Pretenders

This is what 1001 albums is for. I had only heard the radio hits and kind of written the Pretenders off for some reason. Just never took the time to listen further. This is way edgier than what I was expecting. Like the punk energy with the catchy pop hooks. Chrissie Hynde has instantly shot up into my top female performers of all time list. Had no idea she was the lead songwriter and rhythm guitarist. Love her vocal style. Like some kind of hybrid of Joni Mitchell and Patti Smith. Super impressed. Have to say, though I love Nick Lowe, I'm glad he only produced the one single and not the rest of the album. His track is too thin and bright and kind of sticks out awkwardly in the mix of the album. I think I'll be going through the rest of their catalog now.

Interesting instrumentals, sometimes with odd time signatures. Unique voice and singing style. I love the drums especially, the drummer stays right in the pocket and matches the songs' vibes perfectly.

This is incredible! I’ve never heard the Pretenders before and am pleasantly surprised.

Their later albums have more hits, but you can still appreciate edgy songwriting and Chrissie Hynde's great voice

Argh! I've just rediscovered this after 40 years. I bought this from the record stall at Wembley market but wasn't overly into it so consigned it to the back of the collection. Listening to it now I realise how wrong I was. Brass in Pocket is the big hit but my favourites now are: Kid, Stop your sobbing and Private Life (written by Chrissie and covered by Grace Jones). Can't stop playing it now.

Está pirata que nunca he escuchado bien a esta banda, a pesar de que su cantante me cae de huevos y que conozco su historia, papel e importancia en el punk inglés. Siempre asumí que era una banda más new wavey, como más plasticona. Pero no, eh, la neta este disco está chingón. De lo que me he perdido. Oh no, porque siendo honesto, no me hubiera gustado esto tanto más morro. En fin, es un gran disco de los 80, del punk, del new wave. ¿Noto una cierta influencia en PJ Harvey? No se me hace tan descabellado. También me dejó claro que si unes The Clash + Pretenders te salen los Libertines. Increíbles riffs a montones. Space Invader, wow.

talk-singing. universal mullet music.

I've always found Hynde's vocal style quite irritating, and their debut doesn't have much in the way of tunes to redeem this, many tracks seemingly an exercise in attitude over content. Best song on here is by The Kinks, one my kids know all too well. They got better, but this is not great.

flawless

One of the great debuts of all time. Chrissie Hyndesexy swagger is captivating but it's not only that the music is mature and confident in a way debuts just aren't supposed to be. They seemlessly move from Punk to new wave to ballads with the skill of a veteran group. Their rendition of The Kinks Stop Your Sobbing is simply perfect. This truly is an album everyone needs to hear. 5 stars

This is great, love the singer, love the instrumentation, love the aggression. Definitely a new favorite.

Chrissie Hynde is a major rock talent who had a surprisingly hard time breaking into the industry. She clearly had the brains, drive, ambition, talent and charisma who seemed to be constantly shut out of opportunities. She made sure she was in the right spot with the right people (she has an incredible eye for talent), but it just didn't come together for five years before The Pretenders finally came together. I suspect a lot of the reason is that she was a woman. Woman have often been excluded from rock music based purely on prejudice. This 1001 albums list has a massive over-representation of straight white males, and woman are probably the most obviously under-represented cohort on the list. This is both a result of the long-standing sexism of the rock industry, but also a symptom of the fact that that sexism has seeped into the cultural fabric of rock history. I am always glad when a female artist turns up on the list, because they have to work twice as hard for half the credit. And Chrissie Hynde deserves every accolade. The subsequent history of The Pretenders has become the Chrissie Hynde Show and often veers a bit closer to the mainstream than fits my personal taste, but I really love this first record. The Pretenders are playing like a real band (James Honeyman-Scott is a particular standout - his lead playing is really great), but it is Chrissie's voice (both literal and in the songwriting sense) that gives this record all of its soul and character. This is loud, fast, hungry rock and roll with a slight punk edge (without being behoven to generic restrictions). The songs are outstanding, and the whole thing is played with an exciting verve. Tight, but with a dangerous edge. This record knows what it wants to do and lands it perfectly. Favourite song: Precious. There weren't many prior examples of female front-people doing this before 1980, and Chrissie Hynde absolutely nails the brief. We need more female artist on this 1001 albums list. Also, today I learned that Chrissie Hynde co-wrote 'Smelly Cat' for the Friends TV show. 4.5 stars, rounding up.

