NIGHT RANGER – ATBPO (2021 Frontiers)

Here we go with the third and final (to date) Night Ranger album gifted to me by Tim Durling.  ATBPO stands for And the Band Played On.  And play on they did, now with Keri Kelli on guitar after the departure of Joel Hoekstra, currently in Whitesnake.  Tim praises this album highly, so let’s find out why.

Some of the heaviest, slamming guitar I’ve heard from Night Ranger opens up the menacingly fun “Coming For You”.  For some reason I’m thinking of “Lost In America” by Alice Cooper.  This one is a grower.  It jumps out more listen after listen.  There are poker metaphors and a killer multi-part guitar solo!  Sounds absolutely wicked, modern and technical, like Steve Stevens on adrenaline.  It is quite possible that Brad Gillis is from outer space.

Second is “Bring It All Home To Me”, slowing the pace to a hard rock summer groove.  I mentioned to Tim, I was hearing some twang in Night Ranger on the High Road album.  I hear a teensy bit of that on the “baby, baby, baby” part of “Bring It All Home To Me”.  Tim will argue that I am hearing that because nu-country appropriated a lot of 80s hard rock, and there’s an association there.  Another bonkers solo here, making it two in a row for songs that fans of original guitar shred will want to hear.

More Gillis madness on the progressive sounding “Breakout”, bringing back the speed, but with a technical edge that few bands can really match.  Kelly Keagy’s nuts on the drums, and fretboards are burning on the solo.  This has to be one of the hardest Night Ranger songs to date.  Then, a boogie piano and a surprising cocaine reference opens “Hard to Make it Easy”, and I’m resisting saying the word ” country” again…but there it is.  This has line-dancing qualities.  Now I’m not meaning this in a bad way.  Night Ranger are allowed to stretch out and play stuff like this, and I won’t complain.  The chorus sounds like Shania…just sayin’…but the dual guitar solo is more Lizzy.

We go somewhere down the crazy river with the snaky opening guitars of “Can’t Afford a Hero”, which soon transitions to a standard acoustic ballad.  It would make a good Shaw-Blades track.  Good tune with, again, great solo work.  One of the more adventurous tunes.

“Cold As December” is a standout, with a powerful quality you can just pound your fist to.  It’s just all riff and all beef!  The guitar and vocals melodies are its strength.  Despite its edge, the melodies and hooks shine through.

An unfortunate “We Will Rock You” drum beat soon gives way to another good song, “Dance”, a power ballad with more power than ballad.  Really nice song.  “The Hardest Road” is also ballady, but Kelly Keagy’s lead vocal adds a ragged raspy edge that enhances it beyond.  Then the surprising “Monkey” kicks in with a serious beat.  This is the song that would sound best in the car when you’re on the highway.  Just non-stop stomp.

“A Lucky Man” is an album highlight, upbeat and bright, with a hint of that twang I keep hearing.  This would definitely sound great at camp or cottage in the summertime.  The keyboard and guitar solos are from the moon, which offsets the twang.  Another personal favourite, easy peasy.  Some tasty sweet guitar harmonies open up “Tomorrow”, another nice upbeat rocker with classy keyboard accents.

The closer is a “bonus track” (I ask why?) called “Savior”.  It’s a little…goofy?  I don’t know.  Everybody’s looking for a good time?  Sure.  I’ll agree with that.  Not sure about the song though.

Solid album, if a bit long:  3.5/5 stars.