Monday, May 13, 2019

"If Heaven's really coming back / I hope it has a heart attack"


Jason Molina, "Just Be Simple" live

I just finished the Jason Molina biography Riding With The Ghost by Erin Osmon.  At just over 200 pages, it still felt "weighty" enough and really excels during the first half of the book -- his childhood and college years at Oberlin, and his early musical triumphs.

Through no real fault of the author, things get hazier as we approach the inevitable end due to alcoholism.  He lived in London with his wife for years, and that part of his life coincides with his descent into addiction.  So it makes perfect sense that the details start to dissolve, and Osmon does an admirable job of trying to piece the narrative together through the memories of friends.

Highly recommended, with some great storytelling regarding the Oberlin music scene of the 90s and basically the history of the Secretly Canadian label.

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