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NIGHT RANGER
ATBPO (And The Band Played On)
Frontiers Music Srl

As live music starts to return and bands are busy booking shows across the country, 80’s rockers NIGHT RANGER come out of the COVID lockdown all guns blazing by delivering their 13th studio album entitled ATBPO (And The Band Played On) via Frontiers Music, the follow up to 2017’s Don’t Let Up. Not only does this album show that the band is continuing to create new music, it also displays their versatility as writers and musicians. The nucleus of the band remains intact with founding members Jack Blades (Bass and Lead Vocals), Brad Gillis (Lead Guitar and backing vocals) and Kelly Keagy (Drums and Lead Vocals) approaching 40 years together. Eric Levy (Keyboards and backing vocals) returns for his 4th studio album and completing the lineup is Keri Kelli (Lead Guitar and backing vocals) back for his 2nd studio album.

Long time and hardcore NIGHT RANGER fans get everything that they love about a NIGHT RANGER album with ATBPO, which is the big choruses, dual guitar harmonies, plenty of Brad Gillis’ whammy bar and Jack Blades and Kelly Keagy pouring out some great vocals all delivering the NIGHT RANGER “Vibe” and if you’re not sure what the NIGHT RANGER “vibe” is, it’s somewhere between California and anywhere with your window down and the stereo cranked just takin’ it in. The first track “Coming For You” is an up tempo slammin’ classic. The second track “Bring It All Home To Me”, along with the third track “Breakout”, were both released as video singles and have been getting massive play on YouTube.

“Hard To Make It Easy” is the fourth track that has a fun rockin’ country vibe to it with the band showing their versatility. The fifth track “Can’t Afford A Hero” is an inspirational ballad that was recently released and is receiving high praise. Track six, “Cold As December” is a hidden gem on this album. It has all of the elements of a classic NIGHT RANGER song. “Dance” is track seven and I can easily hear this one getting massive radio play back when mainstream radio played good music. Kelly Keagy really shines on track eight, “The Hardest Road” and Jack Blades delivers “Monkey” on track nine which is just a pure guitar slamming throw down. Track ten, “A Lucky Man” is another up tempo rocker and finally track eleven, “Tomorrow”, featuring Kelly Keagy again on vocals, may be the best track saved for last, but you’ll have to decide and it’ll be fun as this is another solid album from NIGHT RANGER, packed full of really great music that was put together during the lockdown. The band certainly used the time to its advantage.

I mentioned that the diehard NIGHT RANGER fans will love this album but it’s got a lot that’s going to appeal to even the casual fan. Hopefully the casual fans that were drawn in by hits like “Sister Christian” and “You Can Still Rock (In America)" off of Midnight Madness and “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me” off of Dawn Patrol will see that NIGHT RANGER has a new album and will pick up ATBPO and say “Man, these guys still make some great music”. And the thing is that they ALWAYS HAVE! And maybe after they wear ATBPO out they’ll dig deeper into the NIGHT RANGER catalog and truly discover the NIGHT RANGER “vibe”. The diehards will tell you that it was the hits that drew them in but it was all that other stuff, the deeper tracks that hooked them forever. ATBPO drops August 6th on Frontiers Music, and presales have been offering Yellow, Blue, Red and Crystal vinyl and CD so pick it up and spin it! NIGHT RANGER will be celebrating their 40th anniversary in 2022. 40 years and still Rocking America and everywhere else.

4.0 Out Of 5.0