Search - Mr. Big :: Bump Ahead

Their best album!!!!

Chris Bock | Wilmington, DE USA | 07/09/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I remember first hearing about Paul Gilbert from a friend of mine way back in 1988 who had just been selected to attend GIT. Paul Gilbert was one of their prodigies and my friend Mike was anxious to get out there and make his mark. I remember hearing Mr Big for the first time on MTV's Hard 30 for all you metalheads out there and they ROCKED!!! Addicted to that rush was so much different from anything anybody was doing at the time except maybe for Damn Yankees, but those guys were already established musicians. Anyway I digress, Bump Ahead really showed me that these guys were more than just a flash in the pan. Sure "To Be With You" was a mega-hit, but Lean Into It had so much more going for it, especially the underrated "Voodoo Kiss" and "Green Tinted Sixties Mind". O especially loved the liner note on that one where the question was asked have you ever noticed how movies from the 60's have a greenish tint to them?
Bump Ahead has more depth and sincerity in the music, the singing, the playing and they finally let Billy Sheehan off his leash! Great album. I consider this to be their best effort. I wish the original lineup was still together making music because these guys were special. Ritchie Kotzen is a talented guitar player, but there just something between Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan that just fit perfectly."

Underrated--album and band

Brad | CT | 05/12/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The problem with pop music--even when it comes to quality bands like this one--is that artists get defined by one big hit song. For Mr. Big, it was the ballad "To Be With You" off their previous album to this one. While that is a great song and album, this effort is about equally as good. The band stayed true to their sound while adding a few nice twists.This band is not just a ballad band. Take the opening track on the album, the hard-rocking "Colorado Bulldog". Catchy, with a prominent bass line done by the great Billy Sheehan, this song kicks. Nearly as impressive is the next track--the uptempo, melodic "Price You Gotta Pay". The third track is the first ballad--the lovely "Promise Her The Moon", but that is followed by another mid-tempo rocker, the attitude-laced "What's It Gonna Be".Next comes a cover that on the surface doesn't seem to fit but is actually very nicely done--"Wild World". The emotional way in which Eric Martin delivers it here brings a nice new twist to an old song. This was also the only top 40 charter on this album. Following is a mid-tempo but also melodic track--"Mr. Gone", which is followed by another true rocker in "The Whole World's Gonna Know".Out of the final four tracks, two of them are ballads. "Nothing But Love" is pretty good, but "Ain't Seen Love Like That", which I remember getting a little radio airplay, is a bit better. The former is the track that gives me my one slight criticism of this album: the "one too many ballads syndrome". Both are still quality songs, though, and they are broken up by the catchy "Tempermental". The last track is another rocker of sorts, "Mr. Big". Further proof that these guys excel on more than ballads.No one was giving these guys the time of day back when this album came out, as the Pearl Jams and Nirvanas of the world overshadowed all else. Nonetheless, this is a strongly-recommended listen for melodic rock fans and fans of '80s rock. Brief popularity aside, this band is far better than average musically--something that this album demonstrates."

Mr. Biggest?

skazza | Bath, England | 12/08/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As I said in my review of Aerosmith's "Pump", I always try to be a bit different to everyone else. For this reason, I am trying to find a reason to prefer this to Mr. Big's probable number 1 album, "Lean Into It". You know, I might just be able to find more than one.Where Lean Into It perfected the sound the band started on their first album, Bump Ahead shows more progression. The sounds are beefier and fatter, with Billy Sheehan's bass playing taking more of a dominant role -- no bad thing when we are talking about the greatest rock bassist on the scene. The whole thing's heavier than "Lean Into It", and where that album seemed dominated by commercial AOR numbers, this one has its fair share of rockers. The ballads, and I love ballads, are of the usual high standard, and this is everything we've come to expect of Mr. Big -- non-stop quality. What else do you expect from such a flawless collection of musicians? They don't come much better than the afore-mentioned Sheehan and Paul Gilbert.It's nice when a band isn't afraid to move forward. It's nice, too, when that forward motion leaves the fans pleased. Success for Mr. Big! Standout tracks... well, Colorado Bulldog, Mr. Gone, The Whole Word's Gonna Know, and Nothing But Love spring to mind, but I have to recommend this whole CD to you unreservedly.So... just one question remains: Is it better than "Lean Into It"? Hmmm... I don't know... probably on a par. Different, but the better for it."