Night Ranger – Don’t Let Up
Frontiers
https://www.nightranger.com/#/
https://www.facebook.com/nightranger

Rating: A-

Night Ranger may be in contention for ‘Best rock album of 2017’ with the release of Don’t Let Up.  This one has that magical ‘something’ that makes it an instant hit for any fan of melodic hard rock.  There are hooks, riffs, melodies, killer solos and strong vocals from start to finish.  There are rockers and ballads and everything in-between.  Night Ranger, to sound cliché, has truly outdone themselves with their latest effort.

Night Ranger has oodles of talent… that has been apparent since the band first broke on the scene in the early 1980s.  For them to still be pumping out killer albums in 2017 is simply amazing.  They have put out a couple of solid records on the Frontiers label, and those discs were good.  This release, however, is great.  It is as solid as any album they have ever done.  I know that is saying a lot, but one listen to the pop hook of “Somehow Someway” and you will agree.  “Running Out of Time” has a special kind of solo that this band loves to throw into a tune.  “Day and Night” is pure classic hard rock with tons of melody and a solo that will have you pumping your fist in the air.  Sure, some tunes are stronger than others, but believe me when I say there is nary a tune on this sucker that sucks.  It is a solid recording from start to finish.

It is time to let your crusty classic rock buds who refuse to listen to anything recorded after 1985 know that Night Ranger is back and rockin’ as strong as ever.  Jack Blades and Kelly Keagy play and sing their asses off.  Brad Gillis is a rock god and a soloing machine while Keri Kelly brings his Alice Cooper vibe to the band and can rival Gillis at times on the guitar firepower.  Eric Levy is the keyboard player…. what do you say about keys in a rock band?  Well, mostly on the ballads he makes his presence known. But Eric is a helluva nice guy that lays down that background layer these other guys dance on top of. These are well crafted songs and, just as important, this band is having fun.  There is no phoning it in, here… these guys are still rockin’ in America and this writer does not see that stopping anytime soon.

Seeing a band that has this kind of muscle, prowess, and songwriting potency coupled with their drive to succeed while continuing their legacy is simply amazing.  Long live the Rangers of the Night! 

NIGHT RANGER
Jack Blades: Lead Vocals, Bass Guitar
Brad Gillis: Lead Guitars
Kelly Keagy: Drums, Lead Vocals
Eric Levy: Keyboards
Keri Kelly: Lead Guitars

Track Listing:
01 SOMEHOW SOMEWAY
02 RUNNNG OUT OF TIME
03 TRUTH   
04 DAY AND NIGHT
05 DON’T LET UP
06 (WON’T BE YOUR) FOOL AGAIN
07 SAY WHAT YOU WANT
08 WE CAN WORK IT OUT
09 COMFORT ME
10 JAMIE
11 NOTHING LEFT OF YESTERDAY

By Jeb “Come on… please tell me ya love me” Wright