…The Stories We Can Tell is Mr. Big’s second studio album since all four original members — Eric Martin (vocals), Paul Gilbert (guitars), Billy Sheehan (bass) and Pat Torpey (drums) — reunited in 2009. Recorded under the direction of Pat Regan (Deep Purple, KISS, Warrant, Keel), the album is the follow up to 2011’s What If album.
The catchy chorus and deep chunk of guitars inform the heavy “Gotta Love This Ride,” but “I Forget To Breathe,” with its staccato guitar and funky chorus, hits even harder for me. I like Martin’s vocals in a lower register especially as he tells us all about being in the middle of a life that could be getting out of control. Gilbert might be a little out of place, but Sheehan and Torpey are as tight as tight can be.
Gilbert and Sheehan compliment and compete for riffing supremacy on “The Monster In Me,” a song built around fast riffs with Martin yearning for love. Gilbert does manage a few clearly tasteful moments, while Martin gives a good bite to what he is singing, and Sheehan and Torpey bring up the rear, keeping things at a razor’s edge and in the pocket for what is the best tune for me here.
Torpey presents a snapping-like-mad snare under a true bluesy vocal from Martin on “The Light Of Day.” The middle jam is rock with Sheehan, Gilbert and Torpey breaking out the fusion. Sheehan manages some trilling you have to hear to believe. The band really comes together with an infectious chorus and groovy strutting on another staccato masterpiece “IT’s All About That Girl” — a full measure of everything that’s come before it. I’m not going to kid you, there are moments of blatant 80s power balladry where things get slightly cringe worthy, but when …The Stories We Can Tell rocks, it can’t miss.
~ Ralph Greco Jr.
