Pretenders

I can see why people like this. It's fun I guess

One of my favorites

Very nice

Pretenders debut album. Great start

5.5/10 Highlights: Private Life

ну даже не знаю а чего тут оцениваем, ну норм? Я вообще не ощущаю этих притворщиков и их притворщецкие рожи

They have such a unique sound

I'm not really impressed at all? Maybe because it's "old" pop punk, but imo this isn't that good. Space Invaders is rad, but the majority of everything else is a miss for me. The soft ventures into other genres is really cool, but when the base sound isn't great, it's like adding sprinkles to bad food.

instant classic

..

Enjoyed it more than expected, but it dragged a bit at the end. Didn’t like the one that sounded like sting and the police

Ganske chill litt repetitivt

Space Invader Cuban Slide Tequila What a start with precious. Not a good start either. I like the instrumental but the lyrics are just so bad. Not a fan at all. Way too long for that quality.

An interesting album, cool new wave vibes, great guitar playing, some sweet bass lines. I like the singer's voice and lyrics too.

What a fantastic album. The first tracks have one foot firmly in the punk world of the 1970s, except there is some real virtuosity in the writing and playing. 7/4 time signatures, Chrissy Hynde's don't give a shit vocals, and the transition to the easy confident sound of The Pretenders with doses of The Police, some ska, and art music thrown in for good measure. Not a perfect album, but a stunning debut. Close enough to a five for me.

That is a good example of something I may not have really (like,really!) listened to, if not for this list. I knew the Pretenders were good, but I did not realize how good. I thought this was great. It carries tons of attitude, it's sexy, it oozes personality. A really fun record, that draws on the energy of punk rock but is also quite sophisticated. I loved the sound of the guitars - the crisp and sharpness, but there are also lots of textured, subtle work. And that voice of Chryssie Hynde, completely unique. I will come back here.

Like punk evolving into new wave in a single album. Rating: 2.5/5 Playlist track: Brass In Pocket Date listened: 14/04/24

Weinig werk van de Pretenders was mij bekend. Dit album is me compleet nieuw. De stem van de zangeres prikkelt mij niet. De teksten staan me niet echt aan (of eigenlijk écht niet). Verder is het instrumenteel behoorlijk goed. Eigenlijk zonde. De stem maakt of breekt het vaak, bij deze is het breekt. Toch wat enkele lichtpuntjes, instrumentaal nummer Space Invader bijvoorbeeld. Rating: 5,5 Highlight: Space Invader

Op zich is er weinig écht mis met dit album, maar dat getuigd meer van een lak aan durf dan een overvloed aan kwaliteit. Deze band belichaamt de brug tussen punk en new wave, maar de elementen van het eerste missen de energie van het moedergenre en de aspecten van het tweede zijn lang niet zo avontuurlijk als dat van vele gewaagde new wave acts uit hetzelfde jaar. Ik zie eigenlijk niet in waarom ik dit aan zou zetten in plaats van een Talking Heads, een Elvis Costello, een Blondie of een B-52's. Sommige songs pakken wel even m'n aandacht, zoals 'Precious', 'Tattooed Love Boys' en 'Brass in Pocket', maar de algehele tendens is vrij slaapverwekkend op deze maandag. 'I said hush hush hush hush, baby sleep tight now' horen we aan het einde van de plaat, wat de lading wel aardig dekt. 5,5/10 Highlights: Tattooed Love Boys Brass in Pocket

Weer een albumpje van de rand van de jaren 80. De meeste platen uit dit tijdsgewricht leveren wel een interessante luister-ervaring. Pretenders is echt een album waar je de overgang van Punk naar new wave goed kunt horen. Sommige nummers hebben een klein beetje de cringe-vibe van new wave (Brass in Pocket), maar zijn over het algemeen toch wat duisterder en ruiger dan veel van de new wave platen uit de jaren de zullen volgen. Ben met name onder de indruk van Space Invader. Het muzikale stuk heeft wat weg van Definitive Gaze van Magazine (toch niet de minste). Private Life vind ik irritant. Met name die gitaar-solo, jeetje, daar kan Guns 'n roses een puntje aan zuigen. Ik vind de stem van Chrissie Hynde eigenlijk net niet tof en boeiend genoeg om dit echt vet te vinden. En dus blijft het bij een magere voldoende. 6,5/10 Highlights Space Invader

Can't believe I haven't heard this before. Loved the sounds, sentiment, and attitude throughout. Def coming back to this.

I enjoyed this! It was fun and boppy.

Respect for Chrissie Hyde and this album- why listening to these 1001 albums is worth it.. First time enjoyed kid…. Knew Brass but didn’t know it title…

Chrissy Hynde is from Ohio. I am from Ohio. Opposite sides of the state, but still, there is something "Ohio" I recognize and adore. She digs the VU. She was a UK Punk 77 interloper (after all, the form was invented in our collective neck of the rust belt), and she is an overall bad bitch. Yet, aside from the chestnuts we all know, this album doesn't do all that much for me. Could be the chimey, early-Police, guitar sound, but...actually, I think, I really hate the production. No grime.

it was fine

Love

I think Chrrissie Hynde's voice is what make this such a good album rises it above a lot of othere bands at this time.

This was great! Mix of Cranberries and Blondie in my mind. Definitely exceeded expectations and worthy of the list.

Loved it

No pretending here.

Didn't realize they were kinda punk.

I listened to this twice and Mystery Achievement really grabbed me both times. I was familiar with Brass in Pocket but had no idea that was the song title or that it was by the Pretenders. 3.5 rounded up to 4.

This wasn’t as good as their second album, but is still pretty fun. Bonus for the Kinks song “Stop Your Sobbing”. Christie Hynden and Ray Davies (Kinks singer and songwriter) have a daughter together.

Great album

Brass in pocket is my fav so far. Vocals are interesting in a lot of the songs

They kind of sound like a typical opening act. Not bad, but nothing really stands out.

Not bad. It's okay!

