Here’s the new one from Mr Big – their second since reformation and the follow up to What If. And what we have on The Stories We Could Tell is (well I think so at least) the most consistently hard rocking Mr Big album. Even the obligatory slow ballads have some punch to them and there’s nothing as annoying as To Be With You, thankfully. Paul Gilbert is really on song. Huge clear and chunky chords, even bigger shredtastic solos. The man’s a real whizz all over the fret board with speed, dexterity, feeling and blinding technique. Top drawer.
The trademark interplay with Billy Sheehan is there of course and Eric Martin’s pipes are very clean. His voice soulful and crystal clear. Sadly, according to what I’ve read in Classic Rock Magazine today drummer Pat Torpey’s Parkinsons condition kept him from playing though he did have a big day in the programming and gets some writing credits too. Even so, overall this is a very consistent and hard-edged album with enough power to keep those of us who prefer things on the heavy side happy and enough melody for a fine balanced offering.
I’ve read some other reviews bemoaning the (in those reviewers’ opinions) the lack of a Green Tinted Sixties Mind or Daddy, Brother, over, Little Boy and similar classics from the past. Though there is more than enough on The Stories We Could Tell to make up for that. And times have moved on. The opener (Gotta Love The Ride) and the closing title track I would say will fall in to the “instant class” category with the power, riffs, lead breaks and dammed catchy melodies one surely cannot go wrong. Oh, and Satisfied too.
A golden voice (Martin), a world class guitarist (Gilbert) and a bass virtuoso (Sheehan) combine here to great effect. The boys most certainly do still have it. This for me is up there with the best hard/melodic rock album of the year. Oh yes.
>> MORE REVIEWS OF MR BIG THE STORIES WE COULD TELL <<
Coming next – Saracen. A NWOBHM band from the “old days” I don’t think I’ve put up a post about before. That will soon be corrected…….
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