There was never anything obvious about Jason Molina‘s music. The notes he played, the lyrics he wrote, the songs he sang all followed pathways closer to the dirt by the side of the road than the middle ground. I Will Swim To You: A Tribute to Jason Molina covers pathways taken by 12 artists sharing an appreciation for avoiding the confinement that comes with following the straight and narrow.
Sadness has never been a one-size-fits-all garment. As MJ Lenderman tries on Just Be Simple, he finds the country roots, accenting them with just enough rock to bring Molina’s sadness to the fore. As the steel guitar rings, he admits, “Everything you hated me for/ Honey there was so much more/ I just didn’t get busted.” Trapped within the shame, there’s also relief that he didn’t have to pay for all his sins.
Finding the stride to Blue Factory Flame, Horse Jumper of Love shifts gears within the first few measures, from something that rocks to a much slower pace, guitars thrashing, bass pulsing with darkness and despair. All that remains is to admit, “They ain’t proud colors but they’re true/ Colors of my home/ Where I am/ Paralyzed by the emptiness.” By the song’s end, it has become a dirge of desperation.
Hand Habits take Lioness from the simple sounds of an acoustic piano to a more full-bodied sound, weaving a spell along the way as the song develops the desperation of love. Slowly, but surely, the song eventually breaks apart, yet along the way Meg Duffy takes hold of the push and pull that brings the song into focus: “Want my last look to be the moon in your eyes/ Want my heart to break if it must break in your jaws/ Want you to lick my blood off your paws.”
Graced with fiddle, Trace Mountains‘ rendition of The Dark Don’t Hide It trades on major key piano licks as it unfurls a take about a side of losing Molina knows well. The hopeless country of Whip Poor Will hits the right chord in the hands of Teen Suicide. Closing the collection, Farewell Transmission feels like the opposite side of “Blue Factory Flame” with Another Michael pushing the song forward.
The songs of Jason Molina radiate the desperation that fills modern life. Amidst the tears and fears, his music balanced the dance of desperation with a belief that putting it to music might somehow ease the pain. Ultimately, the pain won out, yet I Will Swim To You stands as a remarkable collection, never whitewashing the feelings, never softening the edges, offering an unvarnished look at an artist who never shied away from his truth.
I Will Swim to You: A Tribute to Jason Molina (September 5th, 2025) Run For Cover Records