Wow, what a great album. The whole thing is a banger.

I do like the sound of the Pretenders and the album totally rocked for me!

This is badass.

Always wanted to like the Pretenders more - and definitely do now after listening to this album!

Loved the way the songs sound. So distinct but sounds so effortless.

2.5 The Pretenders are a band I've always wanted to like, but for some reason I just can't quite get to click with me. This album feels like something I would love... I adore Chrissie Hynde's voice, and the music I would best describe as a manifestation of the punk to new wave transition. Hell, Johnny Marr would even later credit the guitar work on the album as his biggest inspiration for The Smiths (one of my all-time faves!). Yet despite all of that, it just feels like they neglect to do anything overly-interesting with the tools they have at their disposal. I'll admit this album kicks off pretty strongly with tracks like Precious and Up the Neck, but starting around Space Invader, slowly but surely, I feel like the album becomes less and less musically interesting, to the point where I was kind of over it at Private Life. Overall, a net okay album - Tattooed Love Boys is a jam though and by far the best song on the album. Favorite songs: Tattooed Love Boys, Precious, Up the Neck

I really dig this. Lots of musical influences, can really hear the punk in there. Her voice is fantastic too.

This is a really stunning debut album, long a favorite of mine. Some of these songs have been classics for years both for mainstream and alternative audiences, it's hard to imagine what the impact must have been when the songs were new. What an amazing contrast between the deeply cool badassery of songs like "Precious" and "Tattooed Love Boys" and the unexpected softness and vulnerability of "Kid" and "Lovers of Today." Wow. The arrangements are crisp and tight and the guitar work is top notch. It feels so fresh, even today. Hynde is mesmerizing as the lead, with flawless vocals and lyrics that run the gambit from dreamy to empowering to occasionally disturbing. You could write a whole dissertation on the sexual politics of these songs. Nothing but love for this album, front to back. Favorite songs: Kid, Brass in Pocket, Tattooed Love Boys, Mystery Achievement

Wow, this was a dead center album for me.

Unexpected. Met me where I was at. Absolutely loved it.

This was great! Only heard one of these song before but I loved every song on this album. A really great mix of British and American rock. Favourite: The Wait

"Now I see you All impressed and half undressed You got paint stick all over the scars and lumps and bumps" (Tattooed love boys) "I said child, child staring into the street light And messed up child, lonely boy tonight Kick the wall, turn the street and back again Oh boy you've been forgotten" (The wait) "Your private life drama baby leave me out J'ai les glands with your theatrics Your acting's a drag It's o.k. on TV 'cause you can turn it off But don't try me Yes your marriage is a tragedy But it's not my concern I'm very superficial I hate anything official" (Private life) ¡Qué alegría escuchar a una señora para variar!

It's alright. Non offensive and okay as background music.

Such a classic album

This album was surprisingly great. I like their unique sound, which brings so much to each track on the album. Real great stuff.

This album makes me light headed with joy. Give me Chrissie Hynde and Debbie Harry and you can keep the rest.

God damn, this is a hell of a first album! Aggressive, introspective, deliciously cutting - it grabs you by the throat and never lets go. And why should it?

Highly, highly enjoyable. The music is pitched – temporally, stylistically – between Television and Sonic Youth. Chrissie Hynde stands alone. A fantastic record (tragic about half the band, though!).

So I liked all the pieces individually but not necessarily all together. I liked the lyrics, I liked her voice and I liked the instruments. But (for me) together they just didn't mix always, making songs seem long and drawn out (Private Life felt like it wouldn't end). I liked The Phone Call and Up the Neck. I also really liked the lyrics in Tattooed Love Boys and the music of Space Invader. I wouldn't give up on the band but maybe this album.

I don’t really get this one. It’s got some good elements but there’s no real hooks, the singer is just kind of whatever, and none of the songs stick out much. Feels like it’s halfway between punk and new wave in a bad way, not really achieving the strengths of either genre.

It's wild how music can transport you back to one day in your life from 34 years ago. First time I heard this I was in the back of a car riding to a Renaissance faire. I was really blown away by how good it was. Everything that day was perfect. Good friends, good weather, good food and drink. Good memories of that day. The first two Pretenders albums are untouchable. I'd take Chrissie Hynde to front any band I was in.

Great album.

