McNabb first found acclaim as part of 1980s band The Icicle Works. Since then, he has continued to release solo work, "Great Things" being his first album since 2005.
Things do not start well with "Great Things" (the song) being mid-tempo, piano and electronica tinged, middle of the road (dull) music, and "Empire's End" being a not particularly good down-tempo, piano and stand-up bass laced number. So far, so average. From then on however, the album, on the whole, picks up somewhat.
"All About A Woman" is mildly industrial, and has both bowed and plucked violin, dark beats and a recurring distorted keyboard melody. Topped with sub-Mark Lanegan vocals, the different layers and textures make for an interesting listen.
"This Love" is a boring jazz-influenced ballad with lots of piano and stand-up bass, before things pick up again with the country-tinged "Stormchaser", a mid-tempo track lifted above the ordinary by use of slide guitar.
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The mainly acoustic "New Light" has a good uplifting vibe about it, along with a pleasant violin-heavy chorus, before "Pinin'", a song that sounds exactly like you would expect a song called "Pinin'", written and performed by a veteran rock musician to sound.
The final track "I Can't Help It If I'm Great", is not great but the ironic lyrics show a sense of humour.
McNabb must be given credit for trying a few new things, even though it does not always work. Solid, if unspectacular.
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