Songs: OHIA
The Lioness (Secretly Canadian)
Songs: OHIA is songwriter Jason Molina and whatever amazing musicians he can dig up. The role of the band on The Lioness is filled by Scottish ensemble Arab Strap, and while their playing evokes the mood of Molina’s songs to what seems perfection, they succeed so well that the focus is, overwhelmingly, the songs — specifically the voice. “The Black Crow,” “Nervous Bride,” and “Coxcomb Red” are trademark Songs; “Tigress” crackles with anguish and a sexual fascination that skates hand in hand with intimidation. In regard to the voice: It’s odd, but it seems that just since Axxess and Ace, Molina’s voice has changed. The piercingly fragile high end of his emotional warblings is not quite so piercing anymore; the tremulous sustenance of the high notes themselves aren’t quite as shaky — as if the pain isn’t so severe. That’s a tough tone to duplicate, but the slim margin between exquisite and cracked that his voice once walked so precariously was the main reason why the last album was so effective. Still, every song here is gorgeous in its own way — gorgeous like pain and sadness can be gorgeous. Beautiful like that dancing plastic bag sequence in American Beauty. The Lioness: quiet and reflective, numbing and resolute, with writing as simple and straightforward as an ice pick under the ribs. 
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This article appears in January 21 • 2000.