Reviews (page 11 of 13)
Couldn't be bothered with this that I stopped doing 1001 for about 6 months.
Not bad
Classic album. ‘Brass In Pocket’ is great, and I can’t think of a bad song on this. Unexpected, but 5.
Pretenders are a lot cooler than I thought they were. This is just a smart clean punchy post punk new wave album. It's honestly great from top to bottom.
3/5. Just an overall really fun album. I was very close to adding a few songs to my playlist. I especially enjoyed Space Invaders.
Why didn't I get this album in 1979/80? I really loved their singles but this album takes it to the next level. Precious has so much attitude, while The Wait is just a jammin' good time.
Obivous classic, love the obvious tracks, brass in pocket and stop your sobbing, but i also enjoyed Mystery achievement, Kid, and private life!
I never really “Brass in my pocket”, but this was pretty darn good
Not my thing 3/5
Not my style I enjoyed it tho
Alfa. Better than I was expecting. Drums are great. First half is better. A couple eh poppy songs that kind of don’t fit it in here but all was enjoyable.
This album has a longer run time than most average LP's therefore to achieve maximum effect. SKIP AROUND
Boring
Enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Maybe it was because I had a warped thought of who The Pretenders were, but dug the straightforward rock sound. 3.5/5
In the beginning I was wondering if this was a different band to the Pretenders I knew of.
has some ok moments but not a standout for me
Actually kind of reminded me of Rush a lil
Lyrics: One of the standout features of "Pretenders" is Chrissie Hynde's songwriting. The lyrics are a potent mix of vulnerability, toughness, and wit. In tracks like "Brass in Pocket," Hynde's confident delivery and clever wordplay shine through. She conveys a sense of independence and self-assurance, making the lyrics relatable and empowering. The storytelling in "Tattooed Love Boys" showcases a darker side, delving into themes of desire and obsession. The lyrics throughout the album exhibit a level of introspection and emotional depth that set The Pretenders apart from their punk and new wave contemporaries. Music: Musically, "Pretenders" is a diverse and dynamic album. The band skillfully navigates through various genres, incorporating elements of punk, rock, and pop. The instrumentation is tight, and the arrangements showcase a balance between raw energy and sophisticated musicianship. The guitar work by James Honeyman-Scott is a standout feature, characterized by inventive riffs and melodic solos. The rhythm section, consisting of Pete Farndon on bass and Martin Chambers on drums, provides a solid foundation, contributing to the album's overall tight and cohesive sound. Production: The production of "Pretenders" is noteworthy for its clarity and crispness, especially considering the punk and new wave influences. Chris Thomas, known for his work with The Beatles and Pink Floyd, brought a polished touch to the album without compromising its edge. The mix allows each instrument to shine, and Hynde's vocals are front and center, adding to the album's immediacy. The production values contribute to the longevity of the album, as it doesn't sound dated despite its release over four decades ago. The careful balance of raw energy and production finesse is a testament to the craftsmanship behind the recording. Themes: "Pretenders" explores a range of themes, from love and desire to independence and self-discovery. Chrissie Hynde's lyrics often reflect a complex mix of emotions, and the album as a whole captures a snapshot of the late '70s with its social and cultural upheavals. The themes of empowerment and self-confidence in tracks like "Brass in Pocket" resonate strongly. Meanwhile, the darker and more introspective moments, such as in "Kid," showcase the band's ability to delve into the complexities of human relationships. Influence: The influence of "Pretenders" on subsequent generations of musicians is undeniable. The album's amalgamation of punk and new wave elements, combined with Hynde's distinctive vocals, has inspired countless artists across genres. The blending of rock and pop sensibilities laid the groundwork for alternative rock, influencing bands that emerged in the '80s and '90s. The empowerment and authenticity conveyed in the album have made it a touchstone for female artists in particular, breaking down barriers and paving the way for women in rock. The Pretenders' impact can be heard in the work of bands ranging from The Bangles to Garbage, showcasing the enduring influence of this debut. Pros: Strong Songwriting: Chrissie Hynde's songwriting is a standout, offering a mix of vulnerability and toughness. Musical Diversity: The album seamlessly blends punk, rock, and pop influences, showcasing the band's musical versatility. Exceptional Instrumentation: James Honeyman-Scott's guitar work is inventive and memorable, complemented by a solid rhythm section. Effective Production: The polished production by Chris Thomas maintains a balance between raw energy and clarity. Influential Impact: "Pretenders" has left a lasting mark on the music industry, influencing subsequent generations of musicians. Cons: Limited Variation in Tempo: Some tracks on the album share a similar mid-tempo pace, which may affect the overall dynamism for certain listeners. Relatively Short Duration: With just 12 tracks, the album's brevity may leave listeners craving more, although each track is strong individually. In conclusion, "Pretenders" by The Pretenders stands as a landmark debut that successfully blends genres and showcases the formidable talent of Chrissie Hynde and her bandmates. The album's enduring influence and timeless quality make it a must-listen for anyone interested in the evolution of rock and new wave music. With its strong lyrics, diverse musicality, effective production, and lasting impact, "Pretenders" remains a classic that continues to resonate with audiences around the world.
Im giving the album a 4 because I really enjoyed it but it didn't blow me away. I'll definitely be going back and listening to more of their stuff though
very cool sound. favorite track was mystery achievement
3.5
Loved it, great memories
Good
Aika kiva! Naislaulajabändeissä meinas tänä aikana mennä vähän räminäksi tai turhaksi taiteellisuudeksi, jos siis nyt yleistän, mutta tää ei edes käväise sillä radalla. Perushyvää poprockia, asenne kohdallaan mutta kaupalliset lasit silmillä.