10/10 nada más porque tengo un soft spot por las bandas de rock lideradas por mujeres. Aunque la verdad, más allá de eso, sí disfruté mucho el álbum. Creo que el hilo conductor es la voz de Chrissie Hynde, que es muy poderosa y la sabe adaptar (?) a los distintos ritmos que encontramos en el disco, además de a las letras. Y pensar que iba a “Did not listen”.

Me gustaron sobre todo las canciones enérgicas, las más tranquilas como que me aburrieron, aunque la instrumental "Space Invader" fue muy divertida. Me gusta este sonido rockero ya en otro tono y la voz me gustó. Sobre todo fue bueno conocer mejor a los Pretenders, a quienes ubicaba creo más de oídas. Mis canciones destacadas: "Precious", "Up the Neck" y "The Wait". 7.5/10

I like the Pretenders as a singles band a lot, but their albums tend to get boring for me.

Always loved Brass in Pocket, and a few others on this album are OK too. Might listen again

Not a big fan Hynde singing style, the album itself is surprisingly weak and kind of boring, commercially approved punk. Except for Tattooed Love Boys and The Phone Call

Don’t think I’ll be listening again though I’m sure I’ll hear Brass Pocket out in the world. Private Life is really not a very good song to put it lightly. A one drop? And what on god’s earth was that guitar solo doing there? Why are you shredding right now? So very Rigs of Dad. And what in the what are those lyrics? Was the producer on his lunch break? Offended me enough to bring the whole thing down.

I don't know. some of the songs were interesting, but it's still just a generic post punk band with a woman in the lead. Is there as many disco albums as post-punk in this list? somehow I doubt it...

Super average. Two good tracks.

The whole album is kind of lo-fi. It doesn't have a huge amount of bite to it in general. Is it just mixed a bit weird? Everything seems so far back and just a bit bleh. It's not grabbing me at all, sorry. You do get a sense of Chrissie Hynde as a personality, and she seems to have a bit of attitude which comes across. Brass in Pocket is about the only stand-out track. 'Stop Your Sobbing' was done way better by the Kinks. I'm not going to fall-out of love with the Pretenders as a result of this, as 2000 Miles remains my favourite Christmas song and I'll be singing along to that with gusto come December (probably November).

Album doesn't really know what it want to be so it just pretends

They're fine, I guess.

Yeah I don't mind the pretenders, I seem to think they start to sound a bit samey though. 2.5 for me

I've heard of the Pretenders many times before, but it's only now I've just realised I had them mixed up with the Proclaimers in my head and (rightfully, if that were the case) never gave them the time of day. First track was therefore a bit of a pleasant surprise. First couple of songs in general had me interested, but then it tailed off a bit in the middle. Album wobbled it's way to the end, with a few decent tracks. Reading up on it afterwards I see it's lauded as one of the greatest debuts of all time, and indeed some give it a nod as one of the greatest ever albums. Had to be there I guess. 2.5*.

Rubbish (probably)

Some early 80s rock with punk influences. Sadly, the songs aren't quite there and Chrissie Hynde's style of singing is a bit tedious for my taste. 2/5

Some good moments and interesting instrumentation throughout. Really enjoyed the instrumental song but some of the poppier songs weakened the record vs the heavier stuff. Feel like other records from the same era hold up better

It alright... "I'm very superficial I hate anything official" is a terrible lyric. Nothing really grabbed me.

A lot of filler. Karen O, owes Hyde a career like.

I was surprised to find that, "Brass in Pocket" aside, this album didn't do much for me. Maybe I'll enjoy their later stuff more.

I put this in the same camp as Elvis Costello. Too clever clever to be good punk, too traditional and songwriterly to do anything interesting save for play with some studio effects. It's not bad but it's deeply unexciting. Chrissie Hynde has a nice voice.

its fine but like why is this one here. 1001 albums is a bit too much i fear. maybe like 100 guys?

2 stars, not super compelling - a few songs that are decent and recognizable, but a really weak album.

huey lewis meets joan jett. punk for a moment and coporate nonsense the next. can be music with pizzaz, but also frizzled muzak. pretenders! pretend!

Appreciate the energy, but.. whose idea was it to write whole songs entirely out of ad-libs?

As I have fond memories of Brass in Pocket and Stop your sobbing I was looking forward to listening to this. However it was disappointing. The tracks that were released as singles (Stop Your Sobbing, Kid, and Brass in Pocket) are the only tracks of any note. The rest ranges from average to downright poor and monotonous.