There's some good tracks but the album feels a bit long.

nope

3.5/5

Starts out really strong, but tails off by the end. One to listen to again to get a second opinion.

I like the pretenders, just not sure I'm crazy about this album. More punk than new wave.

This album will always be special to me personally, but there is a great arc here; the frenetic opener with Precious, the interplanetary journey with Space Invader, the ageless hit with Brass In Pocket, the wide open spaces of Lovers of Today, the underrated album closer in Mystery Achievement. Anyway, this is a cornerstone of the new wave movement and a debut album any band would aspire toward.

Enjoyable listen - great drumming, rhythm guitar, bass. Did not find the vocals or lyrics quite as engaging but at times they were. Mystery Achievement is the real bop for me.

Such a solid, eclectic album. Favorite so far

I think this one is the most compelling so far. 60s pop, rock, new wave. Great feel overall. Tons of motion from track to track but all works together. I feel like you can trace the line back to golden oldies hits and forward to No Doubt.

Just OK!

Yes a good classic but… doesn’t get me any more

chaos van gitaren

Not bad

Smooth blend of pop and various rock genres. Pretenders are easy to listen to. Chrissy Hynde's lyrics are generally well constructed and meaningful with very nice productions. 4 / 5

I listened to this album twice, because I wanted to give it a 4, but I felt like it was a 3. On re-listen, I realized what was creating this dissonance: the first half of the album is fairly mediocre, in my opinion—some interesting musical ideas, but the songs feel underwritten. Then you get to “Stop Your Sobbing” at track 7 (!), and it feels like a whole new album has started! More memorable melodies, more varied arrangements, and stronger songs all around. If the album were just the second half, it would have been an easy 4 stars. But unfortunately, it’s hampered by the weaker first half.

Decent album but not that memorable. Brass in Pocket is probably the only song I'll hear and recognize. The singers voice is solid and the music has rhythm.

Her singing style just does not work for me at all. She sounds like a theatre kid immigrating the lead singer of a band. Her voice isn't bad, I just don't think her style works for me. I also just can't work out what the album was going for. I really enjoyed brass in pocket and think they should have stuck to a style more like that. The more pink side of things just felt so weak, and the pop combined with it really didn't feel like it added much. Really disliked the first part of the album, the later parts were a step up. Not one I plan on revisiting ever.

I love this type of 70s new wave punk. The bass on this album kills me, great lines that I feel like I'd pull from. Also when do you hear a 7/4 time signature in music like this?

Very British that’s for sure, I liked it but nothing all that crazy I dunno

Spent my entire first listen recognizing this woman's voice but unable to place it. Then I got to Brass in Pocket, a great song that I am embarrassed I didn't know the title or artist of. Lovely new wave with great vocals and fun instrumentals.

I’m sorry; I hate Chrissie Hyndes’s voice so much.

Outside of "Brass in Pocket," I didn't know any of these songs, and I didn't find them particularly compelling, either. I liked "Stop Your Sobbing" but it warrants another listen to decide if I'll even keep it on my 1001 Highlights playlist.

I have never sat down and listened to a Pretenders album before. I've obviously heard the hits, and even some deeper cuts, but I enjoyed going start to finish. The fact that this is their first album is amazing to me.

No songs stand out, but it has potential to be a grower. Good rhythm.

It’s very textbook punky new wave. A bit jangly for my taste but I can see where this comes in the line from the punk and rock eras to where we were in the 90s and today. Don’t see myself going back to it but I appreciated it.

I own this one

Outside of "Brass in Pocket," I find the lead singer's cadence/vocal style irritating and sorta corny. Just average.

Old school cool.

This is so close to punk and yet... not actually punk. Which is a perfect parallel to Chrissie Hynde's actual life so that makes sense, I guess. It really was ALMOST a great album but it just stumbles over its feet so many times in so many ways that the whole thing fails. Starting with the mixing. It's got that horrible "dry vocals right in your face and guitars utterly neutered" vibe that so much of the pop music from this era had. That set the tone of the whole thing, I think. Which is a blind shame because, with just a few different choices in the studio, this album could have ripped. But it doesn't and that sucks. It's just so disappointing. I can hear what it could have been and it makes me sad that it's... this.

pretty good! just shy of being great, not even much of a Pretenders fan, but Space Invader is always a good listen.

The Pretenders are great and this album has many examples of that. Loved “Brass in Pocket” and “Tattooed Love Boys”

Chrissie Hynde has such a great voice, low pitched, but controlled tremolo. Not sure why 'Brass in Pocket' is the big radio hit from this album.

Never been a fan.

It's good. Some super sharp discomfitting lyrics. The punker stuff I like more though. The hits are understandable but the stuff I like most seems like Karen O could have mainlined this for years so Fever to Tell didn't have as many misses. Will come back to listen more.

I unfairly always thought of the Pretenders as not a serious band but I was wrong, this rips.

I started out indifferent but it won me over

Pretty good, I quite liked the singing. Low 3.

Solid vocals, solid instrumentals. 7/10

Cooler people than me probably love this album. To me, it’s better than neutral, but nothing to write home about.

Aside from those really popular ones, there were some really cool tracks on this one. A really nice edge to the record on the whole. Lots of fun to explore the debut!

Private life is an absolute rock banger

OMG PRETENDERS! I DIDN'T KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU! It's honestly one of the greatest debut albums i've listen of this list. Amazing album!!

Started out really shitty, but got progressively better.

pretty good new agey punkish stuff

Chrissie Hynde Rules!

The vocals... take some time to get used to but not bad at all, the instrumentals are also good. Could chill to it, pretty decent

so fucking boring

One of the great albums that represents a truly original group, spanning the late 70s through the 80s. One of my all-time favorite bands. This album has great powerful songs by one the great singer- songwriters of the time Chrissie Hynde,who gave us some of the most memorable songs of our teen years.

This is a funky little album that I really enjoyed but I wouldn’t say is impressive, just very fun. I like the guitar parts a lot. Loooong album. Private life is my fav song so far. The little “stops” are so cute Brass in pocket reminds me of Shania Twain. I started warming up to this album because of its consistency. All of their riffs sound familiar, they’ve really stood the test of time.

