Band : Mr. Big
Album title : What If…
Label : Frontiers Records
Distributor : Rough Trade Benelux
Release Date : 21/01/2011
Release : CD

Would you ever have thought Mr. Big would ever release a new studio album again? Probably not.

But hey, presto, here it is, their first new studio album in 14 years, and what’s even more astounding, it’s by the original members. After reviewing the live album they made, I was anxious to see if they could produce the same chemistry as on their previous studio albums. The opening track "Undertow" blew me right of my feet. The second track seems not as good, but as it goes along the pace fastens, and it grows to a nice heavy song.  If you didn’t know you were listening to a Mr. Big album, you could easily think you were listening to an eighties Loverboy song. It’s great to hear this band roaring like they were almost twenty years ago. While Bon Jovi is playing safe these last years, Mr. Big have with this album released a real gem for hard rock/AOR lovers. 

To sum it up, this is a great come-back album, and I’ll keep on playing it regularly. The musicians are masters of their instrument, and Eric Martin’s vocals are sublime.

97/100

Erik Morren.