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Trials & Errors Image
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 5 Ratings

  • Summary: Recorded during a live performance by the Jason Molina-led four-piece in Brussels in 2003, 'Trials' includes seven songs from the Songs:Ohia catalog as well as three new Magnolia Electric Co. tracks.

Top Track

Almost Was Good Enough
Almost was good enough (once). It's been hard doing anything Winter's stuck around so long I kept trying anyhow and I'm still trying now Just to... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 14
  2. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. Spin
    91
    The Young-ian guitar stutter remains intact. [Mar 2005, p.92]
  2. This is simply some of the best guitar-driven rock I've heard all year.
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    MEC bombard the listener with wondrous guitar sprawls to match Molina's soulful drawl. [15 Jan 2005, p.86]
  4. Uncut
    70
    So charged it crackles. [Feb 2005, p.82]
  5. Q Magazine
    70
    The songs here bode well. [Jan 2005, p.128]
  6. Trials and Errors could be looked at as vindication for Molina given his choice to move on from his Songs: Ohia days; but as an essential live album, [it] leaves much to be desired.
  7. Under The Radar
    50
    The backing members of Magnolia are perfectly competent, but sound justly uninspired by the material. [#8, p.115]

See all 14 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. MatthewB
    Feb 11, 2005
    10
    Bought on a recommendation from Uncut magazine, and boy am I impressed. Like early 70's Neil Young/Crazy Horse only with more tuneful Bought on a recommendation from Uncut magazine, and boy am I impressed. Like early 70's Neil Young/Crazy Horse only with more tuneful vocals ... loud, tuneful and meaningful. Collapse
  2. JimR
    Jan 28, 2005
    10
    One of 2 great live cds released in Jan. The other being the Pernice Bros Nobody's Watching, Nobody's Listening.
  3. JamesK
    Jan 27, 2005
    9
    This is Molina's most hearty effort to date. More rock oriented then anything Songs:Ohia had ever done, MEC is by far one of the most This is Molina's most hearty effort to date. More rock oriented then anything Songs:Ohia had ever done, MEC is by far one of the most cohesive and planned things he's done. He is floating in a direction that no one can deny. Expand