New Mr Big album - Defying Gravity

Nunogilberto

Having always been a fan of the band, and Billy & Paul's playing in particular, I picked this up yesterday as it was only released a couple of days ago.

Gave it a spin in the car this morning. Overall I like it; the production/mix seems to have compressed the sound of the guitar and bass slightly, but Eric's singing and the band's harmonies are as good as ever (though Eric obviously doesn't go for those high note he once did, understandably). The title track is superb, and I love their cheeky nod to their only #1 hit - called 1992.

Certainly worth the tenner I scored it for in HMV. Recommended. I hope to go and see them on tour here in November.

octatonic

Is the album title a description of all the cosmetic surgery they've had?

not_the_dj

Booked tickets to see them in Wolverhampton, really looking forward to it  

Nunogilberto

not_the_dj said:

Booked tickets to see them in Wolverhampton, really looking forward to it  

Yes I'm looking at Wolverhampton too. Saw them in Bristol in 2011 and London in 2009 - great both times.

Philly_Q

octatonic said:

Is the album title a description of all the cosmetic surgery they've had?

Eric Martin has always looked very youthful, but I've just googled some recent pictures and his face does appear a bit immobile... is that why he can't hit the high notes any more?

Didn't Pat Torpey have to retire due to Parkinsons or something like that?

Vibetronic

got this a few weeks ago (didn't want to wait, so got a Japanese iTunes account!). Like it a lot better than the previous two after they reformed; thought those had some decent songs but were a bit stodgy. This one is great, and I love the riff on Mean to Me 

Vibetronic

Philly_Q said:

octatonic said:

Is the album title a description of all the cosmetic surgery they've had?

Eric Martin has always looked very youthful, but I've just googled some recent pictures and his face does appear a bit immobile... is that why he can't hit the high notes any more?

Didn't Pat Torpey have to retire due to Parkinsons or something like that?

yep, he's got Parkinsons but he still joins in with them a bit on percussion, poor guy

Not sure what's up with Eric Martin's face. Sometimes it looks normal, but in some shots it does look a bit odd! Guessing it might just be makeup, but I'm probably wrong!

DLM

I've only watched the two YouTube video singles so far. It was nice to see the Icestroyer again in the one, but the songs didn't immediately grab me. Maybe it'll come in time, they'll be in town later in the year, that would be my third time.

Nunogilberto said:

their only #1 hit - called 1992.

That's a bit misleading. Shine was #1 in Japan. But yes, a US number one is a life-changing enough event to write a song about.

Vibetronic said:

yep, he's got Parkinsons but he still joins in with them a bit on percussion, poor guy

To say nothing of still providing those vocal harmonies! He's a much better singer than Sheehan or Gilbert.

The Double Stop podcast came back from the dead (again) with an interview with Eric Martin about this album, and I realised he was far older than I'd thought, at 60.