Reviews (page 3 of 13)
I wish there was six stars
Cool AF
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.
madonna once said chrissie hynde was the only real bitch in the world and she was right!
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.
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 it, even listened to the deluxe version.
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.
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
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.
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 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.
One of the best debut albums in history.
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.
💯 💯 💯 💯 💯
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).
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.
5. Love it!
Loved this
Awesome band. I had only heard the hit songs on this album but it’s all good.
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).
One of THE classic of the new wave era, The Pretenders eponymous debut is nothing but spectacular. Songs like Brass in Pocket and Precious played well at college parties while the rest of the album is just one great song after another. What makes this album so great is Crissie Hynde. Her deep alto perfectlt fits the band's big basket of punk attitude. Unlike other new wave/punk bands of the era, that attitude is tempered with an underlying sensuality that even Blondie (the original new wave sex kitten) couldn't muster. This is a true gem. Listen to it on vinyl to get the same visceral feel that late 70s' punk rockers did.
Fucking love this album
Can’t get enough of this album. It has everything: attitude, energy, passion, ear worms, creativity… Great group of songs, but my favorites are Tattooed Love Boys, The Phone Call, Stop Your Sobbing, and Kid. Great album!
Love The Pretenders, great album
Essential Pretenders & top tier post punk. Chrissie Hynde is in a class of her own with that snarky sultry rock voice. Great band & great album.
Very into this. Was not expecting so much punk feel. Then it slows down a little. Then there it is. I'm special. So special
Another band that I didn't know I liked. Add this one to the list! So many good songs on this album. All killer, no filler. As they say. I think Tattooed Love Boys might be my fave, but Brass In Pocket and Precious stood out too. I need to give this a few more listens, and I'll be happy to do so. 4.5/5
I really like this album. It's fun, had a bit of a hard edge, and was pretty original at the time. It also has a few timeless songs on it so doesn't feel like it's aged poorly. I never really get tired of "Brass in Pocket" for some reason.
cool
Yeah, Chrissie!
This sounds way ahead of its time. Late 70s, really? Impressive.
Classic case of knowing the singles but never heard the album. By God, this is good. Feels underrated if anything. It's almost embarrassingly obvious to choose Brass in Pocket as best song, but what a song!
Wow! 11/10
This album was one of those that I thought I was going to be on this list. Happy to see that I’m not disappointed. Interesting to hear that Johnny Marr considered this to be key to his playing style. And Tattooed Love Boys is one of my favourite Rock Band jams.
Before this album was released, I didn't listen to any female-fronted bands. On my first listen of the Pretenders debut album, something clicked instantly, it was amazing, like nothing I had been exposed to up to this point. Chrissie Hynde's snarl in her voice, the guitar interplay between Hynde and James Honeyman-Scott and the well crafted songs, their sound was both catchy and energetic. It wasn't exactly punk, nor was it new wave, it was rock that combined some of those elements for modern rock sound with a punk attitude. I consider this one of a handful of albums that helped shape and define my musical tastes. In my opinion, the Pretenders didn't release another record this great, though Learning To Crawl was close, but the band was never the same after the deaths of Honeyman-Scott and bassist, Pete Farndon. The Pretenders became more of a Chrissie Hynde driven "project" and to this day has continued to release some pretty fine music.
I’ve always liked the Pretenders but can’t recall ever listening to any of their albums. I really enjoyed this album. I didn’t realize what song Brass In Pocket was until it started. Not sure how I never knew that was the name of the song which was a surprise since I really love that song! The rest of the album had a lot of great tracks. Other favorites include Previous, Space Invader (yay for the video game samples!), The Wait, Kid, and Mystery Achievement. I really loved the album as a whole. Great stuff!
Timeless.
Loved this one. Chrissie Hynde is pretty much all you need to know but the band stays with her every step of the way. Top rating here.
probably 4.25 but fuck it, chrissie deserves the extra star for being so cool
Excelente pintura de época
Excellent album!
The best record of Pretenders, when they were still making new wave music.. ..some catchy singles but especially with lots of strong album tracks, like the first triple of songs..
It's hard to believe this is a debut album. The songs are edgy, confidently combining different styles into an original sound, oozing attitude. For reasons I can't articulate Brass in Pocket has always been one of my all time faves. I can't get enough of Chrissie Hynde. It was good to have her in the world while I was growing up and figuring out who I wanted to be.
Great powerpop
Bomb
Love them!💕
Brass in Pocket was a good hit with lyrics that weren't serious but Chrissie shows that she is good at dealing with tricky topics. Kid is a conversation a mother has with her child when the child finds out her mother is a prostitute. It's a solid album top to bottom. Quite the debut. The two songs that start w a P are fab. Private Life is great instrumentally. Precious is the song I most identify with Chrissie Hynde. Full of confidence, edge, spunk and don't fuck with me attitude. I'm precious . . . fuck off!
