GNR Essentials

Anchored by the suave and ageless vocals of charismatic singer/songwriter Rui Reininho, Portuguese trio Grupo Novo Rock helped to codify the sound of their country's rock music in the early ‘80s while also bringing it into the 21st century. Anthemic piano notes ground the confident strut of “Cadeira Eléctrica”, while tubular surf guitar twangs throughout “Quero Que Vá Tudo Pro Inferno” (though Reininho's gravitas keeps it from floating off). Electronics blip and thump on “Reis do Roquem”, and New Wave nerviness makes its way into the buzzing synths of “Portugal Na Cee”.