09/07/2021 - 15/08/2021 Album di debutto di una band che non conoscevo prima e che appartiene a un movimento del quale so poco o nulla (principalmente per mancanza di interesse e di stimoli ad averne). Mi sento impossibilitato a capirne la vera bontà e a individuarne le possibili influenze in altri lavori proprio per questi motivi; dirò la mia dal basso del mio bagaglio culturale musicale generale sperando di poter pensare la stessa cosa quando saprò di più - se mai ne saprò - dei Pretenders e del rock "classico" anni '70/'80. Come record di debutto è inquadrato, l'identità della band mi è chiara e sembra essere questa: riff da minimo sindacale che non mi incuriosiscono, testi un po' cringe che trattano, nella maggior parte dei casi, di storie d'amore / di vita prevedibili, emancipazione femminile e disinibizione sessuale (forse le poche cose avanguardistiche in questo LP guardandolo con occhi del 2021). A livello musicale nulla è eseguito male e allo stesso tempo nulla è straordinario o minimamente sperimentale: l'esempio più chiaro di quanto affermato è la precisa ma piatta "Space Invader". Vocalità generosa e appassionata quando opportuno, vedi "Private Life". A livello di missaggio l'unica cosa strana che noto è il livello della voce in "Precious", ma per il resto - almeno per le mie orecchie ancora profane in questo campo - la performance vocale, che trasuda leadership e coglioni (o meglio, clitoridi) quadrati, della Hynde mi sembra valorizzata e il resto ben bilanciato e adatto alla natura poco intraprendente del disco. Riascoltando il disco - cosa che non penso farò - skipperei tutto meno che "Precious" - che mi aveva fatto così ben sperare, "Lovers of Today" - dalle melodie interessanti - e "Mistery Achievement" - un po' ska - evitando come la peste la tediosa ed infinita "Private Life" (6:30 per parlare di un amante che non ti interessa né soddisfa sono davvero troppi per non essere davvero interessata o soddisfatta a/da lui, Chrissie), continuando nel frattempo a chiedermi perché "Stop Your Sobbing", "Kid" o "Brass in Pocket", potrebbero essere volontariamente ascoltati da gente nata dopo il 1980, vista la puzza di vecchio che emanano dopo 41 anni dalla loro uscita. Riesco a capire perché questo album piaceva all'ascoltatore medio e disinteressato dei tempi, perché potrebbe essere sfruttato anche da chi li ha vissuti in maniera più musicalmente impegnata come macchina del tempo con destinazione primi amori e primi "vaffanculo al mondo", e anche perché io mi sia annoiato così tanto e sorpreso così poco nell'ascoltarlo: non è una questione di età anagrafica mia o di questo LP, dato che tra i miei album preferiti c'è - al momento - roba di quei tempi (appartenente tuttavia a filoni musicali che presentano prodotti generalmente meno prevedibili e semplici da ricondurre ai soliti cliché rispetto a questo album), è questione di gusti e di approccio alla musica. Io, personalmente, non trovo soddisfazione nell'ascoltare qualcosa di così puntualmente scontato, vecchio e lontano dal mio vissuto e lontano dall'anticipare quelli che sono i tempi che vivo (come invece fa un "Kid A" a caso, per intenderci). In conclusione, il disco non è pessimo a livello tecnico, ma non mi trasmette nulla né riesco a vederne l'influenza in altre cose che ho ascoltato, siano esse vicine o lontane ai/dai tempi in cui è stato rilasciato.

I'd only heard the singles off this album and that's my loss because the rest of the album is much better than the singles. I love the punk vibe that's missing on the "radio friendly" singles.

Yeah that was good. Very listenable.

Looking back 46 years, it's easy to appreciate where this album sits and why it still sounds great. It draws on earlier-70s rock and roll, embraces the punk of the day, and foreshadows 80s alternative (check out the jangly guitar on multiple tracks). It's relentless, committed, and FUN.

I really liked this, very emo but smooth

Lovers of today- wow!

One of the best debut albums ever.

Loved it. 2nd half of the album was as great.

refreshing and fun. high potential for being on my vinyl wishlist

Wow. Haven't listened to this in a LONG time. Banger after banger after banger. One of the more confident debits. Incredible album.

Loved this, will spin again.

Fantastic debut

I loved Kid and Brass in Pocket on first listen and already Up the Neck, Space Invader, Stop Your Sobbing, and Lovers of Today are growing on me. Precious and Private Life are impressive a bit theater-kid creepy. I especially like the occasional flatness of the lead singer’s voice and the ascending chimes in the chorus of Brass in Pocket.