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.
Wer Brass In Pocket Freitag zum ersten Mal gehört hat muss dringend Lost In Translation anschauen. Wunderbar upbeat ohne einen wirklich schlechten song. Vielleicht keine 5 Sterne verdient, aber eins von meinen Lieblingsalben. Beste Tracks: Precious, Stop Your Sobbing, Mystery Achievement, Brass In Pocket
Tremendous album. If you only know The Pretenders material from the late-80s and after...this is not that band, almost literally. This album always felt like one of those rare crossover albums back in the 80s that appealed to punks, new wavers, rockers, dweebs, geeks (etc etc). The pure energy from the angular attack of the band combined with the sneer of Chrissy Hynde's vocals is almost sad to hear in a way, knowing the musical (guitar/bass) half of the band would be dead due to drugs within ~2 years, but almost adds to its urgency. I've had this discussion with friends before on the best debuts by an act in history - not only in terms of an album but a song and "Precious" made everyone's short list - what a kick-ass song filled with attack, swagger, and musicality. Amidst so many good cuts, you still can't beat "Tattooed Love Boys" with that galloping rhythm trading off 7/4 and 4/4 measures in the verses. Punk? raw hard rock? Again who knows, who cares, it's awesome and those breakdowns are just weird in a great way. And all in 3 minutes. Not many downturns on this album* - the instrumental "Space Invader" serves as kind of a breather after Tattooed Love Boys. I will say that the first half is definitely the stronger one as some of the slower songs do bring the energy down a bit (the Kinks cover of "Stop Your Sobbing" is a misstep; it's not *bad* but doesn't fit well) but in general they do provide a nice ebb and flow - "Brass In Pocket" may be a middle of the road tune but it's an undeniably excellent and deserving hit song. Overall I just love the raw yet interesting production on this. Guitars sound fantastic, the double-tracked vocals often differ just enough to create some interesting tones at times especially in the heavier songs. Production combined with great songs... this is a keeper and one of the great debut albums ever. 9/10 5 stars. *only referring to the original release: 12 songs ending with Mystery Achievement.
I am pumped, I adore the Pretenders! This is a magnificent debut album. At the intersection of 70's punk and pop rock is where the Pretenders meet to floor everyone with their we-don't-give-a-fuck lyrics melded into peppy instrumentation. They don't juxtapose lyrics and music as intensely as The Smiths do, but they're in that same vein. A precursor for sure. There's that subtle hit of something melancholy or maudlin wrapped in a wistful package and I love it. Chrissie Hynde's voice is magnetic and alluring. She's got that quality that expresses so much toughness and badassery but also softness and vulnerability. She's incredible, I could listen to her on loop for days and never get bored. Big fan!
Love this sound! Precious is tight, great jagged guitar tones! This is everything I love about punk in the 80s. Personality. Great songs. A real great ear for how to orchestrate something as simple as 2 guitars, drums, bass, and vocals. Brass In Pocket is a great tune. I had so much fun listening to this album!
fuck this is cool. 5
I've loved this album since it was released.
Love the Pretenders!!
I dig! More than Brass in my Pocket
Another new wave classic. The whole album flows together so well.
Really good album. Lots of songs I enjoyed. Reminds me of Elvis Costello or Joe Jackson. I listened to it 3 times.
Had quite a rock feel to the beginning but don’t get me wrong and brass in pocket had me singing at the top of my lungs
I love guitar hero 2 Tattoo love bois, stop sobbing, and brass pocket are some faves. Never listened to the full album but have heard many of these songs, not a single bad track.
One of the best!
Best debut album. Somewhere between punk, rock and pop. Tattooed love boys has an iconic guitar hero solo
The only song that I had listened by the pretenders was the Ramones cover "something to believe in" in the "We're a happy family" tribute album. It was the quietest, slowest song in the album but it was one of the best. If they were part of the punk movement before being considered new wave, that is a good way to classify them, like the softest part or punk but still really good. The whole album is good, not one song seems out of place or made to fill space but not one single song was that good to consider this as a great album.
it was great , i enjoyed it 3.8/5
Bought this on release. Played this many many times. Favourite track is Tattooed Love Boys. The playing and vocals are brilliant but particularly James Honeyman Scott.
I knew the hit singles but the rest of this is surprisingly good, full of energetic punk pop, great vocals and lyrics.
This was much punkier than I expected from my knowledge of the band (2000 miles), The a-side has some cool punk stuff (Phone Call is a great track in particular) and the b-side is solid too as a pop rock record
8 / 10
Chrissie Hynde is a legend. With the debut here, first half is a bit harder Pat Benatar (with swears!) but it mellows out in the second half with the big hit being Brass in Pocket. Still a good listen throughout.
