Defying Gravity

DEFYING GRAVITY deftly showcases that patented MR. BIG blend of crunch and melody, from the freight-train ride of opening cut Open Your Eyes to the harmony-laden wonderment of Damn I'm in Love Again to the grateful/wistful nostalgia of 1992 (recalling the days when the band was flying high atop the singles charts with their international #1 smash To Be With You) to the barnburning slide-blues closer, Be Kind. Overall, DEFYING GRAVITY is prime evidence that the only thing MR. BIG remains tethered to is their ongoing pursuit of achieving creative excellence. Original members Eric Martin (singer) (lead vocals), Paul Gilbert (guitars), Billy Sheehan (bass) and Pat Torpey (drums) reunited with producer Kevin Elson (who was behind the boards for the bands 1989 self-titled debut, 1991s LEAN INTO IT and 1993s BUMP AHEAD) for an intensive six-day recording session in Los Angeles. While Torpey was unable to perform some of the songs on DEFYING GRAVITY due to a recent diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, Matt Starr has been filling in for him on a majority of the album. Starr also been touring with the band for the past couple of years, with Torpey able to play a couple of songs at each stop.