Music Review: Night Ranger 鈥� 鈥楽omewhere In California鈥�
?The new studio album from Night Ranger successfully recaptures the band’s mojo from earlier albums like “Dawn Patrol” and “Midnight Madness.” Brad Gillis, Kelly Keagy and Jack Blades maintain a solid consistency on the new arrangements as the trio celebrates its 30th anniversary. After releasing several forgettable albums over the last 20 years, the band recaptures the smoldering spark of 1985’s “7 Wishes.”
Night Ranger’s 1982 debut release was a fixture on my car stereo during my senior year of high school. The dueling guitar riffs of “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me,” “Eddie’s Comin’ Out Tonight” and “Sing Me Away” blasted out of my Jensen car speakers as my Pontiac Firebird shuttled me from class to football practice.
The band’s music also managed to follow me to college with the release of “Midnight Madness.” The hit-heavy second album contained noteworthy arrangements like “(You Can Still) Rock in America,” “When You Close Your Eyes” and the band’s biggest hit, “Sister Christian.”
The band’s latest offering opens with the autobiographical rocker, “Growin’ Up In California,” in the same vein as Boston’s “Rock and Roll Band.” “Lay It on Me,” “No Time to Lose Ya” and “Rock and Roll Tonight” are irresistable, guitar-driven numbers that simply let the music do the talking. “Time of Our Lives” is a perfect blending of tight harmonies and contagious melodies as Keagy and Blades demonstrate they can still deliver arrangements the caliber of “Sister Christian.”
Night Ranger proves they can still rock in America and anywhere else they want for that matter.
While it’s been nearly 30 years since my high school graduation, you can still hear Night Ranger blasting from my SUV’s car stereo as I drive to work. It’s good to know that some things never change. Night Ranger comes to Pittsburgh this summer with Journey and Foreigner.
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