Good fun 3.5
Really enjoyed this one! Similar appeal to me as Blondie, though it hit a little bit less for reasons I can't articulate. Definitely an album for me to revisit more in the future. Standout Tracks: The Phone Call, The Wait, Stop Your Sobbing, Brass in Pocket Rating: 4
skate 3 vibe
Only 1 skip. Heard a lot of Patti smith influence.
Good!
It’s a strong debut. Side one leans heavily on their punky edge then as a taste of things to come closes with a more gentle Kinks cover. Side two delivers a more pop and sophisticated and considered side of the band, and of Hynde’s songwriting. I’d say I prefer side two marginally, but it’s close. I like The Pretenders but I don’t tend to listen to them much. At some point, I decided/realised that they were more of a “Greatest Hits” band for me which, I must add, is an extremely rare occurrence. I’m glad I had held on to this album though, and I made sure to spin it multiple times today. It’s definitely made it very much easier to push it to 4 stars when I would probably have had it as a 7/10 before today.
I feel if Blondie hadn't done exactly the same stuff but a bit better a bit later we'd have more time for The Pretenders. I think they're really great and I love that guitar tone. Brass In Pocket is a big time banger. This makes me wanna listen to more Pretenders but sadly I have to listen to different music for my job (it's a tough life). Side note 1, 'Space Invaders' is an extremely Dry Cleaning coded instrumental, a few of them are actually. Side note 2, I love how all the male members of the band look about 50 on the album cover but were probably in their early 20s. Tough paper rounds in the 1970s.
They were a lot more punk-y in their early days! Reminded me a lot of Blondie. First half is better than the slower second half, but a very good album.
Good album honestly. I feel like I saw the girl in « Friends » playing with phoebe at some point.
Pretty epic album.
Really enjoyed this listen! Love the femme punk vouce that she has! Great!
yeah nice
I'd heard the big songs from these guys before, but all of this album was great. I'm bound to like anything with an instrumental, and for once I even enjoyed the singing.
Solid little album that mixes several genres of the era well. There are some moments that I feel don't quite work and a personally like the punky parts more. Solid 4/5 though, would listen again.
Solide saker. Liker virkelig vokalen til Hynde.
Lett blanding av rock og pop. Gode hooks. Liker det.
meine Zeit
I enjoyed this, despite not really ever liking the way the singer enunciates. She’s like Dylan at his worst, where he’s talking but sort of raising and lowering the pitch if his voice at odd times instead of enunciating note changes and generally being more musical. She somehow makes it work, even in the big single which I’ve heard a million times but never put a name to. The playing is crisp, the sings are inventive, and her weird ass vocals somehow tie it together. I’m drawn to it despite an underlying layer of discomfort.
Excellent New Wave music. I like punk, I like to dance, and this album is a perfect mesh. The guitars are distorted and the singing is raw. Drums though are having a vibe.
Very fun, sneering, snarling, badass, cool.
Favorites: Brass in Pocket, Mystery Achievement Least fave: The Wait I’ve never actually listened to this record front to back but man has it got some bangers. Not the most cohesive project for me but I’ll definitely revisit. 4/5
Great record. Such a great band with a unique sound. The combination of Chrissy Hynde’s songs and vocal delivery and James Honeyman-Scott’s guitar is unlike anything else. I also love how this band sounds equally at home on punk-ed up rockers or pop ballads.
It's never occurred to me to listen to the Pretenders, but this album was pretty good!
Fantastic debut and let me remind you that Chrissie Hynde is from Ohio
Good
Not a pretenders fan but THis was a good album.
Super solid album front to back. No songs I didn't enjoy. Brass In Pocket rips.
the songs that are good are sooo good and catchy and interesting. but the rest kind of blended together to me. Fav tracks: Kid; Brass in Pocket; Mystery Achievement
A fun variety of good songs. Will definitely listen again.
Enjoyable late 70's punk pop. This is an album I owned. My favorite track was always Private Life with its pseudo reggae kicks, but Kid is nicely done. Brass in Pocket was the big hit, but it really doesn't wear as well with time. Other favorites are the rollicking rocker Mystery Achievement and Cuban Slide. Besides Chris Hynde's distinctive vocals, this band had musicianship. Their repertoire was varied. A solid band and a decent issue.
Fun gem of an album. I listened with my son, he thought this was from the mid 90s and was so surprised at the (very) late 70s release. It does hold up really well. I also enjoyed the unique vocals.
Still fresh and more in your face than I remembered.
Punk to pop. Very interesting.
Nice voice, nice melodies, enjoyable and catchy hooks, a very nice package. I especially like how Chrissie gives the rest of the instruments plenty of space. Easy 4.
This album was great! This reads like a foundational text to Justine from Elastica and Karen from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
Excellent album from a band influential to many who came after. Chrissy is phenomenal on guitar and vocals. Worthy of a listen any true music fan.
Precious Stop Your Sobbing Kid Brass in Pocket
I liked the female voice but need to listen it
Proper post-punk!