🔝

com certeza se não fosse UMA vocalista, essa banda perderia todo o brilho. ela traz sex appeal que a produção necessita, tornando o álbum uma aventura suculenta. 5/5

This is great, no notes.

Masterpiece

One of the most iconic female voice of the 1980's

This album is so up my alley, I'm surprised I'd never listened to it before!

I only really knew Brass in Pocket from this album before so the punchier, punky nature of some of the tracks weren't what I was expecting. Tattooed Love Boys in particular was a blast, great attitude and guitar playing. Chrissie Hynde is a fantastic front woman as well, quality vocals and songwriting. Private Life is an intriguing song and shows confidence in lyric writing that I thought belied a debut album's lack of experience

Wow forgot how good this whole album is and that Kinks cover is too!

Man, I love this record! Chrissie Hynde has one of the best voices in the business. Kid, Brass, Tattooed Love Boys, Precious, Mystery Achievement, … pretty much every track is excellent. I’ll even forgive that they used a fade out on Kid which is one of the worst offenses that can be perpetrated on a record.

This was a really good listen. First time for me hearing the remaster of The Wait. that's good version.

A great album through. Some punk stuff, some pop stuff, a bit of new wave. All good.

When actual untalented pretenders like Courtney Barnett claim to a rock woman, Chrissie hynde laughs in her face. A great debut. A terrific band. Great songs. 4 stars.

Good grief, I don't think I can do this justice. As always happens with the pop music zeitgeist I was playing Mystery Achievement only the other day, for some reason that bassline popped into my head and I had to play it. I vividly remember turning up on a Monday 1980, Year 12 Economics and all any boy in that class could talk about was Sunday night's Countdown when Molly had played the film clip to Brass in Pocket. I can't do the moment the respect it deserves. Faaaark that song and Chrissie in the cafe! Faaaarrrrrrrkkkkkk! It was like time stopped and no one could be bothered to restart it, we all wanted to stay in that moment. Brass in Pocket, yep can remember the first time I heard/saw it, and yes indeedy do she was special alright, so special. And then buying the album, Precious coming right at you, a fucking Ray Davies cover cause she was fucking Ray Davies! Get out of the fucking way Ray! Up the Neck, the sweet delight of Kid! An absolutely cracking band who knew they were on a very good thing. The fucking bassplayer had been in the Bushwackers before this, how's that for landing on your feet! Wallah habibis I love this record. And Chrissie, what a supreme talent, as well as being a fantastic performer,singer songwriter, she gave women everywhere the chance to be who they want to be, and invented one of the best timeless rock and roll looks ever. Yes deadbeats I'll die to this one. "Got something...I'm winking at you"...I wish.

2025-09-18: A bit better rested than yesterday, physically worn out, listened to this during dinner after a shower. I enjoyed going through the album, found variety in the songs, was pleased by the singer's voice, felt like dancing around while sitting. I feel like the album is a solid 4, perhaps a touch above; and since I am feeling like going through it once more, I'll up the score a touch.

great punk vibes

Chrissie Hynde has one of the best voices I've heard. This is a great album

Great album!

Right from the off, the album is a great blend of punk guitars with a pop sensibility which evokes Blondie et al. Catchy tracks with enough about them to make them musically interesting. I had unfairly dismissed Pretenders as just another pop act of the era, but they're much more than that.

This is so kickass. Precious is incredible for an opener and a song I’ve never heard. I’m giving it 5 because I’ve never listened to a Pretenders album and now I feel like I’ve been missing out. Tattooed Love Boys? Incredible. And then obviously Brass in Pocket is a banger forever.

A really fun and original rock album

ЭТО ОЧЕНЬ КРУТОЙ АЛЬБОМ!!! КАК ЖЕ Я ЛЮБЛЮ ТАКОЕ НЬЮВЕЙВОВСКОЕ ПАНКОВОЕ ЖЕНСКОЕ!!!! КЛАСССССССССС!!!!!!

One of my favorites

10/10. lol can you guess my favorite one? Yes, Stop you sobbing lol. I like it when the kinks sing it too. All good. She’s so good

Absolutely slaps

How could I have forgotten how awesome this album is?!

Some of the British invasion with some of the clearest sounds. Their first album was one of the best, though I did listen to the remaster from 2018. And the demos. It's hard to tell how much of this is me purely enjoying it, or how it felt like putting on comfy old slippers and sitting in a well loved couch to relax

Has the style that became the signature of the 80s

Loved it