina has written since the inception of Magnolia Electric Co., those classic themes take on new meanings. Molina has approached the universal loneliness before, but never in such a focused, directed manner as found on Josephine. For proof, just check the lyrical refrain and the lonesome, punchy organ of “Little Sad Eyes,” a taste of Josephine offered from the band to you.
MP3: Magnolia Electric Co. “Little Sad Eyes”
Like glimpsed on the 7-inch, Josephine is also an experiment in Molina’s songcraft, introducing some real lessons in brevity as he whittles a handful of tracks into well-under three minutes, all while taking cues from great songsmiths like Willie Nelson and Warren Zevon.
Next week, Magnolia Electric Co. will set off on a North American tour with San Diego’s The Donkeys, a tour that includes a two-night stand in Molina’s beloved Chicago and a appearance at the soon-to-be legendary JellyNYC’s Pool Party series.
MAGNOLIA ELECTRIC CO. TOUR DATES:
7/10 Bloomington, IN @ Russian Recordings *
7/11 Chicago, IL @ Schuba’s *
7/12 Chicago, IL @ The Hideout
7/14 Newport, KY @ Southgate House *
7/15 Pittsburgh, PA @ Andy Warhol Museum *
7/16 Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk *
7/17 Cambridge, MA @ Middle East *
7/18 Northhampton, MA @ Iron Horse *
7/19 Brooklyn, NY @ JellyNYC Pool Party
7/20 Washington, DC @ Black Cat *
7/21 Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506 *
7/22 Athens, GA @ 40 Watt *
7/23 Memphis, TN @ Hi-Tone *
7/24 Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves *
7/25 Austin, TX @ Mohawk *
7/27 Tucson, AZ @ Solar Culuture *
7/28 Los Angeles, CA @ Echo *
7/29 San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill *
7/31 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir *
8/01 Seattle, WA @ Crocodile *
8/03 Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge *
8/04 Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive *
8/05 Kansas City, MO @ Record Bar *
8/06 Omaha, NE @ Waiting Room *
8/07 Minneapolis, MN @ Street Entry *
8/08 Dubuque, IA @ Busted Lift *
* w/ The Donkeys