The Band
Mr. Big is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1988.
The band’s lineup has pretty much remained the same until the death of their drummer, Pat Torpey, in 2018 due to Parkinson’s disease. Pat not only was their drummer, but he also did backing vocals, so they had to find someone with a similar vocal register.
Now, they have Nick D’Virgilio on drums who has played with Tears For Fears, Sheryl Crowe, and Genesis, among others, thus, he is very talented.
Band Members
- Eric Martin – lead vocals, acoustic guitar
- Billy Sheehan – bass, backing vocals
- Paul Gilbert – guitars, backing vocals
- Nick D’Virgilio – drums, percussion, backing vocals
The Album
Mr. Big’s Ten is its tenth studio album. It was released on July 12th, 2024.
The Songs
1. Good Luck Trying. It’s a good song, a nice guitar solo. The best part was some sick bass lines provided by Billy Sheehan in the bridge, with a bluesy flavor.
2. I Am You. Softer song.
3. Right Outta Here. Interesting song with a Middle Eastern vibe and guitar riff, delightful guitar work by Paul Gilbert.
4. Sunday Morning Kinda Girl. This song started better and was better, in general, with more blues, old rock & roll style, great guitar riff.
5. Who We Are. A ballad. Mr. Big does some of the better ballads that I’ve listened to. This was not one of them, but at least has a fine guitar solo.
6. As Good As It Gets. Upbeat love song with, acoustic guitar. Billy performs a mini bass solo at the end (that was the highlight of the song).
7. What Were You Thinking. I loved this song, my favorite of this album. It’s more of the type of Mr. Big’s rock and blues that I love. Hard rock to the bone. It reminded me, in some parts, of Chuck Berry’s Johnny B. Goode.
8. Courageous. Softer song, but with nice guitar work. In the bridge it gets better, more rocker with an excellent guitar solo.
9. Up On You. Good track, with a Rolling Stones vibe.
10. The Frame. A ballad (this one I liked).
11. See No Okapi (instrumental – Japan bonus track).
Final Thoughts
I have been a fan of Mr. Big for a long time.
This is their first album without Pat Torpey on drums.
The band sounds great, as always. Spectacular guitar solos by Paul Gilbert, Eric Martin’s voice is sweet as ever and their new drummer, Nick D’Virgilio lives up to his credentials. The only thing that I missed is that Billy almost doesn’t show his talents, except for a couple of mini bass solos. He’s one of my favorite bass players, so I was a little disappointed to not hearing expressing himself as he used to do.
In the beginning, the album didn’t catch me so much, it was too soft, and it lacked energy and power. But it gets better as the songs are passing by to the second half of the album, and ends up with some pretty good tracks. It goes in a crescendo and hooks you as you go through the songs. Nice work, overall.
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Tracklist
- Good Luck Trying
- I Am You
- Right Outta Here
- Sunday Morning Kinda Girl
- Who We Are
- As Good As It Gets
- What Were You Thinking
- Courageous
- Up On You
- The Frame
- See No Okapi (instrumental – Japan bonus track)