Maybe revisit eventually

I liked this Punk version of the Pretenders a lot more than the Pop version that came later.

It must’ve been late 1979 or early 1980. My father went to buy me a copy of Smash Hits. Different issues had different badges on them. He chose the one with the pretenders badge. I think he ended up wearing it. Their music at the time felt very fresh, even though I’m sure Chrissie Hyndes channelled Patti Smith a bit. Every single was brilliant, and we knew all the words. The album still holds up. I’m not sure where that badge is now. Am sure it got lost in the vortex of time. But the pretenders still have a touch of magic. I’m not sure the album is completely five star but it’s great nonetheless.

I’m not the biggest Pretenders fan, but there’s no denying greatness. I saw Chrissy tour solo 5-6 years ago. It was a little weird when her in between song banter included talk of her grandchildren!

This album is just so freaking brilliant I don't know what to say. Their follow-up is (dare I say) even better. I don't LOVE the cover of "Stop Your Sobbing," though I know that's a fave for others, so maybe I'm just wrong about that. Everything else... perfect.

Still fantastic after all these years. Such a great debut and one of my all-time favorite albums. This time around, I was struck by how many beautiful little touches there are from each member on every single song. Music doesn't get better than this.

I equate this album with one of those group memory things like how everyone remembers where they were when the planes hit. Where were you when you first heard of The Pretenders? I clearly remember the first time I heard The Pretenders and by that I mean Chrissie Hynde's voice because let's be honest...it's her vibratto that absolutely stops you in your tracks. I was in 9th grade in my room; my brother just got the album. But then Baader-Meinhof---The Pretenders were everywhere---Brass in Pocket video on rotation, radio, parties, school dances. I remember burning my lower eyelid trying to get that Chrissie raccoon eye look. I was never brave enough to go for a red leather jacket (added to the regrets list). I thought the whole UK - US blend was the bomb. Every song a goddamn banger. Not a dud on this album. Even Space Invaders. I was so happy to revisit this one today. In fact I revisited it 2+ times. Closing with Mystery Achievement is fucking brilliant.

Alas, another album I wanted to like more than I actually did. Liked the music, just not so much the singing style (though she's talented!).

Listened to it this morning and already forgot about it. Not my cup of tea.

Favoritlåt från albumet var Up the neck

Thoughts before listening: I am new convert to this album having only recently picked up a used copy at a record store on a whim. I knew the Pretenders were well respected, but I only really knew their hits. I never would have listed them as one of my favorite bands, but this album is really good. I'm glad to see it made the 1,001 album list. Review: Yeah I love this album. It is so much more than its massive hit "Brass in Pocket". Sure thats a great song, but the power of this album is the rockers that bring punk rock attitude with pop hooks and strong musicianship. Songs like "Precious", "Tattooed Love Boys", "Private Life", "Mystery Achievement", and my personal favorite "Lovers of Today" are the highlights here. 4-stars.

Truly crappy. Maybe one decent song

Brilliant. Ms. H is a sly genius Nick Lowe might’ve missed something 😉 Elastica blueprint

What a debut

Surprised by how good it was

I like the Pretenders…..in small doses. Chrissie Hynde definitely has her own style and sound, and I like it - but not for an entire album straight. She needs to be in a playlist. But overall, good stuff.

Favorite Tracks: Brass in Pocket Private Life Stop Your Sobbing

I LOVE ❤️ The Pretenders!!! I could listen to Chrissy Hynde sing All day long….my fantasy trio would be Chrissy, Annie Lennox and Brandi Carlile!!

4.4 - this was really really good. Definitely going to be in my cycle of listening and want to explore more of them

A lot of meh for me. The guitars sound awful mostly, I prefer the songs that sound new wavey. Ah this Brass in Pocket track is familiar. My takeaway from this album is that (the) Pretenders are better being poppier. 2.8/5

an early new wave album with quite some merit to its name. lovely sets of songs with just the right amount of edge, spunk, and grace. lots of feel-good tracks. but that's about it. can't really say too much other than it's a nice little set of tunes

Fantastic work on this album - swerving into a punk landscape with Hynde's superb vocals and well crafter musicianship, this is a stellar piece of rock.

Chrissie Hynde's voice is irresistible A great debut album with the absolute classic 'Brass in Pocket' leading the charge. An excellent introduction to an impressive talent.

Couldn't find the album on apple music

It's ok

Amazing LP, The Pretenders have always been awesome, this was a fantastic intro

A combo of Talking Heads and Blondie - I liked it!

Debütalbum und Grundlage des späteren Erfolgs. Abwechslungsreicher Gitarrenrock, getragen von der unverwechselbaren Stimme Chrissy Hynde, die das hohe Tempo gesanglich bereichert.

Pressed play on 'Precious' and somehow time warped until 'Brass in Pocket'. Strangely, there's no real desire to go back and re-listen the songs in between them.

4 because I would absolutely listen to this album again, but I'd skip a couple of tracks (Space Invader, Lovers of Today) in the future. Definitely enjoyed it though. Standout tracks: Up the Neck, Precious

So freaking good

Solid album with a couple of big hits. Chances to explore their sound, and others that are classic Pretenders.

This was greattt. I haven't listened to more than a handful of Pretenders songs, but I'm keen to put this on more so I can once and for all learn that this is Chrissie Hynde not Amphlett, and the band is the Pretenders and not the Proclaimers.

Fun album

Meh, it's ok. Sounds like they tried to mix it up between some sort of pop-punk and straight pop to appeal to a wider audience, but it all kinda sounds the same. 2.8.

Boring 80s rock. 2 stars.

Rock of the 80s. Nice, ok, sometimes good, sometimes not.

Light rock with female vocals. Good voice, but pretty boring over all.

