So, the ‘Hogs found time to record and release two albums in ’72 and surprisingly enough, it’s the lesser-known second release which wins out between the two. Judging by cover alone, one would think that Who Will Save the World is the immediate choice for casual listeners, but for me at least, Hogwash recalls the strengths of Thank Christ for the Bomb, and further amplifies them. One big change here is McPhee’s new found love of gadgetry – namely, guitar synthesizers, which really beef up the sound where it needs to be beefed up (the quite futuristic “Earth Shanty”, for starters). It also enables the band to really put the thump behind their progressive blues-rock aims, if you know what I mean. Of course, this would not mean much without the material being interesting on its’ own, and Tony is back to being all ornery over stuff in general. Turning his wrath inward, outward, on the future and the past, for good measure, but always willing to check himself, too. “I Love Miss Oygny” opens the affair on a sufficiently loathsome, yet deliciously dramatic note, setting the scene for even more head-turning acts to ensue. Which it does – “You Had a Lesson” doubles down on the previous track, using Pete Cruikshank’s bass as THE rhythmic pattern to teach and taunt you with. After a quick, echoey interlude, which I assume is meant for the the-then new drummer Clive Brooks (“The Ringmaster”), we come to the next fence post – “3744 James Road”. Heavily STEEPED in the blues, this mammoth track is not some odd dedication to a Memphis BBQ joint at all, but quite the opposite – an acid-tongued rant against the dangers of a musician’s life spent on the road. The ebbs and flows and theatrics of this track are the real attractions, though. The second half of the album goes more in a progressive rock direction. “Sad is the Hunter” and “S’one Song” have pronounced prog rock vibes – in certain places, they predate New Wave to these ears – while “Earth Shanty” solidly brings in elements of space rock to meld it with earthy folk-blues. Hence, the title, I would assume. Finally, as with past works, this album would not be complete without a look back, and this time it is “Mr. Hooker, Sir John” – a salt of the earth tribute to the man who gave the group its’ start in the business, John Lee Hooker. Not the best track here by a long shot, but it’s a Groundhogs album, so natural that a track like this would be on this record. So, out of all of the Groundhog albums I have reviewed, it gets the honor of being my favorite, mainly for being the one I gravitate to more easily above the others.