Poppia ja antipoppia esitettynä laulettuna ja antilaulettuna. Levyn kiinnostavuutta on vaikea kiistää, mutta sen kestävyyttä on ajoittain mahdollista kyseenalaistaa. Osa antikoukuista jää silti soimaan päähän.
This was interesting, sort of new to me
Very Kate bush, but also weirdly Big Thief or Phoebe Bridgers
One great song the rest were just ok. Saved the one and the rest will be a one off.
I've heard this blasting a lot while growing up while trying to sleep in on a Saturday morning after dad decided he was going to go to town with his power tools and speaker setup. It sounds a lot more enjoyable now when I've chosen to listento it lol
B- Precious 3 The Phone Call 3 Up the Neck 3 Tattooed Love Boys 3 Space Invader 2 The Wait 3 Stop Your Sobbing 3 Kid 4 Private Life 3 Brass in Pocket 4 Lovers of Today 4 Mystery Achievement 3 This was pretty good, better than I remembered the Pretenders being.
Not bad, kind of repetitive but also the voice of the lead singer was slightly annoying
I had only heard the Pretenders hits and so this is my first full album of theirs that I have investigated my enjoyment of. It's better than I had thought it would be and I am glad it was included on this list. I have read the REALLY high praise this album receives and it probably deserves much of it. I can't say I liked the album quite as much as others may have, but consider to be essential listening.
stop your sobbing, brass in pocket
Fabulous
Pretty classic record. Post punk all the way. It doesn't sound as revolutionary now as it was then. Ultimately I was surprised at how overall indifferent I was to this record when listening to it now, but then again, I would say that when I was growing up and people would mention The Pretenders, really the only song of theirs that made a huge impression on me was "My City Was Gone".
V punk and fun
It's OK. Not their best
Should have kept the name (Mike Hunt's) Dishonorable Discharge.
Keywords: 80's British Rock, Just Fine Notable Song: Tattooed Love Boys
Almost made 4 stars for me, but nothing grabbed me quite enough to add to a playlist which is my rubric for 4 stars. Of course loved Hydne’s voice and I also liked the overall sound and punk-ish influences.
I was only familiar with one song: Brass in Pocket. I liked the sounds. Reminds me of some newer acts like Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Strokes, etc. But also related to sounds of the time, e.g. The Police. After a couple of listens I started getting into some other songs, like Lovers of Today.
Not what I expected and enjoyed it more than expected. Nice proto-Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs sound.
I like Chrissie Hyndes voice. I like the one or two songs I know by the Pretenders. But this just wasn't doing it for me. A little too monotonous of a sound, without the sound being super compelling.
Decent early punk band. A few bangers, but a lot of wailing and gyrating with the vocals and too much repetition overall. Really enjoyed the music backing, though. Fav tracks: Brass in Pocket, Space Invader, Up the Neck
5/5
Pretty decent
Not bad, punkish
Vocal tracks aren't loud enough on most songs. Only a couple of the songs appealed to me.
Singer’s vocal style sounded pretty unique to me, especially the way she kinda talk-sang in some of the songs. It was bold and funky, can’t complain too much.
I like it. The first half was a little too much, but I really liked the vocals of the slower tunes, and the bass tones throughout were amazing.
A groundbreaking album in that it combines pop and punk rock n a way not done at this point, and led by a woman. I would have liked to given this 4.5 but I’ll round up since it’s important in the history of rock.
Of course Brass in Pocket is amazing. I also like Private Life, it is immediately recognizable as Pretenders yet I've never heard it before. A solid album.
I've always enjoyed rock bands with female vocalists. It's a good sound. Chrissie Hynde is a legend.
Really good. Kind of punk. Lead singer is a badass!
I've grown as a fan of this genere, and this record, for that reason, surprised me, as it's not full of singles and the tracks each have an individual sense of power and presence.
I like Chrissie Hynde's swagger on this one, I just don't like the overall sound of it. Still, the singles specifically make it worth the listen. Just not something I enjoy in it's entirety.
Nah
I went back and forth on this one for a while. After the first few tracks I thought I was about to give my first 1 star rating, but it got a little bit better in the second half of the album. There were a few redeemable moments, but nothing super impressive. I don’t see myself revisiting this album.
Didn't stick. Completely neutral
Favorite Song: Kid Album Notes: I liked this more than I thought. I'm not hugely into punk rock, but these tunes hit nicely.
Proper Early 80s sound
I wish they’d be a little more punk. The hit track was too poppy for me, and after that the album gets less good in my opinion.