Brass in Pocket was already in my rotation. The rest of the album does not hold up quite as well in my opinion. I did not like how the vocals on the first song were so much louder than the instrumentals. The riffs in Kid were sick. Private Life was awful.

I didn’t know the Pretenders hit this hard on some of these. Nice little post punk romp. Clearly I need to listen to more than just the singles.

ganz nett

Fab

Good stuff - bangin' rock guitar, good vocals, nice variety of mood and pace - couple very good songs. I liked it.

From my (very limited) previous exposure to Pretenders I thought this was going to be nice if maybe a little boring. It wasn't. Some songs were okay but overall not a fan.

Standouts: Up the Neck, The Wait, Brass in Pocket, Mystery Achievement, Porcelain. This is my mom's favorite band, so it reminds me of her :) I love this sound, reminds me of its peers Plastic Letters and Parallel Lines.

I liked Tattooed Love Boys, but the rest was forgettable. I think I only remember TLB from guitar hero anyway.

Noh ei oikein iskenyt. Kasarin alun soundia ja tollasta aikaansa edellä olevaa postpunk menoa. Olisin ehkä kaivannut vaan parempia biisejä. 2/5

Aluksi olin, että hyvää ja freesiä, mutta lopulta aika paljon meh biisejä. Täpärästi yltää kolmoseen.

Ihan solid indierock-platta. En osaa löytää virheitä, mutta ei myöskään mitään sellaista, josta innostuis enää tän listan jälkeen. 2.5/5

Surprisngly punk and new wave (I’ve known of the pretenders but never actually sat down and listened to them) so it starts right up my street - with some reggae influences at times and also a tinge of good pop with Brass in Pocket. Didn’t expect I’d like it so much.

CHRISSY Hind finally got a band and her desire to produce a gem that stands tall without Pretensions.

Love love love me some Pretenders. In case you missed this nugget…. ‘Got new skank/It’s so reet’ is a little tip of the hat to famed US artist and satirist Robert Crumb. “I was a big fan of his comic books”, she says. “One cartoon of his had this pot gauge; a machine for measuring the quality of marijuana. If it was really, really good stuff they called it ‘reet petite’.”

Why did no one tell me to listen to this?? It’s great. My main complaint and compliment are that it’s not a very cohesive album. The songs are all there but they don’t go together, which is good or annoying, depending on mood. Overall, two very enthusiastic thumbs up. Why did no one tell me about “Kid”???

interesting time signatures. what stood out to me was the vocals <3 space invader is p cool. but otherwise... it was ok...

A cool and tough and quite assured debut. "Precioius" sets a clear and strong tone. "Kid" and "Stop Your Sobbing" (the latter produced by Nick Lowe, who deserves more representation in this list) are the gems here, and among the sweetest songs of that era, one's personal faves to be sure. At during one's teens, one struggled to determine to whom one was more attracted – Chrissie Hynde or Madonna. Glad to see the latter was influenced by the former.

Meh. Just can't will myself to like them.

3.65

Heerlijke stem en punkier dan ik dacht

"The Pretenders" is the debut album by British-American rock band the Pretenders. The music is a combination of rock and roll, punk and new wave. I can't really add anything there. Nick Lowe produced their first single "Stop Your Sobbing" but didn't want to do the full album as they thought the band wasn't going anywhere. Nice move Nicky boy! Chris Thomas got the producer job. The Pretenders are (sorry for the insult) Christie Hynde (lead vocals, guita), Martin Chambers (drums), Pete Farndon (bass) and James Honeyman Scott (guitars). The album hit #1 in the UK and #9 in the US. The band comes out sounding like the Ramones on "Precious." Nice phased guitar and some vicious Hynde lyrics. "Tattooed Love Boys" is essentially a Bo Diddley beat on speed with explosive guitars. The woman protagonist refuses a motorcycle gang drugs who then take and rape her. I guess I should have listen closer to lyrics previously. They close out side one with a nice, melodic cover of the Kink's "Stop Your Sobbing." On side two, Hynde starts to show her pop tendencies. "Kid" is melodic and has an interesting beat. It's about a boy who discovered his Mother is a prostitute. I dony want to know anything about Chrissie's dreams. The first Pretender song I remember hearing is "Brass in Pocket." Hynde said it was a failed attempt at a Motown song. It does have a cool relaxed groove. She's also said it is about the cockiness you need to perform. The album closes with "Mystery Achievement" and it's seductive and hypnotic bass and drums and slashing guitar riffs. She's imaging being on the cusp of fame. She need not to worry after a few months. This is one of the best debut albums of all time. The music is aggressive and the lyrics are R-rated at time (shit maybe X. Okay NC-17). Sure, as accused, they sound like a lot of other bands. You hear influences from the Velvet Underground, the Bestles, Blondie, the Police, the Ramones, Public Image Ltd. and Guitarist John of Siouxsie and the Banshees. Nevertheless, they create a sound that is their own. A classic.

Meh

I hoped to like this more but I found most of the songs forgettable.

I think my favorite song was their cover of Stop Your Sobbing by The Kinks.

Solid album. Enjoyed it.

Best one yet

I can’t really say much because I don’t remember much of this album. But I can say that it is a 4 because I did listen to it so anyway. 30th album btw

Great album-tastes of punk, rock, ska and a great vocalist in Chrissie Hynde!

This thing is kinda horny, huh?

Groovy

A little on the wrong side of the 80s radio rock/postpunk line for me. Grooves along too much where there should be a little more dynamic range, has too much flanger where there should be none. Something neat in most of the songs. Probably won't listen to the album again, probably will listen through a track if it comes up. music: hated. (⌐■_■)

A somewhat cooler, rougher-around-the-edges Blondie? Album maybe a bit uneven, but some really solid stretches.

Some nostalgia factor here as this was a tape and later CD that was in the case on family road trips back in the 80s-90s. Solid album overall and it stands up after 40+ years

A truly seminal late 70's new wave album that is packed with hits. I was never a big fan of Chrissie Hynde as a singer, but she did bring the attitude.

