Mr. Big
Actual Size

I find myself reviewing the latest album by Mr.Big.

Not a farewell album, it was just the last one, the sixth. After this brief resurgence of the band, following the disappointing (in my opinion) "Get Over It," the band, due to insurmountable internal conflicts between Eric Martin and Billy Sheehan, will disband, leaving an unexpected void.

"Actual Size" is therefore the swan song of Mr.Big. And I find myself holding certainly a good album, far from the true glories of the group but certainly a great farewell.
The album opens energetically, in the Mr.Big tradition. "Lost In America" presents me with Mr.Big in a slightly more elaborate version than usual. Great track. I feel like I’m listening to the soundtrack of a college movie, for the start and the following "Wake up". The first two songs are pressing, and I must say the following "Shine" is also excellent. A ballad both "strong," energetic, active, not at all syrupy, but sweet. The best track on the entire album. However, "Arrow" begins to foretell something bad. The album starts to decline. This track is quite bad, but "Mary Goes Round" picks up the tone. The atmosphere is playful, it really feels like being in those college TV shows. Beautiful song, I would call it a revisited "Green Tinted Sixtie Mind". "Suffocation" continues the sonic and rhythmic power of this album in a rather predictable way. The work in "One World Away" and "I Don't Want To Be Happy" is commendable. The album starts to decline and a calm and relaxed atmosphere begins to permeate the tracks: "Crawl Over Me" is a slow rock and "Cheap Little Thrill" is a fairly standard rock. The penultimate track, "How Did I Give Myself Away", is enjoyable. "Nothing Like It In The World" is instead spine-chilling. Wonderful.

I didn't think they could do so well with Kotzen. However, this album is truly one of their best. It's not "Lean Into It," nor "Hey Man," but you won’t miss them. Excellent.