NIGHT RANGER - Somewhere In California (2011)

Japan edition





Another one of those culturally significant bands from the '80s has jumped and lead forwarded with a new record.

Night Ranger is back with "Somewhere In California", the culmination of the group's work to this date and celebrates their 30th anniversary with everything the fans could ask for; melodic cuts and hard rocking numbers, returning to their classic sound with updated production.



After listening to the album I have to say it’s the perfect soundtrack for making a roadtrip.

Starts at full speed with the autobiographic and fresh sounding title track "Growing Up In California". This is a typical NR tune with lots of melody, screaming guitars and a contagious refrain.

You can keep your foot on the pedal with "Lay It On Me", a song in the style of their nineties material. A catchy melodic hard rocker with furious guitar riffs. For Night Ranger standards a very aggressive and powerful kick ass song.

"Bye Bye Baby (Not Tonight)" has sentimental feel wrapped up in a strong vocal arrangement and the hook of a big chorus. A track that reminds you the very earlier, anthemic Night Ranger.

"Follow Your Heart" offers a steady pace, a hard bluesy classic rocker in the Damn Yankees style, full of guitars and very, very american.



"Time Of Our Lives" is one of the highlights. It's one of 'those' lovely Ranger's tunes. Starts off as a piano ballad before building up to a big chorus and some solid, melodic guitar work kicking in. If this was 1989 this would be an instant huge summer hit.

"No Time To Lose Ya" is another winner. A pure AOR / Melodic Rock screaming for radio airplay. The chorus is SO eighties, so typical NR. You will love this. This is Night Ranger in its purest form.

One of my favorite tracks in this album is the brilliant "End Of The Day", a great melodic rocker with a tasty chorus and tight guitar lead, with great vocals by Kelly Keagy.

"Rock N' Roll Tonite" is exactly what you would expect: a fun anthem to rock; it's a rowdy hard rocker and gives the band a chance to put pedal to the metal, surely a winner in the live shows.

On the japanese bonus track "L.A. No Name", Brad Gillis finds space to show his virtuosity on the six-strings with taste and emotion.





This new Night Ranger album might strike a better chord with long time fans who were a bit disappointed with the so-called modern style of the previous 'Hole In The Sun'.

"Somewhere in California" runs more towards that anthem arena-ready sound that made them famous in the eighties.

This is solid, well-crafted classic melodic rock. Accessible, infectious and entertaining.

The clear, crisp production showcases the band’s musical talents and they build up a layered sound complemented with hot riffs and multi-part sing along harmonies that will stick in your head after a small number of spins.

A well balanced album mixing ballads with rockers, honest and fun.

Really Good.





01 - Growin' Up In California

02 - Lay It On Me

03 - Bye Bye Baby (Not Tonight)

04 - Follow Your Heart

05 - Time Of Our Lives

06 - No Time To Lose Ya

07 - Live For Today

08 - It's Not Over

09 - End Of The Day

10 - Rock N' Roll Tonite

11 - Say It With Love

12 - L.A. No Name [Japan bonus track]





Jack Blades – Bass, Lead & Backing Vocals

Kelly Keagy – Drums, Percussion, Lead & Backing Vocals

Brad Gillis – Lead & Rhythm guitars, Backing Vocals

Joel Hoekstra – Lead & Rhythm guitars, Backing Vocals

Eric Levy – Keyboards, Piano, Backing Vocals

















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www.nightranger.com