A rollicking good time with riff after riff. Chrissie inhabits each song.
Grew on me the longer I listened. I feel this list is heavy on the late 70s/early 80s new wave, punk, post punk era of music. This is not my go to so I do get a little fatigued from yet another from the era; however, Chrissy's vocals really standout. So much swagger. Instrumentation is spot on as well.
Chrissie Hynde’s voice and swagger are amazing. This album rocks harder than I was expecting by a band whose biggest single is “I’ll Stand By You.” I was surprised by how much of this album I already knew, even songs that weren’t singles. “Precious,” the first song, is a one of my favorites and “Mystery Achievement” is such a cool way to end it. What an amazing pair of songs to bookend the album. I also really liked the punky-experimenting on “The Phone Call”; “Tattooed Love Boys,” and of course “Brass in Pocket”’is a classic. I was surprised that I didn’t really know their cover of “Stop Your Sobbing” - I know the Kinks version well and didn’t care for the version on “The Pretenders.” Also, “Private Life,” their take on reggae, really wasn’t for me but Hynde’s voice is gorgeous on it. I knew at least half the tracks on this album but had never listened to it before. I’m glad I did, I wouldn’t mind coming back to it.
Really solid hard-rocking album.
This is so good. And mystery achievement is already on my top 10 songs of all time on a good day. For a debut album it's pretty special to hit it this hard
364/1089 quite liked this one, female-led punky vibes are quite up my street and naturally tattooed love boys was familiar to me which was a nice surprise faves: lovers of today, tattooed love boys, mystery achievement, up the neck 73/100
Exquisite power pop. Radio hooks with punk energy. It’s a great debut.
Solid debut, but not my favorite Pretenders record.
pretend pretend
I'd listened to the Pretenders before now and then, but this was my first deep dive into a whole album. I really like this record. It's got some groove to it, it's got some of that rock grit, and of course that commercial success of songs such as Brass in Pocket. This was a great selection. From here, the Pretenders went on to achieve success, and it all started with this album.
Alright, it's only forth song but the vocals? and the vibes? definitely mine, will listen more 🎸
Monday, July 13, 2026 A classic album, or to quote a friend: “fucking classic!” A melange of genres, but Chrissy Hynde leads the way here. Really enjoyed it.
Makes me want to wear there tshirt...... speaking of which it is already in my cart......love.....❤️
Was not prepared for how awesome this album is. I obviously know Brass In Pocket, which still gets played on FM radio even to this day, but a lot of the rest is spiky, snarly guitar pop-rock, which is perfectly suited to Chrissie Hynde’s vocals. But there is also some more mellow, softer songs which show the range of her as a vocalist and the band as a whole. Highly recommended
Solid if unspectacular, 3.5/5
i've heard of these guys but never really listened to em. it's a good sound! i enjoy chrissie hynde'a vocals a lot, and i love the energy and grit of the front half. the first 6 tracks in particular are incredibly solid, it's just banger after banger in here, especially "precious", "the wait" and "tattooed love boys", with the last of these standing out to me in particular for its weird time signature changes. i love that shit. it's unfortunate that the back half is so much.... calmer? i still like it for the most part but other than "mystery achievement" its lacking the edge that made the first half so good, yknow? as is often the case, i prefer my punk-adjacent genres to sound a bit more punk, i guess.
Solid album full of songs with my favorite kind of sound. Nothing like the 80s man
A good album that is a rock hit and uses amazing guitar riffs and a good voice. My only issues with it is that she seems to talk rather then sing to a melody at times and the beats are not entirely unique. But it still deserves a 4/5.
Precious - 4/5 The Phone Call - 3.5/5 Up the Neck - 3.5/5 Tattooed Love Boys - 4/5 Space Invader - 3.5/5 The Wait - 4/5 Stop Your Sobbing - 4/5 Kid - 4/5 Private Life - 3.5/5 Brass in Pocket - 4/5 Lovers of Today - 3.5/5 Mystery Achievement - 4/5 A perfect example of the crossroads of punk and new wave with an excellent lead. You can hear some jangliness with the guitars, so it's no surprise when I found out that some of the songs inspired Johnny Marr and the Smiths. Good introduction to the band and potentially to both genres for someone who doesn't know about either. Overall: 4/5 Favorites: Precious, Tattooed Love Boys, Brass in Pocket, Mystery Achievement
Very solid album, nothing crazy jumped out at me but not really a miss either. Top songs: Precious, Space Invader, Stop Your Sobbing, Private Life, Brass in Pocket
3,92 1. "Private Life" 2. "Brass in Pocket" 3. "Kid"
Has anyone told you Pretenders doesn't sound like an album trying to matter? It sounds like a band playing in a room because that's what they do. You can almost smell the rehearsal space, the cigarette smoke, the slightly-too-warm amp. There's a looseness to it, a physical quality. James Honeyman-Scott's guitar work has the kind of melodic instinct that most guitarists spend careers reaching for and never touch. Pete Farndon holds the bottom end like a man leaning against a wall he knows will hold. Martin Chambers hits the drums like he's trying to leave a mark. And then there's Hynde, who sounds like she's singing directly at whoever broke her heart last Tuesday. And also at you, personally. For reasons she hasn't explained yet.
