Customer Reviews
Best album of 1985
At first, the only two songs on the album I listened to were "Sentimental Street" and 'I Will Follow You". I remember when I first heard "Sentimental Street" in 2001, I was immediatley hooked, and as soon as I got the chance, I special ordered "7 Wishes" from a local record shop. I slowly worked my way to the other songs on the album starting in December with "Goodbye", and then "Four in the Morning" in March, then after that, "Interstate Love Affair", "Night Machine", the title track in 2003, and then I listened to the songs I hadn't heard yet in 2004. This is one of my all time favorite albums. "Sentimental Street" is Night Ranger's best song ever (much better than the overplayed Sister Christian). "7 Wishes" is right up there with anything by Journey, Styx, Boston, REO Speedwagon, and any other arena rock legends. Pick this one up!.
Commercial Development
The band is made up of top-level musicians with each of them tend to play individually. Night Ranger is the top student of melodic rock school. Jack Blades did the difficult task of coordinating such talents into organized expert work. The band started career just when two key trends upset the music world. To become huge in corporate rock world the band must have either of two elements. Girly high-toned vocal just as Steve Perry, and Mickey Thomas to accommodate with synth-heavy music. Perfect command of keyboard-heavy pomp rock arrangement just as Boston did. Alan Fitzgerald with masterful command of keyboard made one element cleared. But the band does not have the second element high-toned vocal. Jack Blades and Kelly Keagy co-vocaled and supplemented the lack each other. There is another deadlock the band must pass. To become commercially huge they must have ballad hits. Survivor did make rock hit EYE OF THE TIGER but as Jim Peterik himself admits this was just the exception rather than rule. Previous album with top 5 ballad hit SISTER CHRISTIAN and the band cleared the last obstacle. So the third album with some ballad hits is the natural outcome. Why can't they rival with Journey, Toto, Survivor and Def Leppard and pursue what they were trying to achieve?
CRITICISM FROM CORE FANS
However, rock fans who lauded them as some kind of metal rock saviors began to complain about too many ballads particularly GOODBYE. Japanese metal fans who think of JUDAS PRIEST as their rock god and keen readers of BURRN magazine in particular wrote them off as gone badly as AIR-SUPPLY sort of junks.
ERRATIC SONG ARRANGEMENT
Album song arrangement made the ire of the fans worse I think.
Why Goodbye is the last song of the album? It's not a good choice. Yeah some metal bands do this but with much caution. To set the last song ballad like the ballad must be bombastic. Good example is recent Pride of Lions GIFT OF SONG and Fair Warning's Four ending song FOR THE YOUNG or their rival Survivor's I SEE YOU EVERYONE in Vital Signs. NIGHT MACHINE is supposed to be the last. They should have adopted the "LUMP CATCHY SONGS" rule and made "goodbye" locate the first half of the album. Just as Survivor's Vital Signs did why not fourth track rather than last?
ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS
FACES: Dramatic intro warmly vocals, excellently structured.
THIS BOY NEEDS TO ROCK: Fun uptempo rock track answering Bryan Adams's KIDS WANNA ROCK?
I WILL FOLLOW YOU: My top favorite emotional power ballad.
INTERSTATE LOVE AFFAIR: Upbeat rocker essential for concerts.
NIGHT MACHINE: Yeah. That's what Night Ranger is all about.
GOODBYE: Nice power ballad but not the song for the last track.
Since this album's severe feedback the band trying to reorganize just in vain. They made great last album of the 80s MAN IN MOTION but after that the band called it quit and until 97 reunion fans felt sorry for the loss of one of the greatest rock bands on earth.
Verdict: Excellent album. Forget power ballad hits. Rockers are super.
Rating: 94 out of 100. Minus three points for "Goodbye" issue.
Recommended for mid 80s pop fans who like Survivor, Foreigner, Toto, and Def Leppard.
.
Night Ranger
D I have brought for 17 Years since Big Life. Is is the first Night Ranger C. Not a bad album the best track on their is seven wishes. The album is far better than Big Life a with a lot rock .
. You can see a complete list of all Night Ranger discography, or go back to the Night Ranger tabs
|
