Night Ranger – ‘Best Of’

(Frontiers Music)

There are certain bands who need absolutely no introduction to anyone with even a passing interest in melodic rock, and Night Ranger are unquestionably one of them. Emerging from the American rock scene in the early Eighties, they carved out a reputation for delivering infectious melodies, superb musicianship, huge choruses and that unmistakable blend of hard rock muscle and radio-friendly accessibility. Over the decades they have continued to release music, proving that Night Ranger are far more than a nostalgia act living off the glory days.

This new Best Of collection attempts to bring both sides of the Night Ranger story together, combining five remixed and remastered classics from the band's early years with a much larger selection of material from the modern era. It's an interesting approach because rather than simply being another greatest hits package concentrating entirely on the band's past, this collection gives the listener a taste of where Night Ranger have been and where they are now.

For existing fans who already own the band's albums, however, there's an obvious elephant in the room. If you've already got the classic records and the more recent releases sitting proudly on your shelf or filling up your digital collection, there isn't really a huge amount of incentive to rush out and buy this. The five revamped classics sound great, and it's certainly nice to hear these songs given a fresh coat of paint, but they're hardly essential purchases when you already own the originals. Likewise, most of the modern-era material can be found elsewhere.

But that's not necessarily who this collection is aimed at.

For anyone discovering Night Ranger for the first time, this Best Of actually works extremely well. It acts almost like a musical history lesson, giving newcomers a snapshot of the band across several decades without forcing them to immediately wade through a huge back catalogue. The five remixed and remastered old-school cuts provide a tantalising glimpse of classic Night Ranger, while the larger representation of modern material demonstrates that this is a band who haven't simply spent the last few decades looking backwards.

And that modern material is important.

One of the most impressive things about Night Ranger is just how successfully they have retained their identity. There is an unmistakable Night Ranger sound running throughout this collection, regardless of when the material was recorded. The guitars remain a crucial part of the equation, balancing melodic precision with enough punch to keep things firmly rooted in rock territory. The harmonies are another defining feature, while the keyboards help provide that wonderfully polished American melodic rock sheen.

Most importantly, the songwriting remains strong.

Night Ranger have always understood the importance of a great chorus. This is melodic rock designed to make an immediate connection, but there is enough substance underneath the glossy production to keep things interesting beyond that initial hook. The melodies are memorable, the arrangements are carefully constructed and the musicianship is consistently impressive without ever becoming an excuse for unnecessary showing off.

The remixed and remastered classic-era material certainly benefits from the modern treatment. There's more clarity and punch to the sound, allowing those familiar performances to come roaring out of the speakers with renewed energy. It's not a radical reinvention, nor should it be. These songs are classics for a reason, and thankfully the production refresh doesn't attempt to turn them into something they aren't.

The real selling point for me, though, is the contrast between old and new. Put together in this way, you can hear how Night Ranger have evolved while also appreciating just how much of their musical DNA has remained intact. There are decades separating some of this material, yet the transition isn't jarring. Instead, it feels like listening to the same band continuing to develop rather than desperately attempting to recreate the past.

That's something worth celebrating.

In an era when far too many veteran rock bands seem content to endlessly tour the same handful of songs from their youth, Night Ranger deserve credit for continuing to make new music and for ensuring that their modern output can stand alongside their legacy. This collection makes that abundantly clear.

There is also a refreshing lack of pretension here. Night Ranger make melodic rock, and they make it extremely well. This is music built around big melodies, great guitars, soaring vocals, polished production and choruses that practically demand to be sung along with. If your musical tastes lean towards classic American melodic rock and AOR, there is an awful lot here to enjoy.

Ultimately, though, Best Of is a collection that comes with a fairly obvious recommendation attached to it. If you're already a dedicated Night Ranger fan with the majority of their catalogue, you probably don't need this album. The remixes are enjoyable, but they aren't enough on their own to make the purchase essential.

If, however, you're new to the band, this is a cracking place to start.

The five ramped-up classic-era recordings give you a taste of the Night Ranger that made such an impact in the Eighties, while the modern-era material demonstrates that the band still have plenty of fuel in the tank. It's a broad, entertaining and highly melodic overview of a career that has stretched across generations.

So, while this may not be an essential purchase for the long-term Night Ranger collector, for the newcomer it serves its purpose admirably. Think of it as an appetiser rather than the full banquet. It should leave you wanting to investigate the individual albums and discover more.

And when a Best Of compilation makes you want to hear more of the band, rather than simply ticking a box and moving on, I'd say it's doing its job rather nicely.

A very enjoyable introduction to the world of Night Ranger, although existing fans will probably already own everything they need.

8/10

Essential Track – ‘Four In The Morning’

Review by Woody