This is worse than the time Collin fucked naoises mom

I have very little to say about this. Ok to listen to but nothing special.

Solid rock album.

Pretty good album. Classic punk pop sound.

I just don't like Chrissie Hynde's voice. Otherwise the music was fine.

The post-punk music is OK, but I've never liked Chrissie Hynde's voice. My favourite track is "Space Invader"; of the rest, "Kid" and "Private Life" aren't too bad, but I've always found their hit "Brass in Pocket" really annoying.

Awesome

Not for me dawg

Another great debut.

This is a longboi. Singer reminds me of the yeah yeah yeahs. Good energy and drive but I'm not sure why this is here. Not going into my favorites, but the vocals are great, 3*. It starts very punk rock, then stop your sobbing is like a pop bonanza. Recognize: brass in pocket

mixing is really awful in this album, vocals are whacked, spoken word is lame Significant 40/127 Liked 19/127 Added 4/127 NNN

🤟🏻🤟🏻🎸🎸 Awesome!

3.4/5 Best Track: Brass in Pocket

Good album.

Pretenders Cool album cover with the one guy in the suit and everyone else with leather jackets End of “up the neck” was cool with the different bass notes Tattooed love boys- punky dissonances cool and so are bars of 7 “Space invader”- sick dirty bass tone, cool riff, prog punk? The wait- this song rocks pretty hard Stop your sobbing- wow total change of vibe. Alternative rock Kid- retro 60’s pop vibe. Private life- moody. Police vibes. Brass in the pocket- 5/5 great pop song. Lovers of today- 70s rock vibe. Kinda the oddball track of the album Mystery achievement- kinda generic rock but not necessarily in a bad way. I like her vocals. Better than London Calling.

This didn’t really do much for me, kind of weird how it shifted styles halfway through the record. All of a sudden there are chorusy guitars and reggae/police vibes. Doesn’t really make for a cohesive record, although that is when I feel like it started to get more interesting. 2.5

I didn’t hate this. Her voice is cool most of the time. I like the one about sobbing

no me gusta

Precious is an alltime great opener, and the spikier tracks here are fantastic - really playing into Hynde's sass. Sags in the middle and end sadly, Brass in Pocket aside

yeah, this is swag. i like the vibes in all the songs. not something i would choose to listen to again though so only four stars. one note is that the music and lyrics feel disconnected, it sounds as if the lyrics are sitting on top of the music rather than combined. maybe it's a result of the remaster?

Honestly not sure I really liked this, and it comes down to the vocals. I just wasn't a fan.

I’d never listened to a full Pretenders album before. I really liked this one!

Not my type of music. Good mix of pop and rock but not unique enough

Didn’t really like the singing but fun beats

Fühlt sich chlige disingenuous dem es 3 geh wenn ich Quicksilver Messenger Service es 4i geh ha... hm schwierig... Es isch generell würklich not bad und ich find guet isches so chlige my speed vo musik. Absolut überzüge duets mich aber halt au nid. IDK 4.1/5

Hm

Jäjo, finds no cool aber haut mi nöd um. Sie packed mengmol chli viel lyrics i zwenig platz. Aber scho no interessant.

nonie öpis vo ihne glost nur de name ghört. precious. de flangey shit isch cool. tattoed love boys sehr cool "you're gonna make some plastic surgeon a rich man" rieeese line. space invader feette bass. mega cooli giti sounds i liike. the wait isch seehr cool. mega rockabilly. stop your sobbing isch sehr florence and the machine. Kid tönt bitz wie en früene beatles song. private life isch sehr nöch an reggae.

ok ich glaub die söttet guet sii? schöön punkig de ahfang hmm ihre gsang gfalltmer nanig so, es fühlt sich meh chli ah wie wenn sie eifach chli wür rede iwie ich lieb de zweit vo rechts ufem cover AH COVER jaa finds ziemlich wack als albumcover sorry ABER ihri rot jagge isch sehr cool und de schriftzug hani na gern OEFF DE BASS BI THE PHONE CALL ok up the neck cute ja es lauft eifach chli. the qait hani musikalisch wieder rechr cool gfunde aber weiss nöd stop your sobbing sehr cool! het chli en "verträumte" vibe und finds recht cool ich lieeb d bassline vo private life uhhhja sehr geils lied au brass in pocket gfalltmer mega...entweder han ich mich chli draa gwöhnt oder die erst hälfti isch eifach langwilig AU LOVERS OF TODAY HANI GERN???? ich glaub ich muss s album iwenn nomal lose aber momentan ischs es 3

I love weird women.

rock on!

Instrumentalist were very good. Very solid album, but still middle of the road.

It was decent. The lady’s voice is pretty good, so she probably carried them in the album.

I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand I really liked Chrissie's guitar playing and the overall music of this album. Instrumentally it sounded really good. Gave me some Police vibes on some of their songs especially on "Private Life". That was cool to hear. On the other hand I don't love Chrissie's voice. I don't really know what it is about her voice that bothers me but I don't like it. Also I was just kinda ambivalent about most of the songs except "Kid" and "Brass in Pocket" those were both pretty good although "Kid" was by far my favorite. Overall the album was just kinda okay.

did not expect to enjoy this album since I generally don't care for Hynde's voice. pleasantly surprised though with her on guitar and the instrumental tracks.

Side one has some catchy riffs but nothing great. Side two is better but not by much. Favorite tracks: Private Life

Good stuff!!

enjoyable but forgettable mostly

Great! Standouts (5/5): Brass in Pocket, Stop Your Sobbing, Kid, Precious, Mystery Achievement, The Wait, Private Life, Lovers of Today 4/5: Up the Neck, Space Invader Rating: 5/5

Enjoyed this. Love the tone of Hynde's voice. Just enough polish on the songs compared to other albums considered to be influential. I enjoyed the pop songs more than the others on here but this is certainly worth repeated listens.

Solid 80’s rock album

A good album, I like the music style. My favorite songs on the album are Stop Your Sobbing and Kid.

