Kategorie: CD-Reviews | Genre: Classic Rock | Heft: Jahrgang 2014, eclipsed Nr. 166 / 12-2014 | VÖ-Jahr: 2014 | Wertung: 7.5/10 | Label: Frontiers | Autor: ML
Second studio album after the reunion in 2009 and again the band manages to release all their musical potential. Since their foundation in the eighties, Mr. Big, named after a song by Free, has been walking the fine line between blues-soaked hard rock and radio-ready AOR. In addition, with bassist Billy Sheehan and guitarist Paul Gilbert, they have two virtuosos on board who seldom put their skills under the bushel. The whole thing is held together by the solid drumming of Pat Torpey, who now suffers from Parkinson's disease, and the pleasantly warm voice of Eric Martin. Had the first reunion album "What If..." (2011), directed by producer Kevin Shirley (Joe Bonamassa, Europe, among others), created his desired corners and edges, so Pat Regan (Deep Purple, Rainbow, Saga), with whom they have worked before, now drives a "Smoothy" course again. Above all Eric's voice has less to struggle with than on its predecessor. And also the balladesque part ("The Man Who Has Everything") gains momentum again.
Top track: The Monster In Me
