As everyone knows, Melodic forms of Hard Rock are usually called as AOR (that means Adult-Orientated Rock or Album-Orientated Rock), where things are built upon catchy melodies inherited from Pop and Pop Rock that are conducted at the same time by prevalent keyboards orchestrations and instrumental tunes that aren’t as distorted as the usual for Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. It can be said as a radio-friendly musical genre that’s accessible for non-Rock fans (even your grandmother can hear and like the genre), and the best examples are acts as JOURNEY, FOREIGNER, BON JOVI, TOTO, BOSTON and others who ruled the parades and radios in the USA during the 70s and 80s. Today, the commercial axis of the genre moved from USA to Europe, and it’s the reason for albums as “Nothing Left to Lose”, of the Swedish singer Kent Hilli are being released. 

Obviously the paragraph above states that “Nothing Left to Lose” is an AOR album, and as such thing, it’s filled with hooking melodies and choruses that are hard to hear once and to not sing along on the second time (I’m dealing with it as I write these words, and it’s not simple to write and sing at the same time). But it presents as well the refined arrangements (nothing is out of its place and not done in a gross form), the right balance between technique and melodies (to keep things accessible for non-Rock fans), a massive dose of energy and a personal work. And as Kent’s second solo album, it depicts a solid work that shows a perfect care for making everything sound as it must be. It’s impossible to resist to it! The album was produced by the hands of Jimmy Westerlund, having Kent and Ulrick Lönnqvist working as co-producers. The sonority is everything usual for the genre: clean and defined, allowing the melodies and arrangements to be fully understood. But it bears a 80s outfit in terms of care as well. 

It’s not a sin to say that “Nothing Left to Lose” was born perfect, because the inspiration pulses in every song (and the spontaneous appeal as well), but for a first ride on it, taste “Too Young” (a massive and accessible AOR song with everything on its place, with wonderful melodies and a perfect singing), “Nothing Left to Lose” (with the presence of Jimmy Westerlund and Kai Hahto, with some heavier riffing from the guitars, without tearing apart the accessibility of the melodies), “Could this Be Love” (another excellent set of melodies, this time based on a strong presence of bass guitar and drums on the rhythms), “A Fool to Believe” (again heavier guitar parts appears, but what lovely singing and keyboards arrangements), “Every Time We Say Goodbye” (one extremely accessible song in an AOR sense, with a silky outfit that can become a solid success on radios), “Stronger” (this one seems MUST BE on a film soundtrack, because it’s perfect for it due its melodic and commercial appeal)… Oh, come on! “Nothing Left to Lose” is a perfect album, so hear to “Does He Love Like Me”, “Start It all Over”, “Heard It All Before”, “Saving Us”, “Only Dreaming” and the bonus track for Japanese release of the album, the acoustic version for “Every Time We Say Goodbye”. 

If there’s justice in the world, “Nothing Left to Lose” will become a massive commercial success throughout the world (except in Brazil, for here what’s really good never get what it deserves), and let’s give effusive applause to Kent Hilli’s work.