Lean Into It

Lean Into It is a work that, while foregrounding the technique of Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan, established strong melody centered on Eric Martin’s singing. The guitar and bass move vividly, but without breaking the flow of the songs, binding into the drive of the riffs and choruses. It is a signature work that pushed the band into stardom at a stroke. From the aggression of “Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy (The Electric Drill Song)” to the plain intimacy of “To Be with You,” the album is rich in expression. In particular, “To Be with You” reached number one on the US chart, making the band’s name global. Songs like “Green-Tinted Sixties Mind” and “Just Take My Heart” breathe the band’s full playing too. It is a fine example of a gathering of superb players making rock memorable as song. It is a full record in which the band’s appeal bore fruit in its finest form.