Reviews
"Get Over It"
Well, Mr. Big is back with a new release. Do you remember Mr
Big? They were a mix of musical superstars with the likes of solo singer/songwriter Eric Martin, Racer X guitar whiz Paul Gilbert, and master bassist Billy Sheehan who, for a short while, made David Lee Roth and Steve Vai one of the greatest shows on earth. Their second release, 1991's Lean Into It, catapulted the band to stardom with a guitar laden "Green Tinted Sixties Mind" and the cool acoustic ballad "To Be With You". That was 1991, and for better or worse, they haven't gone away, and they haven't changed their formula. Paul Gilbert was replaced by fellow Shrapnel label guitar great Ritchie Kotzen, but you'd never know it. The band is still belting out their special blend of hook driven rock-n-roll that got them started.
With regards to sound and style, "GET OVER IT" moves boldly
from the down-n-dirty groove of "Electrified" and the heavy
Hendrix styled Martin/Kotzen duet "Static" to the bright and
bluesy "A Rose Alone" and the soaring "Superfantastic" ballad.
webmaster of www.mrbigsite.com
Do I like this disc? Sure. It is the kind of stuff that you can put on in the background of an outdoor pool party and have a blast with. The only problem is that it's been done by too many bands for far too long. Back in the day, it was the excitement of hearing Billy's two-fingers-on-the-fretboard bass licks and Paul's masterful chops, all barely held together by the skeleton of a song that set this band apart. And though you'd have to be dead to not hum along or tap your foot to this disc, it doesn't quite pack the punch of the old days.
I don't have much to say for any particular song, except that they are all perfect for popular radio; you can pretty much get the idea from the first four songs. A couple of fast paced rockers followed by a slower, funky, blues-based song, then a sappy, but catchy ballad, all with the signature Eric Martin vocals. I don't know if it's the band that's getting old or if it's just me, but I need a little more excitement and thought from a band before I go out and spend my hard earned cash on them.
If I ever get a hankerin' for some good 'ole early 90's rock where ego driven musicianship and sound songwriting were in constant conflict, I'll just put in my old copy of their debut, Mr. Big, and turn it up really loud.
+ postman
Produced by Pat Regan, "GET OVER IT" finds original Mr. Big members bassist Billy Sheehan, drummer Pat Torpey, and Martin joined by new guitarist Richie Kotzen. With such powerful tracks as the down-n-dirty "Electrified," the heavy Hendrix styled "Static," and the bluesy "A Rose Alone," "GET OVER IT" comes to these shores as a proven #1 platinum smash in Japan, where it was Atlantic’s biggest-seller for the whole of 1999. Mr. Big recently performed with Aerosmith and Buckcherry to an estimated 40,000 fans at a sold-out New Year’s Eve concert in Osaka.
The new album is the first to feature new guitarist Richie Kotzen (Solo, Poison). Quite the difference he has made too, as the sound has a new edge to it.
The guys finally have the more hard edged feel back in place, over the last two more acoustic driven records.
The record has a raw, live and earthy feel to it, with some parts sounding improvised.
The injection of a new member and a couple of years break have refueled the band and it feels like they are starting out once again.
For that reason, this reminds me of the feel of the debut. The songs are rocking again, albeit with a heavy blues base and have that swaggering feel to them that the debut did.
I just bet the next album moves close to the feel of my favourite album Lean Into It.
I love the intro to this album. Kotzen's guitar, then the familiar tune of Billy's base slapping, Pat's drums and then Eric's great vocals.
Electrified is a big rocker, but with added swagger.
Eric martin sounds a million bucks, great to hear him screaming again after his way too soft solo album. Kotzen's backing vocals also add a new dimension. I love the jamming feel towards the end of the track - it sounds almost live.
Static has the definite feel of the debut. A heavy blues based rocker, it reminds me of tracks like Merciless and Wind Me Up. Interestingly enough, Kotzen ads a couple of lead vocals and mixes brilliantly with the song and with Eric Martin.
Hiding Place kind of lets things down a little. A slow bluesy track, there is unnecessary use of vocal effects and the song really doesn't go anywhere.
Superfantastic is better. This is the first single off the album and clearly the most commercial. A soft acoustic intro and a simple vocal leads to a more fuller sound as the song goes on. A good hook and basically a very catchy song. Typical Mr. Big.
A Rose Alone is another fairly simple pop song, but more rocking and fully electric. The hook and mini-anthem chorus are fantastic and should go down real well live.
Hole In The Sun is more laid back than the last two tracks. A simple verse but a chorus that again is pretty catchy and memorable.
How Does It Feel is heavier and bluesier again. Similar to Hiding Place, but with a better pace and a strong raw, moody chorus.
Try To Do Without It is almost a southern blues track. Not bad, but not an album highlight.
Just when we needed to pick the pace up a little comes another track straight out of the Mr. Big hard book. Cracking mini-drum solo opens the track, then it's a blues rhythm with Billy and Richie leading the way. The chorus to Dancing With My Devils comes and goes without fuss, but it's still a pretty good track.
Mr. Never In A Million Years is a little boring. OK guys, we have done the blues thing now...move on. Still not a bad track, the chorus picks the pace up a little, but enough already.
It's acoustic ballad time again, with My New Religion. A great Eric Martin vocal, soft but strong. Still, this alone doesn't save the track. Not essential.
Water Over The Bridge is actually the bonus track. It should have been included at the expense of Mr. Never In A Million Years.
It has a snap to it's sound and is a mid paced blues rocker. Again, not essential, but better than a couple of others on the album.
BOTTOM LINE: It looks and sounds like a new beginning for Mr. Big. The style and feel has had an overhaul and the album rates as one of their best. Doesn't touch the debut and Lean Into It, but does a lot to repair the damage of Bump Ahead...Generally very pleasing apart from the odd song that gets caught up in being too sluggish. The first half of the album is clearly better then the second.
a wonderful collection
Big, Bigger, Biggest..the best of MR.BIG
Reviewer: A music fan from Ithaca, NY June 29, 1999
This is an almost perfect collection of mr big's best songs... I bought it as soon as i heard one of the excellent new tracks "Stay Together"... probably the best pop rock song written that year... it's melodic and awesome... the other two tracks are great as well... you get an additional bonus track taken from one of their live albums... BUY THIS and sing along to Stay Together
Lean into it
MR.BIG abandons the virtuoso guitar and bass of Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan for the majority of Lean Into It, and the result is a big, shiny mainstream rock album. It also translated into chart success with the hit campfire-singalong ballad "To Be With You." Elsewhere, Mr. Big provides some tracks to satisfy the new fans, along with plenty of head-spinning solos from Gilbert and Sheehan to satisfy their old audience. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
MR.BIG
The danger of having two virtuoso instrumentalists in one band -- in Mr. Big's case, former Racer X guitarist Paul Gilbert and Talas/David Lee Roth bassist Billy Sheehan -- is that the musicians' incredible chops will take precedence over quality songwriting. That's exactly what happens over much of Mr. Big; although the band is undeniably brilliant, the minor MTV hit "Addicted to That Rush" isn't enough to make the LP appeal to most, except for fans of flashy hard-rock technique. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide
