Top tracks — play these first
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Open Your Eyes Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
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Defying Gravity — The title track encapsulates the album's themes of resilience and personal growth, blending soaring melodies with powerful harmonies that highlight the band's signature sound.
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Damn I'm in Love Again — This upbeat track showcases the band's knack for catchy hooks and infectious energy, representing the lighter side of their musical palette while emphasizing strong vocal performances.
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Everybody Needs a Little Trouble — With its engaging rhythm and relatable lyrics about life's challenges, this song reflects the album's balance of fun and introspective moments, perfectly illustrating Mr. Big's versatility.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album features strong musicianship and varied tempos but lacks a cohesive flow throughout.
What we noticed
- The first three tracks feature driving guitar riffs and soaring vocals, establishing a high-energy opening.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo progression
- hard-hitting riffs with melodies
- uplifting anthems for road trips
- reflective moments with friends
Maybe skip if you
- prefer instant gratification tracks
- seek experimental or avant-garde sounds
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Shows the band's continued creativity and appeal after a lengthy hiatus.
- Themes
- personal resilience· life's challenges· renewed creative energy
- Career context
- Defying Gravity is Mr. Big's eighth studio album, marking their first release since reuniting in 2010 after a lengthy hiatus. By 2017, the band was celebrating both their legacy and renewed creative energy, showcasing matured songwriting alongside classic hard rock instrumentation.
Tracklist
- 1 Open Your Eyes Start here 4:01
- 2 Defying Gravity 5:27
- 3 Everybody Needs a Little Trouble 3:52
- 4 Damn I'm in Love Again 2:55
- 5 Mean to Me 3:28
- 6 Nothin' Bad ('Bout Feelin' Good) 4:00
- 7 Forever and Back 3:39
- 8 She's All Coming Back to Me Now 4:21
- 9 1992 5:00
- 10 Nothing at All 4:12
- 11 Be Kind 7:03
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Walk the Sky
Alter Bridge
Shares polished hard rock sound with emotional depth and introspective lyrics about resilience.
Attention Attention
Shinedown
Combines melodic hard rock with themes of personal struggle and renewed energy, echoing a similar emotional journey.
I Used to Know Her
H.E.R.
Blends intricate musicianship with deep emotional narratives, reflecting personal challenges and growth.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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