- irgendwo zwischen Punk und New Wave, manchmal bisschen Reggae, öfter poppig - kann man ganz gut durchhören - hatte immer Sympathien für die Pretenders, auch wenn ich nie ein großer fan der Musik war / bin - +++ female fronted - für mich stimmt der Mix nicht ganz, finde ihre vocals viel zu präsent, fühlt sich nicht eingebettet an, sondern nur drüberliegend - ab und zu kam bei mir etwas Langeweile auf Rating: 2,75-3/5
- Irgendwie ein geiles Album, hab ich gar nicht mit gerechnet. - Kannte Pretenders nur von den Hits her, hab mich aber nie näher mit denen beschäftigt. - Das erste Drittel des Albums ist mMn ULTRA stark, mit dreckigen, roughen songs und der Sprechgesang der Sängerin passt wie Arsch auf Eimer zum Vibe - Das mittlere Drittel baut dann etwas ab und nimmt ein bisschen das Tempo raus, fängt sich aber zum Ende mit dem ziemlich coolen Reggae-Einfluss bei Private Life, dem großen Hit des Albums und zwei weitern echt coolen Songs. - Ich mag die Platte: Dynamisch, abwechslungsreich aber linientreu, charakteristisch und große Prise "mir doch scheiß egal, was ihr von unserer Mucke haltet"-Vibe 4,25/5
- kannte ich noch gar nicht - mir ist nach dem ersten hören zwar kein Song besonders im Kopf hängen geblieben, allerdings gefällt mir die Platte als Ganzes wirklich gut - die ersten beiden Tracks haben mir Olivia Rodrigo Vibes gegeben (natürlich andersrum, Rodrigo gibt Pretenders Vibes) - auch beim zweiten Hören am Wochenende ist mir zwar kein Song besonders im Kopf geblieben (höchstens die ersten beiden: Precious und The Phone Call) - 3,5
Only aware of the singles and pleasantly surprised, good energy
2.16
It's OK. Not a fan of the guitar tone: sounds like they have their chorus cranked to 11. I know this band is a seminal new wave group, but it's just not for me.
HL: "Stop Your Sobbing", "Brass in Pocket", “Kids”, “Phone Call” Hm, there's both a harder edge absent from their radio hits as well as the jangly pop they're known & loved for Neat-o November 22, 2023
Eh it was OK. Had a few good stand-out tracks.
A couple of good songs. Some too long, some dull. She does have an iconic voice.
Great album - really impressed with this one!
Ik herkende ze meteen! Da's die van Friends in die een met Phoebe daar, ge weet wel.. ja. Ik had nooit geweten wie ze echt is en wat voor muziek ze maakte, dus bedankt zeg. Het was wel ok, maar ik ga er niet naar blijven luisteren.
Guay. La voz de esta mujer es ... Y como tiene la canción Kid, y "is the debut studio album" le voy a dar un 5.
Good Lekker uptempo Goeie gitaar, bass en drum
Only ever heard The Pretenders well-known songs. So glad 1001AG selected their first album. Love the compositions and time signatures and feels of the songs, and Chrissy's presentation and interpretations on top of those... So good.
Not my cup of tea but decent
This album was produced during a cultural shift in musical genre. Sometimes do wop, sometimes punk, this album is all over the place. Brass in Pocket is a great song and is an indication of their style to come. It's a good album, but not a great one, and the existence of a tremendous single doesn't do enough to elevate that aside giving us a glimpse into the Pretenders' future.
I wish there was six stars
It was pretty alright actually
I think the amount of listens each track has on Spotify lines up perfectly on this album. Brass in Pocket is one of those songs that I've always known bet never knew who it was from. Kid was a pleasant surprise here. The audio balance was a little off for me, with the lead signer being washed out sometimes, but the pacing of the album was spot on. Overall, Pretenders was a mish-mash of good and not-so-good, but it's probably closer to a 3.5 than a 3 for me.
prima saai
New Wavey and pretty fun.
Very good album, raunchy most of the way through
That's totally the guest guitarist from Friends!
'80s childhood trauma vibes
Nice refreshing straight forward 80s punk/new wave album. Great bass tones and guitar reminds me of Bathe The Hippie. The middle of the album turns more Fleetwood Mac style. Even some reggae style music. Kinda cool. 3.5⭐️s
Honestly I feel like I've heard of the Pretenders a lot but never knew what they actually sounded like. I was super pleasantly surprised.
Precious - are we in the early punk scene? this band sounds the exact same way they look. (3/5 a rock song. an intro but i want more) The Phone Call - okay the chill punk rock vibe is actually pretty nice. (4/5 the tone was from The Wall too) Up The Neck - its like a beach party! (3/5) Tattooed Love Boys - i think this song is like a swing rock. very interesting. i like it (4/5 very of its time) Space Invader - just a chill guitar spotlight. i enjoy a good instrumental. (5/5) The Wait - we didn't start the fire. this song is a secret sometimes. it's okay (3/5) Stop Your Sobbing - this kinda gives a Cranberries vibe a little. (3/5 it's on the pop side of it but it's alright.) Kid - it feels like we're doing a punk Beach Boys thing right now. not quiet beach goth but close. (4/5 i imagine a group of pale goth people doing Charlie Brown dances on the beach) Private Life - the reggae sound is fucking. it's very warpled all over. journey of a song honestly. (5/5 i like the artsy-ness of it. of fucking course it's 6 minutes long) Brass in Pocket - interesting change to the pop rock sound. (3/5 i'm not a fan actually) Lovers of Today - the slow dance sound of this is nice. reminds me a little bit of Pink Floyd. (4/5 didn't hold my attention the whole time but i enjoyed it) Mystery Achievement - catchy mumble rock :) (4/5 catchy) 4/5 good feel through the whole album even if there were a few snags along the way. this album doesn't blow me out of the water, but i ended up enjoying it more than i thought i would at first.
Slip on a leather jacket, slap on a bass, scowl through some sunglasses and you too can pretend. But we don't have to make-believe too.
i like the attitude, but find the songs kind of forgettable. 2/5
Ah, that was college. Brass in Pocket is awesome. A 3 just for that. Amazing how a song can take you right back to an era of your life. In college we thought Chrissy Hynde was the coolest thing to ever come out of Akron Ohio. She probably still is. But the rest of this album isn’t particularly memorable.