Fun
Liked it
Great! Very 90s for 1979
Chrissie Hynde's voice is so goddamn loud on this album that it feels like she's right in my ear. I don't know if that's a good thing yet. Also for such a mainstream record this has some aggressive/"edgy" lyricism, especially for '80. Some of this is kinda jumpy in quality (straight punk isn't really my thing no matter how you dress it up and this hits all the ugly spots of the genre for me), but "Brass in Pocket" is an undeniable one.
Muy buena aparición de su cantante y compositora. Gran debut
Listen out of order since Spotify licensing shenanigans
Solid, and worthy of its reputation. Gets an extra star just because for once it was good enough as it promised.
It's a very, very solid three-star album, but it's new wave and I'm biased, so four stars it is.
Best Song: Cuban Slide I'm not a huge Pretenders fan and only knew the popular songs but I was pleasantly surprised at the depth to their music as there is more there than the radio hits. I enjoyed this and would listen again. 4/5.
Day 313. One I would probably have never tried had it not been for this least, really enjoyed it. Highlights Tattooed love boys Private life Mystery achievement
Det kan jeg godt lide.
I mostly like punk and mostly hate new wave. This album is the best of both worlds.
This album is all over the place. In so many ways. It's so various in its style, delivery, sensibilities, etc., that it's tough to put fingers to screen on how it ranks up. Quality is high throughout. Production, musicianship, compositions are all stellar. The only thing that really wavers for me is lyricism, which can be decent in its frankness or outright cringe inducing. Everything else is genuinely impressive, even things I was initially put off by. The main culprit on that piece was the singer. She flexes all over the place. Her spoken word delivery is Dylanesque, which lots of musicians failed to appreciate is only worthwhile when you're delivering songs and lyrics at the "voice of a generation" tier. But man, she's talented. She's good in so many ways and seems at home in all of them. The wry spoken word delivery honestly would've worked if she had some better lyrics to use them with. The guitar is excellent. Lead and rhythm experience win after win. Like the singer, you get some great variety without any compromise in competence. Dreamy new wave riffs, rockabilly fills worthy of Brian Setzer, and pop punk power chord riffs that are a decade ahead of their time are all on offer here, and executed well. Songs are, again, a grab bag of very well done genre mashups. The genre influences they pull in never override their distinct identity. The Pretenders never stay in the same place for too long, but you recognize them wherever they show up. All in all, this is a mighty impressive album. I would be lying if I said it is a "man, you gotta listen to this album," but if you like this style of music, you're not gonna be disappointed with this album in the slightest.
Strong debut that ranges from the raw Precious, to the polished Brass In Pocket, through to the reggae vibe in Private Life. Hynde's voice on top form with the guitars sounding almost Stones-like. Good fun listening to this after a long break
This is really good! Her voice is something else, makes the whole sound really unique.
I don’t love punk. I do love Christie Hynde, she’s a total badass. While this isn’t something I would listen to on the regular, it’s a really good album.
Pretenders balanced sharp guitar-driven rock with a punkish, slightly dark atmosphere, and Chrissie Hynde’s voice sounded timeless, which I loved. I had no idea that most of the songwriting was done by Chrissie. What an incredible talent. My favorite tracks were Up the Neck, Kid, and Lovers of Today. I also loved the guitar solo in Private Life.
Cool kid rock that finds excellent guitar tones and bass lines. The vocals make you want to don you leather jacket and chain smoke cigs. The melody finds rhythm in many instances and creates an electric, while tamed , ballad. Super solid from start to finish.
This is an insanely, strong, kick ass album but I have a sneaking suspicion that this is not their best album. This is the first time, I've listened to a whole album by the Pretenders, so I will have listen to some more to see if my suspicion is correct. Just seems like laziness on the list maker part to just put up the strong debut & not their strongest album. It's annoying that I have think like this because this is great album. Brass in My Pockets, Mystery Achievement & Tattooed Love Boys are the highlights here. They got a lot punk in em but they don't write a lot of short songs. Not necessarily a compliant, more of an observation. I listened to Learning to Crawl. The List got it right by a small margin. 4
Tough, punchy, tight, led by Chrissie’s commanding snarl. Punk music that’s shedding its skin and setting a new tone. Pat Benatar took one look and said, “I see how it is.” It’s a debut album but they sound like a band that’s sharpened their claws for years in the club. Pretenders came out hot, yet they’ve had staying power.
Esittäjät esittivät varsin menevää musiikkia semmoisella puhelaulukerronnalla. Hyvää menoa. Bassoraidat oli paikoin oikeinkin mukavan kuuloisia.
