Name changes, music doesn't

There's something wonderfully hypnotic about Jason Molina's voice. It's that well balanced blend of melancholy and hope that slows you down and makes you smile. It's that you-can-listen-to-me-all-night kind of wallowing. In other words, I anoint him Neil Young II.\nAt least, he's sort of the second coming of Young. Young's influence is palpable in both Molina's voice and his guitar, but that's only part of it. Molina, whose music is based on the Secretly Canadian label here in Bloomington, has a sound that's truly his own. \nIn terms of his new release, What Comes After the Blues, you know what you're getting into by the album's cover and title: with a starkly silhouetted bird adorning the album, apparently what comes after the blues is more sadness. But the tracks are not depressing; instead, they're rich and full of an array of emotion and range, including a well placed layering of instruments. Molina's guitar, along with assistance by his band on steel, electric and acoustic guitars, is addicting. Tracks like "Leave The City" and the album's best and first song, "The Dark Don't Hide It," deserve at least a day cued to repeat on your CD or MP3 player.\nWhile What Comes After is an enjoyable slice of Molina, it isn't quite as strong as his previous outings -- audio-indie treasures like Didn't It Rain, Axxess & Ace and Magnolia Electric Co. were all released under the band's original name, Songs: Ohia. (When your music is simply good, I suppose the history of your band's name must be as convoluted as possible.) In his previous works, Molina's lyrics are balanced by his music. Here, on a track like "Hammer Down," Molina's vocals have so much strength his nearly absent acoustic guitar seems lost. Fortunately, it's the album's shortest track. \nThe record's total length is surprisingly short -- just a little over a half-hour -- but it's the old quality-versus-quantity argument. With its soft chords and Molina's gently woebegone voice, What Comes After the Blues is a quality lullaby that can send you off to a peaceful night's rest -- except it's so enchanting that, instead of sleeping, you want to stay awake and keep listening.