Great surprise, the punkish sound of the first half of the album really shines

Good stuff. Any and all welcome in my playlist but don’t need an album of it.

I really liked track 1 “Precious”, but couldn’t really get into the rest of the album.

Kom á óvart! Sjúklega mikið stuð! 3,5 frá mér!

Frábær plata sem kom mér skemmtilega á óvart. Aldrei verið neinn Pretendesrs aðdáandi, en þessi plata er virklega heilsteypt, þétt og góð. Back on the chain gang er gott lag, en mér fannst mörg hinna laganna alls ekki síðri, eins og Precious og Tattooed love boys. Platan í heild bara svo góð. Á örugglega eftir að rúlla þessari í gegn aftur.

This album started strong but by mid-way through the songs lost their luster and listening felt like a chore. Not terrible but certainly not enjoyable. 2/5

Fun stuff. Thought it would all sound the same but good variety b

Mir gefällt nur das Lied Brass in Pocket.

I’ve always been a Pretenders fan in theory more than practise. I like a lot of their singles, and James Honeyman-Scott is one of the few famous pop musicians to have come from Herefordshire, where I’ve lived for quite a long time. However, I’ve never sat down and listened to one of their studio albums all the way through. This was a shame, because Pretenders is a great debut. Much spikier than I’d have thought based on their later singles

LP

This was another classic for me which I learned to appreciate more as time went on.

Wasn't really feeling this one

Ok, like the woman rock sound

Was fine. Liked as many songs as I didn't. So much Brit rock so far.

Love this album!

3 or 4

One or two songs felt like I could pass but mostly I really enjoyed this. I knew a few of the better songs but hadn't heard the whole album and picked up a few new songs I really like, including "Stop Your Sobbing." Great choice!

This album sounds like it influenced early 2000 Rock 'n' Roll and Garage Rock bands a lot. At parts, they remind me a lot of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. In the second half, the album makes a turn towards more poppy sounds. All in all a good listen.

Today’s pick for #1001Albums was The Pretenders. I knew just one song from them, but it’s a song I love: Brass in Pocket. Why? Because I love Lost in Translation (the movie) and this song is on that movie’s amazing soundtrack. So, today’s album pick is definitely a win for me, for that song alone.

Hab das Album beim Kochen gehört und bin dabei immer wieder herumgetänzelt. Ein gutes Zeichen. Hach, das hat Spaß gemacht. Am besten fand ich "Up the Neck" (erinnert mich stellenweise an Rush...?!) und "Mystery Achievement" (tolle Riffs). "Brass in Pocket" war das einzige Lied, was ich von dem Album bereits kannte, aber fand ich vergleichsweise eher schwächer.

I’ve really enjoyed listening to some of these albums from the late 70s and early 80s - my record buying at this time was mostly singles rather than albums, so this is a chance to catch up. I love the punky, new wave edge here - Chrissie Hynde definitely brought something unique to the music scene at this time

Efficient pop-punk album from the late '70s. Nice punkish guitar parts, efficient and "round" bass, good vocals. Hynde voice is great but a bit too present in the mix, and I have a preference for her singing when it's faster and harsher, more "punk". Actually applies to the album as a whole, tracks like The Wait are much better than more cheasier tracks. A bit too long for the genre, it could have been easily cut in half. Also because it sounds sometimes a bit schyzophrenic between the punk and pop sides of the album.

On paper I should like this album, but Chrissie Hynde’s voice has always annoyed me. I truly wish it weren’t so.

onverwachts beter dan gedacht. Maar een paar mindere nummers.

Lekkere, best toegankelijke punk. Back in de eighties. Toch gaat het mij snel een beetje vervelen.

Heel lang heb ik - waarom eigenlijk? - niet geweten dat de Pretenders en deze muziek bij elkaar hoorden. Fijne plaat dit.

This album is a classic in New Wave and Post-Punk, for sure. I really like it, but it's not an album I go back to very often. I'd probably give it 4.25 or 4.5 stars, for me, personally, but I have to give it 5 stars based on the influence and impact on top of just being great music.

Definitely a classic but not my favorite album.

Going through this list makes me realise I generally like female-led punk bands. Many songs on this album were more calm and kinda groovy, I liked it. Stand-out: The Wait

Nikdy jsem o Pretenders neslyšela, nevěděla jsem, co čekat a přesto jsem byla zklamaná. Ze začátku to působilo jako rádoby punk, druhá půlka už byla pomalejší a víc vibe za mě. Ale celkově? Hrůza. Nejvíc ze všeho to zabíjely texty, ty byly naprosto otřesný, divný, občas se do erotiky přimíchala mateřská témata a už jsem se děsila, kam to ještě zaběhne. Někdy jsem byla dost znejistěna, jestli “baby” referuje k milenci, nebo skutečně k dítěti… a to je v písničce, co se jmenuje “Lovers of Today” docela problém, dle mého skromného názoru. Cenila jsem ženské vokály, ale ty texty… Melodie byly vesměs podobné, nicneříkající a neuvěřitelně nudné, prostě totální učebnicový punk přes kopírku, což je přesně to, o čem punk není. Pozdější písně už byly chytlavější, ale už to nemohlo zachránit to, co bylo spácháno na mých uších. Vracet se opravdu nebudu, je to rozhodně jedno z těch horších alb tady. Nevím, čím byla kapela přínosná a asi mě to ani nezajímá. Jedině mě napadá ženská reprezentace v punku, což je smutné… Nejlepší: Kid, Private Life (texty nic moc, ale dalo se to aspoň poslouchat) Nejhorší: Precious, Up the Neck, Tattooed Love Boys, Stop Your Sobbing, Lovers of Today (a další… prostě ne, děkuji) Verdikt: 3/10 (nic pro mě, texty příšerný, občasná vibe melodie to nezachránila)

Ronly knew Brass in Pocket, prior to listening to the album. Really liked the rest of the album especially the bass in Private Life

I liked the album better than I thai might based on the singles I’ve heard. Actual punk dna

Punky, spiky, gritty. Never been a major fan of Chrissie Hynde's vocals, but certainly appreciate the sentiment.