Punky new wave with style and attitude. Tight songs with pop-sensible arrangements that never outstay their welcome. They have a nice bounce to em, with a prominent rhythm section. Hynde can deliver vocals from talked to belted, snarled to seductive, always commanding. Overall I prefer the grittier and speedier tracks to the softer poppier ones, but hey…there aren’t many albums I don’t day that about. But I wonder how things would have turned out if they went the punkier side than new wave. Probably another good album or 2 then burn out cause there’s no money in punk, and then Hynde going on to have her own solo thing. I’m split on rating this, as I really like the first half of the album while the back half is just alright with me. I’ll round up in this case
I've never like Chrissy's voice and haven't much cared for any of the band's songs. Buy I've only heard a few so let's go. I knew the big hit from this album, and while it's not a song I've ever liked, I was surprised that this did have a few other bangers. I preferred the harder edged punk songs with the visceral or antagonist or more relatable lyrics. At least three songs will go on the playlist. I still don't like Chrissie's vocals, but there are a few songs where her style and cadence works. There are a few moments where it's quite lovely. Over time this will more likely be a three star album for me, but given I was expecting to not like this at all, I'm happy to give the extra star.
Previously known. Great album.
When it started, I wasn't expecting punk-ness, but here we are. This album is a nice combination of styles, overall.
Chrissy Hynde!! Best Song: Brass in Pocket Rating: 7.0/10 Stars: 4
Solid album. The hit is a classic.
Always amazing
They walk the line between elegance and attitude really well, with lots of catchy hooks
Cool rock with a little bit of punk and new wave elements. I’m not super found of Chrissie Hynde’s voice, but this definetly a good album. Favourites: Tattooed Love Boys, The Wait and Kid.
THIS ALBUM is what i came here for. I never ever listened to a full Pretenders album. I only knew like 4 songs. This album absolutely rocked the socks. Why is it here? Because *you* probably skipped over it thinking the pretenders only have 4 good songs. Wrong. So underrated.
total vibe for cleaning spree
Tremendous album. Great guitar and bass sound. Production is a little vocal heavy on some tracks. I avoided this album for ages because Brass in Pocket is a lame song. But it’s the only lame song on the album. Who knows why it’s the “hit”
If you only know the singles, holy crap, the record is a breath of fresh air.
Quite a few of the tracks could easily sit on the Burnout 3 soundtrack, nice.
Good
4.5
I quite enjoyed this. I've heard "Brass in Pocket" plenty of times on the radio but hearing it in its fully quality is a much better experience. Overall, a really solid album.
One of the great debuts. Chrissie's "HUHH" at the beginning of The Wait cooler than Daltrey on Won't Get Fooled Again.
Precious is a stand out track for me, and Brass in Pocket is an absolute classic.
An album that’s took 4 times listening from the start due to forgetting which track was which for a review. The album is certainly a mixed bag of what feels like fun fast paced guitar heavy hits and then slower trying to be more serious tracks. The one thing that keeps bugging me throughout though is that I want more all the time like there is something just not quite there. ‘Brass in pocket’ obviously a smash but it felt like it should have sat amongst the tracks ‘precious’ ‘the phone call’ ‘tattooed liver boy’ and ‘the wait’ which are all bangers. Amongst the average tracks there was still nice stuff but it didn’t feel as good as that guitar heavy start. Fave song- ‘tattooed lover boys’ Worst track- ‘private life’ Just wanted a little more and the heavy tracks to keep coming but I enjoyed 8/10
ouvi jogando minecraft, não prestei muita atenção. mas foi maneiro a experiência tho
When this started I was worried it was just going to be a straight ahead punky album, but it actually covers a fair bit of ground. I like it best when it jangles a bit, and when the vocals get more melodic. I also enjoyed the dub interlude in Private Life
Great album. Nice mix of punk, rock, and pop. Chrissie Hynde has a great delivery. Lots of good tracks. Probably a 4.5?
Wonderful pop album. I wish more of this had been playable on the radio back in the day, but you couldn't have without blunting the edge on the lyrics. She gets a little dirtier that the radio would have allowed. Classic all the way through. My eating: 4/5
I always liked Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders, but never heard an entire album. Quite a mix. Starts with some sort of punk energy track, but quickly changes into other themes. Side B starts with the signature Pretenders sound and the well-known Brass in Pocket. And it keeps up the quality for the rest of this album.
I knew so many of these songs although I didn't recognize the titles.
