- Release date:
- July 1, 2008
- Artist/Band name:
- Night Ranger
- Record label:
- VH1 Classic
- Official Web Site:
- http://www.nightranger.com/
Why you should care: Um, hello: “Sister Christian”? The second-best AOR ballad of all time (behind “Don’t Stop Believin’” and just ahead of “More Than a Feeling,” if you care to ask) gives the band some pop culture caché. And “Hole in the Sun” is actually both an affirmation of the group’s strengths (big harmonies with shared lead vocals, shredding guitar work) and a surprisingly effective piece of rock, mixing both classic and modern touches. “Whatever Happened” is a solid blast of power-pop, “There is Life” oscillates between Def Leppard and Queen balladry, and “White Knuckle Bitch” is almost Disturbed-like in its intensity.
Verdict: Yes, the lyrics can be trying (“she’s a bottled bitch/it’s angry thirst/only she can quench”), but almost anything on “Hole” would work nicely on today’s rock radio, sandwiched between Kid Rock, Three Days Grace and Buckcherry. And hey, how often can you find a song (“Rockstar”) that sounds like both Blur’s “Song #2” and Dio-era Rainbow?
X-Factor: Classic rock fans, take heart: the record includes acoustic versions of Night Ranger’s two best songs, “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me” and (of course) “Sister Christian.”
Add a comment