Review Summary: So much more than a one-hit wonder.
It's hard to call a band that had a number 1 single in about 20 countries underrated but that's exactly what Mr Big is. Underrated. Not to mention oft-ridiculed for the success of the acoustic afterthought known as "To Be With You", which was tacked on to the end of this album. Mr Big will forever be linked with Extreme as a metal band that became a one hit wonder because of a ballad that represented only a small part of the band's overall sound. This band is so much more than a one-hit wonder though.
To be fair, it's not like Mr Big wasn't aiming for the pop charts. Despite the impeccable musical shred-entials of its members, Mr Big specialised in over-the-top power ballads and their songs rarely, if ever, deviate from the tried and true verse, chorus, verse, chorus, guitar solo, chorus, template. But this was tempered by the sheer talent behind the performances. Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan are no strangers to rock/metal aficionados. The former was the lead guitarist for Racer X, which would be the poster child for over the top self-parodic 80s metal if it wasn't for NITRO and their own goofy sense of humour. He has also gained some notoriety as the one time guitar teacher of avant garde shred-god and all round weirdo, Buckethead. Sheehan, of course, is the Eddie Van Halen of the bass guitar, who made his mark on the rock landscape while supporting David Lee Roth along with Steve Vai after Diamond Dave's split with Van Halen. Eric Martin occasionally sounds like a Steven Tyler clone, but his bluesy wail is distinctive and very melodic. Pat Torpey doesn't do too much fancy stuff but he does manage to lay down some massive grooves.
With talent like that you'd expect the band to have more in common with Dream Theater than it does Cheap Trick, but it doesn't. Lean Into It doesn't rock as hard as Mr Big's eponymous debut album, but it still manages to rock. The album opener, "Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy" is one of those songs which make you unconsciously push down on the accelerator while you're driving until you suddenly realise you're going twice the speed limit. However, apart from that song, the rest of the songs on the album are content to roll around in a mid-tempo groove with a discernably bluesy thread running through it, until it's time for a ballad. And there are some fine ballads on the album, especially "Just Take My Heart" and "Lucky This Time" which are a trifle generic, but catchy nevertheless. Then there are guitar solos. While Gilbert focuses more on melody than one is used to hearing from him, he still dazzles on practically every song, especially, "Alive And Kicking" and the wonderfully greasy "Road To Ruin". But the high point of the album is probably, "Green Tinted Sixties Mind". Right from the jaw dropping intro/outro riff through the superb harmonies in the chorus to the curiously restrained but perfectly fitting guitar/bass duet instrumental break, this song is a beautiful example of pop-metal done right.
There is a fair amount of filler on the album. "Voodoo Kiss", "Never Say Never", "My Kinda Woman" and "A Little Too Loose" are unremarkable excursions into even more bluesy territory. But even on these songs, Martin and Sheehan put in good performances and save them from being completely forgettable.
Overall, there isn't much to recommend Lean Into It over one of Mr Big's compilation albums, as the best songs from this album can usually be found there. However, if you're into melodic, bluesy pop-rock with big hooks and stunning musicianship, this is a great album to pick up. It really is a shame that bands like Mr Big became so unpopular in the 90s, but only if you live outside of Asia, where Mr Big continues to be one of the biggest draws in hard rock. And not just because of one silly acoustic ballad.
Recommended Tracks:
Green Tinted Sixties Mind
Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy
Just Take My Heart
Road To Ruin
