Hi there.
To me, MH is a magnificent collection of songs and styles, even though I'm of the opinion that the songs themselves aren't always among Ginger's best. I love How Hard Can You Make It, Prodigal and Overeasy as 'stand-alone' songs, and there are more very good songs, but then I don't care much for Casino Bay, Couple Trouble and some others. The mid 8's of most songs are hardly imaginative, just the same basic chords and some soloing. Pretty dull actually, and not at all Ginger's original style. Apart from the three songs I mentioned first, I don't feel there are any true classics on there. Yet, miraculously, as an album, MH really shines.
So, as an added bonus, at last I feel I really get what people mean about the album being more than the sum of its parts, an oft-used phrase in reviews of classic albums like Pet Sounds and Sgt. Pepper's.
Actually, as far as the variety in instrumentation and styles goes, it probably is Ginger's Sgt Pepper's. Or his White Album. Although the interludes and segues suggest Abbey Road. I think it's his Sgt. Abbey White. Whatever. I know I could sit here all day (at work, I might add) and yet wouldn't be able to write an adequate review, so suffice to say that MH is by far my fave Ginger solo album.
It brings together so many influences and I had so many associations that I'm curious if my fellow fans hear the same.
So, from the top of my head, here goes:
Soap Hammer: Starts like U2 (until the drums set in) and ends like Trail of Dead... with a Kersal Massive sample amidst... in one and a half minutes. Respect!
House of Moths: Eels! I wonder how anyone cannot associate them, from the second verse at least. Unless you don't know Eels. Which you should.
How Hard Can You Make It: That guitar sounds just like Chili Peppers to me, with maybe a dash of Hendrix.
Awareness: Pink Floyd.
Regret.com: Bowie, Bowie and Bowie for inspiration. The voice sounds almost like the superb Bernard Fowler, background singer for the Stones, who in his project Nicklebag with Stevie Salas sang a song penned for them by Bowie. Just by the way.
Couple Trouble: FNM's Easy, while the chords are a standard progression just like Sky Chaser High, as has been stated before. Good singer, slightly boring song.
Burden of Prodigal Oblivion: A Better Man from the Singles Club. Beautiful, beautiful, massive female backing vocals like these are rarely heard.
Malibu: Would guess it's not a direct influence, but reminds me of the Eagles' Take It Easy
Overeasy: Silver Ginger 5. After Bulb, the second post-BLM Ginger song that clearly would've been SG5 material from my point of view.
Shatterproof: Trail Of Dead again, no question