A perfectly fun album. Would love to see this live! I wasn’t blown away, and I liked some of the more deep bass cuts, like Lovers of Today. Those got me to perk my ears up. 3/5
Cool AF
An enjoyable listen. I have a tonne of respect for the Pretenders and Chrissie Hynde in particular. This album has a punk aesthetic with pop accessibility and is impressive for that reason.. I presume that's why it's in this list of 1001 best albums. To my 2023 ears, it's not particularly striking in any direction but I think it is a solid album.
I enjoyed this
Pretenders' self-titled album is alright. I liked a couple of songs, but not too much was going on with this one. Favorite Song(s): "Stop Your Sobbing", "Precious", "Brass in Pocket"
Decent
Pretty solid stuff. Her voice is the obvious highlight.
I really enjoyed this, although I was maybe just relieved it wasn't another country rock album. Anyway, Chrissie Hynde's voice is great and Brass in Pocket really shows it off
The songs I already knew really stood out (Brass in Pocket in particular). And the others were also good. The vocals aren't dynamic enough for me to really get into this - they sort of sound the same across all of the songs. Rock solid, but doesn't rise to the level of something I want to push myself to return to in the future.
This is a great album. The Pretenders were an exceptionally talented band, and this is a fun one.
Not my favorite style but fun enough. Some of the songs are pretty catchy.
I like the rhythm section. In fact, the whole band sounds pretty good as a unit. I guess I just didn’t find many of the songs all that catchy. And I don’t think I care all that much for Chrissie Hynde’s vocals. It’s not a voice that grabs my attention.
This is pure pop goodness. Chrissie Hynde's vocals are top-notch, and the instrumentals strike a perfect balance of punk and New Wave influences. It's a concise and compelling album that leaves a lasting impression.
Пара микро-идей, постоянный битый размер, но в основном такой типа панка, неинтересно
чет не хватает до 4, но крепко
В голове этот альбом поделился ровно на две половины: как они и есть в альбоме, две стороны. Сначала нас ожидает "тяжелячок", с относительно быстрыми композициями, в которые очень аккуратно вкрапляется новая волна со своими синтетически-дискотечными звуками. Вторая же половина - очень взвешенные, спокойные и мечтательные (почти все) поп-композиции, с глубокими мыслями. Открытым остаётся вопрос, стоило ли их так разделять или нет? Я считаю, что это хороший ход. Немного двуличный, но оттого более эффектный и понятный. Энивей, какая же сладкая музыка... и какой томный и страдающий вокал, будто бы уже отчаившейся женщины. Марианна Фейтфул, но не курившая тонну беломора в день.
Such Fun! Good times. This seems like the origin of the '80's' sound
A great album that really shows the early stages of their creativity and experimenting with styles, vocals, and ideas. Love it!
Such passion and completely listenable from start to finish. A total classic.
Really cohesive album in the same way that sludge is a cohesive collection of dirt and parasites. Not good
A small handful of instrumentals were fairly decent, but there wasn't really anything worth listening to again here
Very kate bush, but also weirdly Big Thief or Phoebe Bridgers
Fine, reminds me of a soundtracks for movies.
Okay. Love Brass In Pocket.
Their best album. They never topped it. Lots of solid tracks. Space Invaders is an absolute banger. Brass in Pocket is a classic. Nice blend of punk aesthetics with new wave sensibilities. A shame that addictions thwarted such a promising group.
got better and better
Like Blondie meets the Police? I enjoyed it.
was aight had a soccer game today that I played in for the first time in forever, also the chain I ordered from flip came today #newice
Only knew the one song from before, but overall liked the album. Not really anything that stood out, but easy ti listen too. 3/5 Might listen too again
Dennis reynolds would love these guys
Good rock
brass in pocket is a gem. i think she has a great voice.
madonna once said chrissie hynde was the only real bitch in the world and she was right!
brass in pocket is idol coded for sure
NOT what i expected but i was feeling this and i support all women in punk. i can't believe she went from this to i'll stand by you.
i liked this a lot more than anticipated!
A stunning debut album from Chrissie Hynde's Pretenders. Her experience in numerous other bands and connection to the Sex Pistols brought her all the experience she needed to explode onto the punk and new wave scenes.
Difficult album for me to listen to - a couple of the more mellow tracks saved this from being my first one star review!
Was a fun album! Hear a lot influences that other bands have used! was a blast to listen too!!!
Enjoyed it as much as the previous one. Was good to listen to, same trend but never feld repetitive
This album is an album containing various songs in a variety of styles and moods.
Very uneven - bangers and dreck
Though the album itself is not more than 5 out of 5, i give it the maximum just because this one totally gives me the vibes of being i'm in New York in the late 70s. And damn, Chrissie's voice is incredibly sexy
I really enjoyed this British sassiness that I've never heard before, 'cept that one song.
Based off the album cover, was not expecting a punk opener. Good variety and super fun throughout, great lyrics, big Television vibes in the guitar work, Blondie an obvious comparison in many parts, even some reggae vibes on Private Life (No Doubt MUST have listened to these guys). Was never too familiar with these guys outside of Tatooed Love Boys from GH2 (lol), enjoyed it.
I liked this one. Would listen again.
Solid album.
"Learning to Crawl" is one of my favorites. This album is NOT "Learning to Crawl." And for that, it will be punished.
Brass in pocket *chef's kiss*
Favorite Tracks: Precious, The Phone Call, Up the Neck, Tattooed Love Boys, Space Invader, The Wait, Stop Your Sobbing, Kid, Brass in Pocket, Mystery Achievement
3/5 good but not quite there.
