Search - Night Ranger :: Hits Acoustic & Rarities

A live album would have been better

George Dionne | Cape Cod, MA | 01/14/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The Good

Looking back, Night Ranger might have been one of the cheesiest bands from the 80's pop-rock era, but damn were they huge back them. Twenty years later, the band still proves they can belt `em out. Hits is more of a greatest hits re-do. Songs like "Don't Tell Me You Love Me," "(You Can Still) Rock In America," "When You Close Your Eyes," and "Sing Me Away," are just as enjoyable and vibrant as they were back in the day. Granted, Jack Blades and Kelly Keagy can't exactly hit the high notes like they used to, but they haven't lost their melody and tone.



I swear that Brad Gillis and Jeff Watson have vastly improved as guitar players. Not that they were bad or anything, but their guitar solos are on fire on this collection. "Sister Christian" appears twice on this collection. The first version is a new studio version and the other is the acoustic version that appeared on Metal Mania Stripped. If you put them head to head, I'd have to pick the acoustic one as the winner. "Don't Tell Me Love Me" appears twice as well. The second version is a live one.



The Bad

I've never been a big fan of updating you old material. If you want to do that, just release a live album. I'd pick the original greatest hits over this one, because that's how I remember the songs. Oh yeah, there's only one rare and one acoustic song, yet they get top billing the album's title. And could the cover art be any worse.



The Verdict

Hey, I like Night Ranger. That's why I picked this one up. I'm sure a lot of people like Night Ranger, and will pick this up for that same reason. However, this `hits' collection only serves to acquaint you with how the band sounds today. They sound great, but a live album would have been better. They could have also added more acoustic & actual rare material. Give me the original studio album or their greatest hits album and I'll be satisfied.

"

Memory-Go-Round

William Smith | Fontana, CA United States | 01/18/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ok. Here's the thing. I pulled Night Ranger out for the usual "two year dusting" not long ago and it just wasn't the same. It just seems as the years wear on I'm losing my old friends... the production just seems to get worse with each passing year. Enter this CD.



It's everything I could have hoped for. It's so good, powerful, clean, and emotional... I became emotional. These recordings are RELENTLESSSS. I never EVER could have imagined a "re-do" cd could hit the mark so hard. These guys just don't miss a step, each song still has all the little nuances we all love but there are NEW ones! I just love the different ways each song is sung, not "exactly" like the old songs like a new "live" cd would have turned out. I just cannot STOP listening to this, it's like I'm 17 again. Thanks guys, wherever you are, you are really BACK!!



The only critique I have are the low amount of songs (and the rather peculiar title for this). I would KILL to hear Color of Your Smile with THIS up to date crisp production!! Please guys, PLEASE do a companion CD to this!! **OMG, Sing Me Away just came ON......... YOU HAVE TO HEAR HOW THIS SONG SOUNDS NOW!!** Just so you know, I too am "usually" a firm believer of leaving classics alone, but have you listened to NR lately? The songs are great, the production was always middle of the road (NO BITE) and time is not being kind. This is JUSTICE.



((And incidently, Night Ranger really has been a "poser" whipping boy for some years now, how did this happen?? These guys are FANTASTIC musicians, you'd think Night Ranger was Poison or something with the way the media/print carry on about these guys. Brad Gillis > everyone except Randy Rhoads, and Eddie:))



And who said Kelly and Jack can't hit their notes? I would swear this was recorded 20 years ago, with todays equipment. PLEASE BUY THIS."

Sing Me Away

drbreedlove | Indiana | 01/27/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of the things I wonder about when I listen to music, is if the bands still like their old songs and hits and if they still enjoy preforming them. This album definitely speaks for itself. Its raw, fresh and full of wonderful memories. These guys are still at the top of their game. You get the impression that they still think about the emotional experiences in the songs. All the heartbreaks and inspirations that I relate with. Thanks guys."