Don't Let Up

Don't Let Up is the twelfth album, on which Night Ranger sounded the texture of the melodic hard rock it had long cultivated as present-tense freshness rather than nostalgia. To the core of Jack Blades (bass/vocals), Brad Gillis (guitar) and Kelly Keagy (drums), newly joined Keri Kelli (guitar) and Eric Levy (keyboards) were added. For Kelli, Hoekstra's successor, this is the first studio work. The sound is bright and open, but the foundation of riffs and rhythm is not light. The drive of "Somehow Someway" and the hook of "Truth" convey a stance of using experienced playing for the sake of the singing. The lift of big choruses lives on songs like "Day and Night" and "Running Out of Time" too. As a result of emphasizing flow over speed and hook placement over flash, details come into view the more you replay even the light songs. A record that naturally proved Night Ranger can still write strong rock songs.