There has been some great music released recently in the wake of the resurgence of AOR (mainly thanks to GLEE!!). New offerings from Sunstorm (Joe Lynn Turner), Blanc Faces, Terry Brock, Two Fires and Shinning Line have all joined Journey in releasing quality material in recent months. So when I heard that Night Ranger were jumping on the 'band waggon' I was curious to see what Jack Blades (bass & Lead vocals) and the (old farts) band would come up with. 'Midnight Madness' (1983) and 'Big Life' (1987) were de-rigour in the 80's, then they went bland and dull with 'Man In Motion' (1988). Time to get a proper job and settle down.
So what of 'Somewhere In California'....
Forget winding the windows down; just rip the whole roof off and turn it up!! Sod the rain; put your Ray Bans on and (if you have any left) let the wind fly through your hair.
Remind your kids that you used to be young once in this is what great music can make you feel like.
There are so many reasons why this album has jumped to the top of my personal 'Best of 2011' list. On Journeys last album I felt they lost their anthemic style that they were renowned for. Fortunately Night Ranger found it and sprinkled this album with anthems a plenty.
"Growing Up In California" kicks the whole thing off with a corking guitar/keyboard harmony intro then you are transported back to a time when music meant something to you and your mates.
"Lay It On Me" has got a riff to die for. They are guilty of stealing from Metallica and Bon Jovi but as Blades sings "we don't even care", you quickly forgive them as you will find yourself with a smile on your face trying to remember where you put your old cowboy boots, and cursing your pot belly.
"Bye Bye Baby (Not Tonight)" will have you raising one hand in the air as count the beat on the steering wheel. OK, so your going to get some strange looks from the people in the car next to you, but just make sure your drowning out their "Now 78" CD.
"Time Of Our Lives" is Sister Christian circa 2011. Big power ballad, big vocals, big guitar solo.
"No Time Top Loose Ya" is a classic Major/Minor/Major chorus with a chugging guitar verse. Yes its been done a million times before, but no-one does it today!! And a harmony guitar solo ...oh yeah!!!
"It's Not Over" is Air Guitar Heaven, and it will have you singing 'goodbye' at the top of your voice at the end of every chorus.
"Rock n' Roll Tonite" does what it says on the tin, so make sure yours peakers can handle this one. I harks back to the days when record companies used to let musicians go into the studio and have some fun.
"Say It With Love" closes the album, and if you've got this far you are richly rewarded with some awesome interplay between keyboards and guitar. This song is full of light and shade and by the time you listen to the last piano triplet at the end of the outro you will be wanting to share the experience with someone else...as I have done.