El álbum "Pretenders" de The Pretenders es una mezcla estilizada de punk pop y rock ochentero. Se destaca por su simplicidad en melodías, instrumentación, acordes y estructura, lo que le confiere un atractivo distintivo. La actitud de la cantante, Chrissie Hynde, impregna todas las canciones. En general, "Pretenders" es un disco sumamente entretenido y dinámico. Cada canción aporta su estilo único, y se percibe la influencia de bandas como Blondie, The clash, The Police pero tambien se ve su repercusión futura en grupos como yeah yeah yeahs, pixies, paramore. 3.5/5
Really not my cup of tea. Didn't even finish the album.
Brass in Pocket is not like the rest of it. New wave and punk. Not melodic really.
- crusty and cringe - like I really don’t like the female vocalist - space invaders isn’t bad (when they don’t sing) - the hits on the album are more tolerable but still not that good - only parts I somewhat like are the instrumentals near the end of the song sometimes but they’re still mid, could probably find similar stuff with many other artists - 80s radio
Not my genre but I dig it
I really enjoyed it, even listened to the deluxe version.
Pretty decent late 70s punk. Sounds very of it's time. Some really good songs, some bang average
Surprisingly punk. Got a little bored. Big hit: Mystery Achievement.
Good, punkish
Good stuff. Brass in pocket is a classic.
La femme chante. Y'a un mélange de Clash et Pretty reckless on dirait. Très bon vibe. Belle découverte.
Tattoed love boys - fave track
2.75
Meh. 1 or 2 good songs but ultimately forgettable. Says a lot when the most famous song is boring advert fodder.
Someone I know said they went to see Guns N Roses the other day and the open act was pretty good. Some unknown band. Turns out it was The Pretenders - haha. I just looked at them and was like ummmmmm…. Not really unknown.
Always loved Brass in Pocket, and a few others on this album are OK too. Might listen again
It's alright. One of those albums that'd inspire you to be in a band but it doesn't hold up to me.
3.5 - There's some pretty good tracks on here. Even the ones that are the best are still good. There are a few tracks that don't quite grab my attention and sometimes they're even boring, but I'd say the good stuff outweighs that enough for a 3.5. I quite like the songs where they get kind of weird with the beat at times, like The Phone Call and Tattooed Love Boys.
2/5 - nothing special. One listen through was enough, not really my thing.
i like this album
I don’t think any band merged the somewhat conflicting styles of punk and new wave better than the Pretenders on their debut (maybe Elvis Costello is the only other than comes to mind). They thread the needle of punk attitude and new wave pop sensibility, and somehow this barely sounds dated at all, amazing for an album from this era. Chrissie Hynde is such a unique vocalist, mixing delicate crooning with snarly chatter. It’s always a slow burn for me to realize the greatness, but there is not a bad or even mediocre track on the album. Unquestionably one of the best albums of the 80s.
bof. et pas dispo sur yt 3/5 ?
Something just felt kinda missing here... The first side felt like it lacked variety, and the second lacked consistency, and somehow neither side could fully make up for the other. It was still very strong for what it was, but just shy of a 4 for me.
Wow, this was a dead center album for me.
Some elements on here I really like. Chrissy Hynde has a lovely voice. instantly recognisable. There are some songs on here that don't really seem to be sure what they want to be. But also some lovely tracks that do.
Reminded me of pat benatar
Another album that makes me really wish I could enjoy 80s new wave... but I still can't get there. There are so many tracks that are close, but don't step over the edge. It almost feels like incomplete thoughts, or like when you need to sneeze but then you just can't. I found myself enjoying beats and themes, but then disappointed at how none of them fully develop. Incredible debut album, but it isn't for me.
Decent pop .
Blah. Not my cup of tea. Whiny vocals and pretty bland background music.
I enjoyed the Pretenders in the 80's but they were always on the periphery of my musical tastes. I had "Learning to Crawl", but not any of their earlier albums. Looking back, I think the Pretenders influenced my musical tastes more than I knew, especially with the "jangly" sound of a lot of bands at the time and later.
Classic album
Good shit, high quality version of that genre
I’ve a lot about the pretenders. They’re also on my have-to-listen-playlist for a long time. I’m glad I finally listened to them. This album is amazing, sounds so damn good. 5/5
Chrissie Hynde is such a cool chick rocker. Good album. Not as many songs I knew as I had thought I would. Enjoyed it. Brass in Pocket - classic! 4 stars, almost 4.5
Safe to say I did not enjoy my time spent listening to this. I felt like the whole time I was listening I was wanting the song to either go somewhere or end and move on to the next. Now none of the songs are objectively bad I just didn’t find myself engaging with any of the material and a lot of the songs dragged on. Shame.
Strong album, a lot more up my alley. A lot of this sounds like something that would have came out 10 years later, so it's easy to see the impact it made.
I know the singles but there are some bangers on here I never heard before (Space Invader, Mystery Achievement). And of course Chrissie Hynde is an inspiration.
I love me some Pretenders. This album is really great in the first half, but then loses a little of bit of steam in the middle. Overall though it's a solid rock album.