Great energy, few low points, surprising range

Solid rock , no truly catchy licks. Something for a drive.

Absolute 80s classics... nothing to add..

3/5 Not too bad! Had some good songs and grooves. But, nothing special to me about it. 3/5

Good listening

This was cool.

I was pretty hyped for this album having heard more about Pretenders by reputation rather than tracks. That hype kinda let me down during this album as it sounded pretty average to me through most of it. "Brass in Pocket" is clearly the top track here although I didn't recognize it by the name. It just makes me wonder how so many bands end up with one song that is just miles ahead of anything else on the album. Some elements of "The Phone Call" sounded like the Sonic 2 stage completion sound, and "Space Invader" was a pretty cool instrumental. "Tattooed Love Boys" was a song I recognized from Guitar Hero, but didn't quite sound right. I went back and checked and the GH version was an 'as made famous by' cover version and that cover actually sounded better to me. Overall not a bad album that was probably more significant in its time, but doesn't quite hold up. Favorite track: "Brass in Pocket" 3/5

- Precious - Phone Call - Brass in Pocket - Mystery Achievement

Tirando a primeira música, gostei de ouvir. Definitivamente ouvirei novamente!

Fun!! Enjoyed this one a lot - decent lyrics, good musically, I get the hype!

Great band, I love she, the band leader

I liked the voice of Chrissie it is different fo the genre of music they were doing. The fisrt half of the album really got me hooked but then it started fading in the back of my head to the point it was totally forgetable.

This was a fantastic first album by the Pretenders. Chrissy Hynde and the rest of her mattes rocked!

Pretend I didn't listen to this, geez

A fine album.

Gut pero no demasiado fascinantes

Foundational album, but I prefer the maturity and diversity of songs on Learning to Crawl, which would’ve been my choice.

Brilliant

This was the most 'rock' album I think I have ever heard. Not the best necessarily, but in my head this is what the classic rock genre sounds like. These would make great soundtracks to 80s films. Favorite track was the wait

A lot to like here.

I love the Pretenders with all my heart!

Great album!

Good mix of good and bad music.

I didn’t realize how cool Chrissie Hynde was until listening to this album. I mean, I knew people thought she was cool, but now I think she’s cool. She had the “Beat It” jacket 3 years before Michael! 44 years later, this album still sounds fresh and relevant. 4.0

A solid debut album. Sounds fairly fresh despite being from '79. Never liked the Pretenders because of Chrissy Hynde (mostly her vibrato), but she has to be recognized as a trailblazer. Prefer the A side to the B. 3.4

Guay, dinámico, guitarrero y algunas canciones buenas, pero el rollo me aburre un poco. 3'5 alto, tira a 4.

One of the best debut albums ever. Chrissie Hynde is a national treasure. RIP James Honeyman-Scott.

Blir orolig/ känner en oroskänsla av denna musik

Spännande variation av låtar. En del ren pop, andra ren rock och såklart låtar med blandning.

Fine but not really for me

rocky

many bangers

Highlights: Precious, The Phone Call, Space Invaders, Kid, Brass In Pocket, Mystery Achievement. In a nutshell: rough, brassy, toe tappy rock You're in for a treat if you only know Brass In Pocket, there are some 80s new wave punk rock/guitar pop bangers on here. I can hear influences of Patti Smith, Iggy, The Kinks, maybe The Police. It's so satisfying to hear Chrissie mumble "fuck off" in Precious. Overall: 8/10

Ok

Day 2. Not a bad selection. Haven't listened to this album in many years. I'm sure I'll get a really bad album soon enough. Fave tracks: Precious, Tattooed Love Boys, Private Life.

Yay!

Love

pretty good 80's pop

Loved it

Funky noise! Very prominent vocals, beautiful writing.

It's alright. Not really my thing

Extra medium

Love. Love. Love the album! Never listened to it entirely before. I've actually heard a lot of these deeper tracks before on SXM first wave. Precious is one of my all time favorites as well as mystery achievement. I was introduced to the pretenders from hearing brass in pocket on radio. Then in the 80s hearing their stuff. It wasn't until later I discovered their earlier stuff had huge punk/new wave vibes. Solid solid album. And Chrissie is definitely a leading lady of rock!

Man. That was great. I loved the way that it's punk but also very early new wave. Mystery Achievement has been a staple for a while, but I also never listened to the whole album. I've only been familiar with their radio stuff. No deep cuts. Her Hynde's vocals fucking rock. And the production value was great. Well mixed and great sound. 4.5/5

Pretenders singer has a kind of annoying and repetitive voice. Dope punk notes in the music

Some great songs with some very bad ones

Gritty. Raw. Great.

Excellent

I was expecting new wave like "I'll stand by you" but we get so much more. There are more edgier songs that are closer to the Ramones than 80s new wave. But we also get new wave and a bit of Rock and Roll as well. The only song I remember is Brass in Pocket, but the entire album is good. I don't think I would have ever listened to this entire album if not for this challenge. Chrissy Hynde is amazing. No matter the song style, she kills it. Such a great album. I would definitely listen to it again. 5 out of 5 stars

This was a fun listen. Not outstanding but good.

Nico, almost naive, pop punk

I found the album difficult to listen to when recognizing only two songs.

100% brilliant!

