N.O.W. - Bohemian Kingdom

Who would have thought AOR had a bright future in Brazil? I sure didn’t, the Brazilians seemed to me more inclined towards metal than to classic rock. But this was before I was introduced to Alec Mendonça, with this second record released as N.O.W.

It is said that Mendonça’s life changed when he was 6 and heard Boston for the first time. Bohemian Kingdom shows us very clearly what he has been listening (quite a lot) since then: Foreigner, Journey, Toto, Asia, Rainbow. The record is some sort of Best of classic rock, sounds like all the above bands, without copying any of them too obviously, except occasionally (once Mama I'm Coming Home and another time Soldier of Fortune). But the general approach is not to copy, but to recapitulate. I have heard so many bands that do this, and do it badly, that I’m already bored before listening, only after reading the presentation. N.O.W.’s record has a few aces up its sleeve that will make it not feel like a waste of time.

The first and the most important, especially when the music has no personality: it has inspired songs, pleasant choruses, easy to sing along with, and a catchy rhythm. Then there’s a competent singer, with the right tone for classic rock, perhaps too right, so right you may call it generic, but this is the general spirit of the album. And it also has a capable guitar player, with a sense of melody and rhythm, filling the spaces with charming intervention. 

I find this enough for an album, not reasonable but agreeable, to get melodic rock out of its torpor.

Klawz Nota: 8