Please join Tim Durling and myself for this deep dive into Night Ranger’s fabulous 2014 album, High Road. This is a really special CD to me, with some great tracks including the title song, “I’m Coming Home” and “Don’t Live Here Anymore. Jack Blade, Brad Gillis, Kelly Keagy, Joel Hoekstra and Eric Levy really made a special album with this, and a pinnacle of the reunion era if you asked me.
Tim is doing this series of deep dives to celebrate his new book, Sing Me Away: The Night Ranger Album Review. You can get it on your local Amazon and check out an analysis of every Night Ranger album from a panel of experts. Including me!
Check out this episode of Tim’s Vinyl Confessions, which will premiere later today.
This is the second of three Night Ranger albums given to me by Tim Durling, and the second I have reviewed “live” with him. It is also the second, and last album to feature Joel Hoekstra on guitar who was soon off to join Whitesnake, where he remains today.
The title track “High Road” opens with some highbrow keyboards and an immediate melody. There’s a nu-country vibe to the chorus, but Jack Blades keeps it in rock territory. Tim Durling says he hears Damn Yankees, and I get that too, but I do hear that twang. “No the **** you don’t,” says Tim. The Gillis guitar solo is absolutely mental, tickling all my fancies. Great song…even if I’m hearing something that isn’t there. Sounds like summer to me.
Per Tim: “Here’s the problem with “new country” – most of it is just 80s rock with a slight twang – therefore, when a band like Night Ranger that legit came from the 80s makes new music, and it’s not super heavy, it could easily slide into that…and I HATE THIS!” Me too buddy, and that’s probably what I’m hearing.
The opening guitar of “Knock Knock Never Stop” recalls “Poundcake”, but this track could have worked on a certain 1983 by a British band from Sheffield…perhaps it already did! That’s the ballpark we’re in. It’s a popular place. Heavier guitars roll in on the groover “Rollin’ On” which sounds like a Morse/Airey-era Deep Purple classic. Not a sound you hear often, so bring it on.
“Don’t Live Here Anymore” is the first slower tune, but it’s got blues in the vocal and passion in the soul. Amazing vocal, just right in the pocket with grit and heart. Perhaps there’s a Whitesnake vibe here. Coverdale could easily “coverversion” this song. Then suddenly it picks up, and we’re in a Rainbow riff, kicking asses and scorching minds. This wouldn’t be a ballad, but an epic — because suddenly here are the angelic Night Ranger harmonies. If that wasn’t enough…it’s solo time! Epic, just epic, in arrangement, performance, production, mix…head to toe epic. The centerpiece.
A fun guitar riff opens “I’m Coming Home”, and I’m getting light progressive vibes overall. This track rocks in an 80s way, but not simple or straightforward. There’s tension, release, and pounding melodies. Midway, Jack throws down a neat bassline, right before a ripping solo tears your head off.
“X Generation” continues the hammering vibes, but in a modern context. It’s the first song that is failing to connect. Nothing bad about it, just didn’t have the same impact as the previous five tunes. Sounds like a number of bands from the Night Ranger era, making it work in the 2000s. Skid Row with Sollinger on lead vocals, perhaps.
“Only For You Only” is a lovely piano ballad with Jack singing, something akin to what some people expect from Night Ranger. These guys can really sing and that’s what sells it. For some steam, check “Hang On”! Slow and grooving with keyboard accents and a chugging bass, this song is boiling hot. Killer tune, delivering the heaviness without having to go full bore. Solos that burn. Awesome sauce.
Then, the spirit of Eddie Van Halen comes to the house on the intro to “St. Bartholomew”, an absolutely scorching song, at Fahrenheit 451. Once again, the vocals make it uniquely Night Ranger. Other bands may attempt songs of this nature, but few have the combination of chops and vocals that Night Ranger has. Unique dual solo here too with Brad and Joel Hoekstra trading licks.
The “standard” track list shows 10 songs, with “Brothers” being an acoustic closer. Definite Shaw-Blades vibes here. Hippies singing in a field, with a guy playing an electric guitar with the sun blazing behind him…that’s what I see. As per Tim, “and anyone stepping within twenty feet of any of them gets a huge contact high.” They were definitely spinning “Hey Jude” before they wrote this ending.
Then we have the two “bonus tracks”, though we don’t know why! They do sound separate from the album because “Brothers” is an ideal closer. “L.A. No Name” is an acoustic workout, with the two guitarists playing a beautiful classical and Spanish influenced number that could have been a textbook workout for expert students! This is not lightweight, not by any stretch.
The last song is bonus track “Mountain Song” which really shows off Jack’s creativity as a writer of basslines. It has an “Eye of the Tiger” vibe, but far heavier and punchier. Tim: “It’s similar to “Halfway to the Sun” from 1988’s overlooked Man in Motion album.”
A solid 4/5 stars. The first “side” is stronger, but there’s nothing to skip.
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