When it came to classification,
Mr. Big always posed a bit of a problem. On the one hand, the band had a big-league virtuoso lead guitarist (
Paul Gilbert) who just loved to shred and a hotshot bass player (
Billy Sheehan) who regularly topped guitar magazine polls. On the other, all of
Mr. Big's hits were sappy (if tuneful)
AC-lite through and through, thanks in large part to the mainstream
pop sensibilities of lead vocalist
Eric Martin.
Big, Bigger, Biggest! captures this dichotomy fairly well. Songs like
"Colorado Bulldog" and
"The Electric Drill Song" are showcases for
Sheehan and
Gilbert to unleash their chops in a fierce flurry of notes, whereas
"Be With You" and the cover of
Cat Stevens'
"Wild World" are pure
ballad heaven. On occasion, like on
"Take Cover" and
"Green Tinted Sixties Mind," both impulses come together in something approximating harmony. And the three new tracks are not half bad either. The question never has been whether
Mr. Big has the musical talent to play like
Van Halen -- the band does (and on tracks like
"Stay Together," one of the previously unreleased songs, the resemblance is uncanny). The pity is that the group hasn't been able to consistently match its playing talent with as strong a songwriting ability. As a collection of
Mr. Big's finest moments,
Big, Bigger, Biggest!, featuring a full four tracks apiece from the breakthrough albums
Lean Into It and
Bump Ahead, is pretty much the best you can do. ~ Leslie Mathew
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