Very good album. I don't think I've ever sat down and listened to a full Pretenders album. Liked the variety on here. 4/5
I’m going to be frank- I have a deep-seated aversion to “Brass in Pocket”. Heard it one too many times, so this was always going to be a tough sell for me. But the album is pretty decent all things considered, a solid mix between punk, new wave and (ugh) ska. If it was a little shorter and didn’t have the cod reggae stuff I’d rate it higher. C+
I can’t put my finger on it, but something about this just doesn’t vibe with me. It almost feels like the vocals are sitting right on top of the instrumentation, instead of harmonizing with it. I knew a few songs already and the others just didn’t excite me anymore. I feel like this should be right up my alley, but it’s just not…
Brass in Pocket is my top track with Stop your Sobbing a distant second. After those songs, the rest of the record kind of leaves me cold. I feel the same way about some of their other records as well: a great single or two and the rest are just kind of meh. Essentially this is a band with all the right ingredients for good music but insofar as the cooking is concerned I'm not floored by a lot of the results. There's a lack of consistent creativity. When there's a spark it's pretty awesome though.
Embarrassed to say that beyond Brass in Pocket, I did not know this. But it is great. Swagger for days and plays like a survey of 80s rock from punk to new wave to pop.
4-4.5
nah
Cool punk record. Has the high energy n stuff I like about punk. Has good songs, but some of them feel a litttlr one note.
Sounds like stabilized punkrock / new wave. Solid and a little boring.
I've heard a small handful of the Pretenders songs, but this was my first experience with one of their whole albums. This album was a perfect blend of New Wave and Punk. Knowing the Pretenders' radio hits, I was caught off guard by some of the lyrical content of some of the songs on this album. I don't mean to say that any of that subject matter was out of place on this album, because I think it fit perfectly with the Pretenders punk leanings. Chrissie Hynde was the perfect frontwoman to tackle lyrics like this, and this album laid the foundations that acts like Joan Jett, Pat Benatar, and The Go-Go's were able to build their success on (okay, Joan Jett got her start before the Pretenders were around, but her solo stuff had much further reach than her stuff with The Runaways). Musically, this album had some fantastic guitar licks. The songs here were varied in their sound, and that allowed James Honeyman-Scott to show off his skills. From the furious solo of "Tattooed Love Boys" to the riffs on "Brass in Pocket," he could really do it all. The rest of the band's playing was fantastic too; it really felt like all the instrumentals were perfectly placed on this album. I've always enjoyed the few Pretenders songs that I'd heard, but this gave me a new appreciation for how talented and influential they were.
I liked the 2nd half of the album. Cool retro sounding pop music.
This album opens with a pair of tracks that explain immediately how tied to the punk movement the Pretenders are. The mix and the thin guitar sound bely how aggressive and straight-ahead the rhythm playing is. Heavy modulation on the guitars throughout (phaser? flanger?) really sets this in the 80s. Vocals mixed high. I see Chrissy Hynde getting criticism for the sing/talk delivery but, to me, she deserves placement in the Lou Reed and Iggy Pop school of vocalists. It suits the genre they came up in. Some song conventions that depart from the spare, classic 50s & 60s songwriting formulas (guitar solos, certain kinds of key changes) offer a bit more ornament than the punk scene which these four grew from -- the effect seems a direct line to Cheap Trick. Stop Your Sobbing has a more Cyndi Lauper feel -- a more marketable pop ballad -- and Private Life wears its reggae influence on its sleeve. This was a band confident of its diverse influences from the beginning. I think that the 80s production techniques of mixing down the band and lavishing them with reverb does a disservice to the music; the record feels more detached and less emotionally direct because of it. That's no fault of a group making their first record, though. I also usually hate that production style typical of the era anyway, so it's a boilerplate objection. In all, a great album. An interesting contribution to the theme that punk didn't fizzle out after a few short years and magically reappear later in the 80s, but evolved as a scene into bands like the Pretenders and Talking Heads, subsumed into the mainstream as many subcultures inevitably are.
Album #31 This was not what I expected at all! I've always been indifferent to The Pretenders' radio hits. I was not expecting Chrissie Hynde to be such a badass. She has so much confidence that it can almost be intimidating to even listen. She completely owns her image and sexuality, and I absolutely love her for it. To me, the songs range from ok to great and have a clear UK 70s-80s punkish quality to them, except for Brass in Pocket. 4*
Surprisingly varied in the back half. “Brass in Pocket” still slaps. Could do without “Private Life”.
Like it's okay. Not something I need to hear again.
Legal porém não muito
Very cool, I liked it a lot!
The sound of this album is painfully stuck in the late 70's/ early 80's and the lyrics come off as trying to be angsty and edgy.
3.5/5 for the purposes of this list of "essential" LPs, rounded up to 4, and translating to a 8.5/10 grade for more general purposes (5 + 3.5). Always dismissed that Pretenders' debut as an overrated album, but listening to it one more time, one thing hit suddenly me on the head, and it hit me hard. As dated as it is now, their sound was actuallly the forerunner of a specific strand of the current post-punk revival best represented by a band such as Dry Cleaning, especially on the first side (second side has more "classic rock" charms). Chrissie Hynde doesn't exactly uses the sort of singspeak Florence Shaw uses, but it comes very close. Likewise, the guitars' dry, chorus-heavy textures remind me of Tom Dowse's own six-strings flourishes. And it's like a key finally unlocked that album for me. Not saying this *fully* sells that debut for me yet, but it's a start, at least. I need to mull over all this. In the meantime... Number of albums left to review: 433 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 263 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 137 (including this one) Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 170
Vähän tämmöistä dressman rockia naislaulajalla. Ihan ok riffejä, vähän ärsyttävä laulutapa
Good stuff
Good
i like this one. female lead, some great songs but not all.
Hh
I love the Chrissy Hynde story. She was a rock critic and was getting some flack from artists after some negative reviews. Someone said, if you think it is so easy, see if you can do it yourself. So she did, and The Pretenders is the result. I think she won the bet.