4 de 5 El debut homónimo de The Pretenders, es un disco de new wave y post punk destacado por su energía arrolladora, con melodías pop fácilmente adictivas, guitarras muy afiladas, con una actitud dura pero vulnerable. La guitarra recibe un gran protagonismo, los riffs son fundamentales y aportan una amplia variedad de texturas y detalles que le dan una cierta personalidad a cada tema. Chrissie Hynde hace uso de la voz como el motor que activa las canciones, pasando de la rudeza a la vulnerabilidad emocional. A destacar: Track 3 - Up The Neck Track 4 - Tattooed Love Boys Track 5 - Space Invader Track 7 - Stop Your Sobbing Track 8 - Kid Track 10 - Brass In Pocket Track 11 - Lovers Of Today Track 12 - Mystery Achievement
This starts as *approximately* a punk album, but it ends as a lot of things. Honestly, the mix here would be pretty confusing, if not for the fact that a lot of bands sort of sounded like this. I'd say the full picture ends up somewhere in the neighborhood of New Wave, in particular I'd say they are a little like Blondie. Regardless, Pretenders have been one of my blind spots for a while, and this is really good. They sell their punk influence as well as the pop stuff, rock stuff, and the odd reggae influenced track. There's plenty of charisma and attitude and clever songwriting here as well. Tattooed Love Boys might be my favorite here, but there's a lot in the running. I did get to give this a listen, but I honestly think it deserves some more time, so I'm just gonna give this a 4 right now, and call it good. I know that skews a little high for this kind of review, but like I said, my first impression here was *really* good, I'm just not sure if it's good enough to get to a 5, but it *might* be.
This is pretty good - I enjoyed most of it, and Brass In Pocket is a great tune. It has a bit of a punkier edge to its New Wave sensibilities, and that’s fine by me.
I really enjoyed this album. Private Life was my favorite song.
I wasn't as impressed as I was hoping g to be, but I bump it up 1 due to strong female lead vocals.
Have always thought the Pretenders are underrated.
I already knew I loved Pretenders but I’d just listened to the singles (the vinyl of which I have worn OUT!) and from the first track I was obsessed! I can’t wait to listen to more and hopefully one day see them live. What a great band and god damn I love Chrissie Hynde, truly 1 of 1. Anyway, this is a cracking debut. I already knew I loved the singles (including the kinks cover, I also love the original!!) but there were so many amazing album tracks and a brilliant opening song too which I feel is important! I’d def agree this is a must listen :)
Great album. Arguably their best along with Learning to Crawl.
7/10
Pleasant surprise at how solid of a debut this is from a band that I've never paid much attention to. Can see myself revisiting this.
I dig the Punk elements in this.
Ótimo álbum . Muito influente no rock alternativo mundial. Divertido. Tri x HBB Kai.
Fine album. Singles are the standouts.
This is an album that's technically good but I can't bring myself to like it that much. "Brass in Pocket" and "The Wait" are phenomenal, but there are a few duds, such as "The Phone Call" and "Up The Neck". What this album relies most off of is the punk and alternative energy, which they do quite well. Unfortunately, though, and I hate to say it, but her voice sounded too much like a goat. And I can't stand "Kid". I don't know what it is that people love so much about this music. I get why they like it, and that's as far as I can understand. After all, there a couple songs here that I am fond of.
mash bangers
This was fucking awesome, will listen in full again, it's more like 4.5 for me than 4
Thank you 1001 albums. I only knew Pretenders radio songs. This is a great album. Favorite songs: Private Life, Precious, Up the Neck
Actually really good. A bit same-ish in parts but the last couple of tracks add just enough flavour to bump it up to the "would definitely buy a copy from the crates" level. Surprised the dudes here aren't in the background and blurry, though, tbh.
Блин тётя стиля раздаёт, какая же она секси, ничего особенного будто, но слушать приятно, голос красивый, хуй с ним забирайте мою 4
Best so far. Good energy. Cant believe it's 1979
Good
Fun catchy listening suitable for a variety of occasions. The vocals are the highlight, spunky and charismatic and full of emotive character. Favorite tracks: Stop Your Sobbing, Private Life, Mystery Achievement
Me sono muy musica que podría ser intro de Friends, pero super agradable, quizás no encontré grandes cosas que me destaquen un tema sobre otro pero son re cumplidores en general. Destacon sobre todo la buena voz de la cantante y me gusto mucho el cierre del disco con Mistery Archievement RECIEN AHI quizás pude destacar un tema o un groove que me volo le bocho con ese final. Es un buen disco, quízas no se destacaba tanto pero ese final me termina dejando con un gustito positivo asi que se lleva 4 estrellas por como me termina dejando. Aunque quizás un poco injustas pero lo califico yo asi que no me interesa
Props to Hynde for starting a band, writing the songs and doing her thing starting back in the 70's. Her quavering vibrato initially was a negative but it eventually grew on me. This is better than a 3 but not quite a 4. 3.75/4
I only really knew the very famous Brass In Pocket from this album and beyond that, I know their Christmas hit. I enjoyed listening and perhaps it should come as no surprise but in a way, I was surprised by how good it was, interesting instrumentation throughout.
