Impala, the fabled second Songs: Ohia full-length, originally

released in 1998 and long out-of-print, will enjoy a vinyl reissue

by Secretly Canadian this August. This release includes the

addition of a remastered demo of 'Tess' originally captured

during recording sessions for Impala.

"Lorain, Ohio; it's a tough place to grow up. You either escape or

you don't. Given the industry that exists (or existed) there - the

steel mill, Ford plant, and shipyard - the mix of people is like

none other. One thing is for sure though, it's blue collar through

and through. What's this have to do with a new release from

Songs: Ohia? Well, Jason - main Songs man, like myself, grew

up in this god-forsaken hole of a city and as much as you can

leave the city, it never leaves you.

Impala offers further testament to the songwriting talents of

Jason Molina. The tracks contained herein offer a glimpse into

the soul of a man burdened with trying to exorcise the demons

of life, loss, and subsistence. This isn't something one can fake. It

comes from growing up with the knowledge that the factories

your parents worked in are not an option for you and that your

only real option is to try and get out (easier said than done).

Pared down to only Jason and Geof Comings for this release, the

tracks on Impala are simultaneously the sparsest and most

textured yet to be released by the band. Consider this to be the

one of the most honest and strongest releases from Songs:

Ohia. Our suggestion: Head to the local Knights of Columbus,

grab a seat at the bar, order a Genesee, and drink away your

paycheck to this one. That's what they're doing in Lorain."