Tag: mr big

This is album number eight from one of melodic rock’s greatest bands. Released in 2014, four years after what was described as an original comeback and the release of What If. This would also be Pat Torpey‘s last album before stepping back due to poor health.

Now being a Paul Gilbert fan, it’s cool to see him playing the melodic rock tunes instead of the out and out shredder guitar hero stuff from his solo records and Racer X. Gotta Love The Ride lays it down with intent to let everyone know they still have something offer. Great uptempo groover with some monster playing. I Forget To Breathe keeps the groove going with another killer track. Eric Martin has such an amazing voice and he still looks as though he has just left school. Fragile is a more commercial sounding track with a very radio friendly hook and chorus. Satisfied is a straight up four to the floor blues rocker that is as close as you get to a trademark Mr. Big tune. The Man Who Has Everything follows and it’s ballad time. I guess of all the bands, Mr. Big were perceived to be the kings of the ballad mainly due to the success of To Be With You, so I’ll give them this one.

The Monster In Me blows the ballad away with some guitar histrionics before the main killer riff and groove kick in. They do this type of tune so well. What If We Were New is an old school dirty rock n’ roller that Martin did so well when he was solo. East West is the only track Martin didn’t have a hand in writing and is a mid tempo ballad with a nice PG solo. The Light Of Day seems to be taking inspiration from Hendrix and when you hear it you’ll know. This is my favourite track, I just love the whole groove to the song.

It’s ballad time again with Just Let Your Heart Decide. It’s Always About The Girl follows and the groove is a slow, funk/rock, swing with a riff right out of the mid seventies. So, the final side kicks in with Cinderella Smile. A slow busy riff and groove with a great hook and chorus. Next up is The Stories We Could Tell, the heaviest sounding track on the album. A deep heavy blues that sounds huge. The final track is a ripping live version of Addicted To That Rush.

Mr. Big don’t make bad records and this one doesn’t disappoint.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

Superb album!!! Not a bad note played, and for a debut album it’s up there with the best. On paper, great musicians make great records, and that is definitely the case here. Paul Gilbert was known for being a shredder both for his solo work and with Racer X, Billy Sheehan was fresh out of the David Lee Roth band and he plays bass like a guitar, Eric Martin is blessed with a set of pipes that you could only wish for, and Pat Torpey who sat on the drum stool for way too many people to mention here.

First up is Addicted To That Rush, and Billy is resurrecting that Shyboy fast bass groove thing with Gilbert really giving it the beans. Wind Me Up is such a killer track with a superb riff, massive hook and chorus, and everyone plays their ass off. Merciless is next, it starts with a very busy, almost funky groove, and settles down to a funk/rock hybrid, and Paul Gilbert just rips it up. Had Enough is a Billy Sheehan composition that starts with a bass solo and settles into a slow brooding melodic groover. Side 1 closes out with Blame It On My Youth, and what a killer sounding riff. Great vocal from Eric!

Side 2 opens up with Take A Walk, and it’s the best track on the album with a ripping riff and groove; Paul just rips it up and Eric is singing his ass off. Superb song!!! Big Love is an Eric written tune, and I love the swing and vocal to this track. How Can You Do What You Do follows, and was co-written with Eric and Jonathan Cain. Nope, t’s not a ballad – it’s a great uptempo pop/rock tune with short snappy Paul solo. Anything For You is the only ballad on the album but it’s a good one. The album closes out with Rock & Roll Over with a heavy blues rock groove. Great band, great album!!!

10/10 from the Grooveman.

This is an absolute belter of an album from a band gifted with all the tools to make one. This is their 2nd release and it’s the one that put them in everyone’s living room – due to the single, To Be With You. This track wasn’t even the lead off single – it was the third single. Sometimes record companies just haven’t got a clue! The band were already out and touring the album when the single went huge, and it kept them on the road for forever.

The first album was a much more bluesy affair, mirroring the band from which they took their name. This time, they went for the throat right from the off with killer opening track Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy. What an opening track ! A great riff, hook, melody – the whole nine yards. Alive And Kickin’ has a very sleazy groove, but man are this band good! Killer vocal, great guitar and bass – what more could a guy ask for? Green Tinted Sixties Mind was the second single and I really love the harmonies and vocal on this track. Lucky This Time has a slow rock groove with an awesome short snappy Paul Gilbert solo. Voodoo Kiss closes out Side 1 with an acoustic intro and a funky groove that keeps the toes a tappin’.

Never Say Never has a heavy blues rock vibe with a great swing to it, and as with all the tracks on the album, it has superb harmonies and melody. Just Take My Heart was the last single from the album and the follow up To Be With You and treads the same path. I love Paul Gilbert’s big rock guitar sound on My Kinda Woman. A Little Too Loose has a superb slow blues swagger and Eric Martin’s voice was made for songs like this. Road To Ruin has a killer vibe and superb harmonies and vocals – and what a great chorus! The album closes out with To Be With You, and the band will be dining out on this tune till the end of their days.

They have moments since where they have written killer songs, but this album is their best.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

This is the is the band’s 7th album that was released in 2011. It was the last to feature original drummer, Pat Torpey, as a performing drummer as he was diagnosed with Parkinsons. He sadly succumbed to the disease in 2018.

There are not many bands that can do this type of rock today. Killer musicianship coupled with great songs seems to be in short supply as of late – well everywhere except Sweden. Any band that has Billy Sheehan and Paul Gilbert in it has to be killer right? This album just smokes right from the off with Undertow. Superb track with a killer melody and groove. American Beauty is Shyboy in disguise, with Paul Gilbert letting loose those killer licks. Eric Martin still looks 18 years old and he possesses one of the finest voices in rock, and Stranger In My Life is all about his voice and the melody. Nobody Left To Blame is a very busy track especially the bass line and groove – it’s just a superb track with an added bonus of a monster guitar solo. Still Ain’t Enough For Me is a straight up fast rock n roll song, where Billy and Paul trade off licks with each other. Side 1 closes out with Once Upon A Time which has a really dirty upbeat blues groove.

As Far As I Can See opens up Side 2 and it’s more of the same – just a great song with a killer groove and superb playing. And that’s how it goes for the rest of the record…This band do not make bad album, and this is such a good record deserving of a home in anyone’s collection.

9/10 from The Grooveman.