All the songs sound the same

Released when I was early in HS, this has been a part of my soundtrack since. Glad for the chance to listen to it with fresh ears. Overall it holds up as an example of the merging of punk and pop that would become guitar-based new wave (no synths). Some poor decisions (budget? recording tech? vinyl limits?) in how to make the guitars sound. They are robbed of what must have been tremendous power seen live. "Precious" hits the ground running. Chrissie sets the tone for her vocals and persona: "But not me, baby, I'm too precious, I had to fuck off..." The 3 guitars and drums attack is perfect of its time, but the studio effects are gratuitous and distract. The guitar is phased, treated, and hints at what Andy Summers was doing, but holds back too much to be effective. "The Phone Call" starts with a callback to Blondie's "Hanging on the Telephone" of the previous year. The words spill out faster than the melody can take them, but the song doesn't really go anywhere otherwise. Waste of a great riff, perhaps. "Up the Neck" is a morning-after song (with imagery that Lorde can only dream of writing) that moves from sensual enjoyment to regret. She stays a bit detached throughout: "I remember the way he groaned/ And moved with an animal skill / I rubbed my face in the sweat that ran down his chest/It was all very run of the mill" Underwhelming guitar solo. "Tattooed Love Boys" upbeat bo-diddly track with showy drums and restrained guitars. Chrissie speak-sings a tough story that both appreciates and criticizes the tattooed Boyd (and herself for getting involved). A ripping solo that's undercut by poor recording/production. "Space Invader" unexpected instrumental, reminds me of Adam and the Ants - fat bass over tribal drums. The arcade game of the same name was huge then, and its effects make an appearance at the fadeout. Not one of Chrissie's tunes. "The Wait" Another driving drums with a ripping but over-limited guitar riff. Sneering, fast-paced vocal full of bruises and hurt. "Stop Your Sobbing" has always been a polarizing song among my friends group. Some love it, some despise it. The true test is whether it's because they liked the Kinks' original. Chrissie does a lovely reverb-drenched vocal over and homage to 60s 12-string guitars (Byrds, etc). Rare use of vocal harmonies on this album. "Kid" Beautifully emotional vocal delivery accompanied by surf-guitar lead line. More a 60s guitar pop track than a punk-inflected rock song. Guitar solo switches from surf to jangle-pop. Rhythm track is very Phil Spector girl group. Looks forward to influencing REM, Smiths "Private Life" Reggae accompaniment for Chrissie's calmly dismissive vocals. More rare background vocals. Joins the pile of UK punks adopting reggae. Eclipsed for me by Grace Jones' cover of it the same year. However I really like Chrissie's vocal. The length of the track (6+ mins) really allows the space for the track to develop. Her line with "emotional blackmail" reminds me of Elvis Costello's "Emotional Fascism" in Armed Forces from 1979. Languid yet scorching guitar solo, not often found in punk-does-reggae. "Brass in Pocket" Inescapable #1 single from this album. Iconic vocal/lyric which probably cast Chrissie's early confident persona in stone. The remaster reveals some nice rhythm guitar flourishes that didn't come across on the radio back then. "Lovers of Today" Basic ballad and an exercise in vibrato for Chrissie. Remaster means you can finally hear the drums (thanks Chris Thomas). Again, some nice guitar filigrees enriching the verses. Some of the chord changes are very MOR 70s guitar band. Strong shades of Neil Geraldo on Pat Benatar records. "Mystery Achievement" The only reason I'd leave the record on after Brass in Pocket." Extended drums and bass intro, layering in guitars before Chrissie vibratos her way in and then joins herself on backing vocals. Shimmering guitar solo that is over a type with the pop-punk of the times: Neil Geraldo, Sniffin' the Tears, Nick Lowe. The trade-off of guitar to drums over pounding bass must have made for a great extended section live.

Chrissy Hynde's vocals are a bit talky sometimes. I'm not really a fan of that. There's some solid tracks though.

lots of meh

enkelte gode numre (tattooed love boys), de fleste er kedelige og alt for rent produceret. Ikke helt vild med Chrissie Hyndes stemme :/

Coveret til den her er så "min fars cd-samling"-core at jeg aldrig rigtig har haft lyst til at høre det. Det var en del bedre end jeg havde regnet med!

Sgu bare ikke min stil, sorry Pretenders!

Listened Before? No Well this is a jarring transition from Sonhoy Blues to this... Album opens on a glam-punk stomp with Precious. Immediately, I recognize the vocals and see Brass in Pocket down in the tracklist. Interesting tempo gymnastics in The Phone Call. Four tracks in, I'm really enjoying the groove of this one. Everything about it oozes a particular confidence. Space Invader is just that, a more spacey instrumental exploration allowing the guitar to climb up and down and drums to stretch out a bit. Stop Sobbing almost sounded a bit like Dancing Queen at one point. If you stripped the vocals from Private Life I would swear it is a Police song. Brass in Pocket is a classic new wave jam. I wish that the bass had been given a bit more throat in the mix, but something about this song is infectious. This was a very solid album and exceeded all of my expectations going in. I grew up hearing Brass in Pocket, but never thought to dig in further. This was a treat to listen through. Lots of different styles on display with one notable constant: Chrissie Hynde's confident (often) strutting vocals. I would say this is a 4 / 5 and a library add, but its not something I would go out of my way to listen to, I don't think. Added to Library? Yes

Too much punk on this list! It all sounds the same. Luckily it has been a while since we had a lot of punk, but now we get two in a row... This album was much better than I anticipated, but certainly a far cry from punk, especially in the latter half. The Wait was one album that stood out to me with the nice basslines. I could even venture giving this a 3.5 if there were half stars. But there ain't, sorry Pretenders!

Took me a few songs to get into this album but I eventually started liking it. I would describe the album as boppy. I was grooving to Private Life and Mystery Achievement those songs rocked. Would be a high 3 but those two song alone pushed this one up to a 4 for me

I used to listen to Brass in Pocket all the time growing up and is a classic. The rest of the album flowed really well and had pretty interesting instrumentations. Downright weird at times and reminded me a bit of some Talking Heads. We need to normalize playing Stop Your Sobbing to people who are crying. The end of Lover of Today also rules with the layered guitar. Also, the bassline on some songs (specifically Mystery Achievement) create such a dynamic sound to build off of. Enjoyed this much more than I thought I would.

54/100 Based on this scale: 1 star - 0 to 19 2 stars - 20 to 39 3 stars - 40 to 59 4 stars - 60 to 79 5 stars - 80 to 100 Solid. Better than I expected.

Private Life could have been 4 minutes shorter

Classic sound; unsure how I feel about the lyrics.