Hit me while listening that this is just the yang to Blondie’s yin: female led punk-adjacent new wave group where the male backing band has incredible groove. Great drumming, awesome guitar tone. I know Learning to Crawl a little better. If my memory serves me right this band faced a lot of tragedy and possibly left a lot of great work on the table.
Super average. Two good tracks.
This was a pleasant surprise. I really enjoyed the instrumentation and the vocals. Plus, rock is my favorite genre. Solid 4/5 stars.
funny, easy listening, ok
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).
She has such a beautiful, powerful voice. What a great debut album.
‘Up The Neck’, ‘The Wait’, ‘Private Life’, ‘Brass In Pocket’ and probably ‘Mystery Achievement’ are the good songs on this album. The rest I found extremely underwhelming.
its fine. some are the songs are bangers tho. but its just ok.
Very energetic and good power pop.
<3
-i Have heard of the pretenders -her voice is So interesting!!!!! -i really like it -idk this isn’t really super standing out to me -from doing this i have been listening to so much rock/rock adjacent stuff, so this just seems very similar to the other stuff -love LOVE a female lead singer tho -i do really like the wait a lot -overall it was pretty good but i wasn’t in love. giving it a 3
Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: I did really like this one, it was fun Favourite song: Track 4 - Tattooed Love Boys
Still got man!!
impressive debut
Ok
One of the best debut albums in history.
Not too bad. Kind of fun album.
Meh.
Paikoin hyvä, paikoin ärsyttävä.
ok. Got some classic tracks on it.
50% Fleetwood Mac pop, 50% punk attitude.
Great voice, great songs. Definitely listened to this growing up, never took much interest in the artist but will deffo be looking them up after this.
I forget sometimes that Pretenders were basically a punk band. This album has some great songs - I never knew Private Life was a Pretenders song - and you can hear bits of so many bands rather followed afterwards. It's not perfect and is quite scrappy in places, but makes perfect sense for a list like this. If, like me, you assumed they were much more of a pop band, the rawness of some of the tracks will be a pleasant surprise.
cute cute 7.5/10
Precious: Pretty good lead-in song. Not super loud. 8/10. The Phone Call: Like the incorporation of phone noises into it. Short song, loud, not a ton of lyrics. 8/10. Up the Neck: Much softer and I like the guitar riffs in this one. Very nice. 9/10. Tattooed Love Boys: Like the riffs on this one too. 9/10. Space Invader: Really good beginning I like this one. Name is cool too. No lyrics which is kinda nice in this instance. 9/10. The Wait: Riff is good on this one but I don't like the lyrics that much really. 7/10. Stop Your Sobbing: Less loud and rocky than the previous songs, a lot more pop/indie-esque. Message is pretty good, I like this but it doesn't necessarily fit with the rest of the message of the album. 8/10. Kid: Lot different vibe from the others. Like though. 8/10. Private Life: I do not like this at all. No no no. It's fucking long too. 5/10. Brass in Pocket: Most played song by the Pretenders, Spotify says it has 186,000,000 listens. It's like, okay. There are better songs to put on the radio though, unsure why they chose this one. 7/10. Lovers of Today: Slow, repetitive. Not a big fan. 6/10. Mystery Achievement: Pretty good. 8/10. Cuban Slide: Not a huge fan, different kinda beat than the others. 6/10. Porcelain: Oooh I like the riff on this one. 9/10. Total: 107/140 --> 76/100.
💯 💯 💯 💯 💯
I had never heard this except for Brass In Pocket. I was surprised how edgy and punk-influenced it is, though of course it makes sense given the era. Reminds me of early Police a bit. Nice!
Strong 7
Some good songs and some okay ones.
Like 'Parallel Lines', which we listened to an age ago, this record pleased me by having a lot less filler than I remembered from a dismissive first listen. Brass in Pocket has its own sacred mound, but the entire album is strong, pared back just enough to make the fluorishes jump out, and Hynde's word and delivery deserve a lot more time than I've given them this weekend.
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.
A superb album. Massively influential, technically sound, and often replicated. Don't know if the melodies are as enticing as the rest, but definitely an attention-grabbing listen.
80ee не знаю, в начале было ничего потом как-то не туда не сюда
This fucking rocks, love it
QUE OCHENTOSIDAD! EL PURO GUITARREO
Precious, a great opening track, with Hyndes sneering vocals, sets the tone for an album that just rattles along. They weren't my favourite band, but this is a good album.
missery
This album has a bit of an awkward and slow start but it really gets going with the later tracks. I thought I wouldn't enjoy it but I really did in the end - literally!
Sounds like the start of something great. I only know Pretenders by their singles so was very rewarding to listen to in full.
pretty decent
Really good album
another very meh album...not for me....
I very much enjoyed this album. Lots of well known songs.
Feels like it was 1986 but it was 1979? Trendsetters.
Some great songs on here - bouncy, catchy rock and roll. Wasn't a big fan at the time, but have warmed to Chrissie Hynde over the years. A great rock voice. I also didn't realise that she / they wrote Private Life. I'd only heard the Grace Jones version previously. Enjoyable.
An album mainly full of fillers, with only the singles really standing out. Harsh, but I've been brought up on the Best of The Pretenders. Private Life is fantastic. I didn't realise the origins of this song. It gets a little more in depth with the song writing on Lovers of Today. There's a definite Pretenders sound with the bass and drums always deep in the mix. Not bad for a debut, but a little thin on the ground.
