Ten is the latest Frontiers Records release from veteran US rockers Mr. Big, and comes hot on the heels of what is to be their final world tour. With the death of founding drummer Pat Torpey, the band has decided to say a final goodbye to their fans, though whether this will be their final recording remains to be seen. Stepping in the drum chair on tour and album is Nick D'Virgilio, formerly of Spock's Beard and current drummer for Big Big Train, as he goes from prog to hard rock alongside founding members Eric Martin (vocals), Billy Sheehan (bass), and Paul Gilbert (guitars). The opening track, "Good Luck Trying," sounds instantly like Mr. Big; soaring vocal harmonies, blazing guitar & bass lines, and rocking attitude are ever-present. "I Am You" is instantly memorable and catchy, and "Right Outta Here" has an almost Led Zeppelin "Kashmir" feel to it. While not every song here on Ten is a stone-cold classic, tracks like "Sunday Morning Kinda Girl", "Courageous", and "As Good As It Gets" are easy summer-time fare, the sort of melodic hard rocking material that reminds of what we love about this band to begin with.
What's missing, you ask? Well, the album is a tad short of instrumental fireworks...both Gilbert and Sheehan have their moments, but there are no virtuoso explosions quite on the level of what we got on their first couple of albums all those years ago, but maybe the 'shredding', in the long run, isn't all that necessary when the songs are all about fun, which they certainly are. "The Frame" was an odd choice for album closer, a soft, somewhat generic ballad, but the CD version has their cover of "8 Days on the Road", sung by Gilbert, and that's a decent enough bluesy rock to close the album on a somewhat upbeat note. Overall, a solid album from Mr. Big, one that should appeal to most of their fanbase, and if it's their last, they've gone out in style.
Track Listing
1) Good Luck Trying
2)I Am You
3)Right Outta Here
4)Sunday Morning Kinda Girl
5)Who We Are
6) As Good As it Gets
7)What Were You Thinking
8)Courageous
9)Up On You
10)The Frame
11)8 Days on the Road
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