Mr. Big Album: “Lean Into It”

This is the perfect hard rock album. Seriously. There's something for everyone on this CD: love ballads that can be either depressing (Just Take My Heart) or hopeful (To Be With You); rock songs with pop influences (CDFF-Lucky This Time, Green-Tinted Sixties Mind); full-force hard rock tunes (Daddy, Brother, Lover...) - some of which have a bluesy edge to them (Alive and Kickin').

I'm going to comment on some of my favorite songs on the album:

Alive and Kickin' - this is probably my favorite song on the album. It's got a bluesy drive, although the emphasis is clearly on hard rock. It starts out with a short bluesy guitar solo that sets the tone for the song, and quickly progresses into the main riff, which remains dominant thru-out the majority of the song. In other words, this song keeps it simple and to the point.

CDFF-Lucky This Time - I am a big hard rock fan, so I will love anything that... rocks hard. This song mixes pop and rock very well - it reminds me a lot of Bon Jovi. Great vocal work by Eric Martin.

My Kinda Woman - guitarist Paul Gilbert originally wrote this riff for his rock / metal band, Racer X, but he let Mr. Big record it first. The song has a chugging riff that carries it along smoothly, and has a seemingly somber tone. The original title for this song (when it was written for Racer X) was Mad at the World, so that explains its musical mood.

Just Take My Heart - this song is about a relationship break-up. "Just take my heart when you go, I don't have a need for it anymore." As the lyrics suggest, the song has a sad tone, but it is captivating enough to hold your attention. As with Alive and Kickin', the tune starts with a guitar intro that sets the tone for the song and stays consistent to the end.

These are the songs that I feel best represent the album as a whole. An honerable mention goes to Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy. This song stays fast from top to bottom, and features Paul Gilbert on guitar and Billy Sheehan on bass playing their instruments in harmony with electric drills. You can't miss it.

Paul Gilbert, and Billy Sheehan are clearly the backbone of this band. I met all of the band memebers in Overland Park, Kansas at a local record store there back in 1994 when they were touring for the "Bump Ahead" album. But as for this album, "Lean Into It", it is great, just as the other two are. Mr. Big managed to stay in the mainstream even when "grunge" came in and took over in 1992. Paul Gilbert, being G.I.T. educated absolutely rips on this album. I mean he gives that Ibanez guitar a work over. Billy's Yamaha bass cuts through everything and sings nicely. The song "Green Tinted Stixties Mind" is great, really great. It's melodies are nicely done, mostly in the major scale, so it is sort of a "party" tune if you will. You would thoroughly enjoy this album, especially if you are a musician and enjoy and appreciate quality musicianship.

This CD is definitly one of my favorites. You know a CD is good when you can put it on and you don't need to skip any songs. That is what I like best about this CD. Every song is good. The lead guitar parts are incredible and you can sing along. Buy this one, it will last.

I have owned this CD for years now, and I have never gotten tired of hearing it. It has really good rock at some times, and then the mellow music at others. Perfect!

Good album even though it's kinda on the softer side of 90's rock. Definitely worth buying if you're as old as I am.