Sounded like a really committed gig band: good energy but I don't think this 'hits'. The latter hit isn't as good as a few of the records on this though.
first listen there's something about this i like
Excellent songwriting. Chrissie Hynde is a badass musician.
Chrissie Hynde's voice is great - just effortlessly cool. Tattooed Love Boys is a classic - I love the 7/4 (?) time signature giving it an unsettling vibe. Interesting to compare Private Life with the Grace Jones cover (I like both).
I'm taking a gamble and rating it four assuming that a relisten would make me appreciate it more. I enjoyed it, but I was falling asleep while listening, which probably didn't help.
Okay I guess.
Female tatooed sting and the police
The album was decent. I liked the instrumentals of many of the songs. The vocals is where it fell short, in my opinion. Additionally, some of the songs seemed repetitive throughout them.
Solid band, solid album. Great variation in songs, distinctive sound, overall a bop. 5/5
So many great ones on here. Surprising use of alternating time signatures and polyrhythm on several songs.
80s retro rock with a punk attitude. chrissie hynde is not one to be fucked with. highlights: “precious”, “the wait”, “brass in pocket”.
This isn't who/what I thought the Pretenders were. Brass in Pocket is a jam but the rest of it was non-offensive ambient sound. It was fine, but didn't really stand out.
This was just about what I expected.
5. Love it!
Not to bad
Never judge a book by its cover, kids. Very enjoyable 3/5
Really enjoyed this album, B-Side was better than A-Side
13/7/23 fave track: the phone call? though brass in pocket is like. Everything
Interesting to listen to the full album. Sounds more modern than the release date so must have been influential! Good to get some context for the singles.
Solid!
Good stuff, feels a bit like Yeah Yeah Yeahs
I wish we could give half stars. I would have given this 2 1/2.
Loved this
Tight and energetic punk rock/new wave record with quite varied styles of songs. She is a great lead singer. My issue is that it drags on a bit and it feels quite a long album. Towards the end of the album I already forgot what I listened to in the beginning. Overall it was good though not sure I will listen to it again soon.
Awesome band. I had only heard the hit songs on this album but it’s all good.
This is ok I guess. Didn't really have any standout songs while passively listening. Just kinda serviceable rock music I guess. Their bass lines are nice I guess. The lead singer has a nice enough voice. A 3/5
Amazing.
Nothing stood out, but good background music.
Album with ups and downs. Mostly downs
It's pretty ok
Album doesn't really know what it want to be so it just pretends
The singular hit on here was fun. The rest is very forgetable
Sånn bortsett fra at Tattooed Love Boys gjorde meg nostalgisk, så ga da meg ikkje så masse
Meh, alles zu gleich?
Some neat new wave tracks but also many songs that don't stand out. Very light on the punk though. I think that would've made the album a bit more interesting. Highlights: Stop your Sobbing
Good
Didn't realize there were so many ground-breaking songs on here...outstanding
I knew I had heard of Pretenders before today, but none of the songs on this album looked familiar. Upon listening, the song I knew was Brass in Pocket. Pretenders are a new wave band from UK/America. I have a history of not particularly enjoying new wave, so signs aren't looking good for this record. Sure enough, I wasn't particularly a fan of the pop style guitar playing, weird time signatures, and nonsensical lyrics (and also that washed out 80's pop sound that was done to death by so many other one hit wonder bands of the era). Overall, kind of bland. Not bad, but not my favourite. I wouldn't rush out and buy this record. I can't see myself wanting to listen again. Walmart brand 80's pop punk. Favourite songs: Brass in Pocket, Mystery Achievement, Tattooed Love Boys, Lovers of Today, Precious Least favourite songs: Private Life, The Wait, Stop Your Sobbing 3/5
- Good rock vibes, love some female vocals - Sounds very 80s
- Solid, but I don’t love her vocal style - Enjoyable rhythms - Can’t see myself coming back to this
Light 6
They're fine, I guess.
Christ what a debut. Chrissie Hynde is criminally underrated. She's the type of rock star who won't receive her just recognition until we lose her. She IS The Pretenders, although one wonders if that would still be the case had two members of the band not have died so young after their first two albums. No skips here. Forty-seven minutes of solid bangers. Interesting how the most known song (Brass In Pocket) is buried in the middle of side two. No matter. This album's special (Spesh All).
4/11
I'm just a little too young to be a Pretenders fan. I remember them being on Top of the Pops a little later in the 80s (for some reason I have them being introduced by Kid Jensen in my head, but it was probably one of the dodgy ones) and there's music that everyone knows - Brass in Pocket in the case of this album seems to come up every now and again. But I'd never listened to a Pretenders album. I really enjoyed it. Really strong start with Precious and then The phone call, and it keeps on giving all the way through. The style is exactly the sort of thing I like these days and Chrissie Hynde's voice is just gorgeous of course. I'll listen to this again, and it might well grow into a 5 with time, but on a first listen it's a 4.
Enough with the splatty-moaning-narwhal-80's-weirdo vocalists already. SUCH a strange era for vocalists. Brass in Pocket is a classic, Kid is ok, then the rest are all very very same-ish.
Yeah I don't mind the pretenders, I seem to think they start to sound a bit samey though. 2.5 for me
I like the Pretenders, but never knew much about them. I was surprised to learn that this album was released in 1979. Brass in Pocket was still a popular song when I was in high school, and the rest of their stuff I had heard sounded contemporary at the time (mid-90s). So, I have a new appreciation for them now. They clearly influenced a lot of the bands I listened to growing up, and her voice is so unique.