I would not have thought this was my thing, but I enjoyed it. Even the somewhat longer songs, which I typically don't jive with, didn't bother me, and once or twice was even sad a song was ending.
Heard all the hits, many times. I've never sat through an album, at least not this one. I enjoyed it! I got more insight into the band and the incredible power of Chrissie Hynde. Let's see our next album... OH!! MY!!! GOD!!
This album really surprised me. First off I didn’t know the name pretenders at all like I didn’t recognize it when I saw it. But I quickly realized while looking at the track list that this is the band that created the song brass in pocket. Which is a fucking awesome song. Really really catchy song while also being kind of silly and tongue in cheek. But what I didn’t realize was that the vast majority of the album was gonna fucking rock. It’s not a no skip album. But it’s fairly close. The real stand outs are: tattooed love boys, the wait, Cuban slide, private life, mystery achievement, and of course brass in pocket. I really expected this album to be completely carried by brass in pocket. Which is a trend on this list occasionally, but this album was totally quality and legitimately original. This album has a great punk feel and attitude but while having the creativity of a punk band. Seriously this album is totally worth your time.
How about that 'Brass in Pocket'?
I don't belive this is they're first album. Overall is great and sound like it never aged.
Very enjoyable
What a kick ass album! Seriously blown away with come of these songs! Looking to get my hands on a copy of this!
kvalitetom je malo vrludalo ali je u konačnici ostavilo jako dobar dojam. svidjelo mi se! prva stvar snažna, nakon toga malo slabi, ali onda krene obrada kinksa koja me jako jako ugodno iznenadila - stop your (slavko) sobbin – i počevši s tom pjesmom album je snažniji, izdvojio bih još, da moram, možda private life te brass in pocket. sve u svemu, slušat ću još, sigurno spomenutu obradu :)
Da duni jetzt mal als hetti die scho kennt und denn duni grad no so als hettet sie mir recht guet gfalle. zusätzlich pretendi das die lustige 2 sternli bechömed. (Eigentlich sinds 4 hehe)
Die pretenders dünd so als ob ich sie nöd müsst kenne. Kenne sie ja au nöd. Aber sind verdammi guet. Guess what, euch kenni in zuekunf Das isch e 4.5er hmmm
da hani dänkt wenn de don neduziner n. scho es 4.5 usehaut, muessi mer das also scho fast ahlose! und siehe da, de siech hed tatsächlich nöd pretended <3 gefällt mir gut, dat gibt ne saftige vier
I don't think of the pretenders as a post punk/new wave band but this album tells me otherwise.
Christopher Hynde
not bad
1. Precious 2. Mystery Achievement 3. Tattooed Love Boys I had never heard of these guys but I really fw it
Had heard the hit, not the album. This was good stuff, both the opener and closer were stand-out tracks. Easy 4, would grab a used copy.
8/10
very clearly inspired by Blondie, which I say in the most complimentary way possible.
Rockin' - pretty cool album. Love the boldness for a debut album.
Really liked this 4 stars will def revisit
gostei muito
This was a pretty pleasant surprise I really love the singers voice it’s unlike anything I’ve heard before Super cool The bass is really good on this album Favorites: stop your sobbing, up the neck, precious, lovers of today
Det tog ikke lang tid at vende sig til lyden, føj hvor var det da bare lidt godt
A melodic, well-sounding album, the singer has a lovely voice.
Some well known songs from the radio, and some I’ve never heard. I’m impressed with the production and listen-ability even those I’ve never heard.
i love a leading punk lady and a bunch of dudes
A big fan. Excellent debut; not sure it got better from here, but this was very strong.
Better than expected, only knew the hits but the album was gritty and intriguing
This is a stone-cold classic. They do a great job of fusing punk, new wave and rock into a fantastic record that surely stands the test of time.
Lekker album met een paar uitschieters. Omdat het Pasen is, ben ik vrijgevig en rondt ik m'n strong 3 to a light 4 af tot 4 sterren.
Geen pretenden nodig. Sterker dan veel soortgelijke New Wave platen uit deze era.
Bloody good album this. Was expecting some more standard punk fare when it kicked off and was pleasantly surprised to hear a female (shock!) vocals. The album has its roots in punk but isn't tied down and has a lot of gentler and poppies moments. Really consistent with three or four standout tracks which I already knew. 8/10 but may upgrade...
Was going to give this a three on the outside, but the way this evolves and grows is simply too effective. Soft four.
really fun!
pretty good! when i saw this i thought it was a band i recognized but apparently not. really solid start to finish with the vocalist chrissie hynde being greatly enjoyable. her voice is simply beautiful. the bass and percussion here are super catchy across most songs too. it doesn't all hit, and hilariously i think the second half is weaker in direct contrast to ana, but this it's enjoyable on the whole. i'm really impressed by this being a debut album.
I swear I knew this band but I haven't actually heard any of their songs. Chrissie Hynde is the standout here and I really quite enjoyed about half of this album. I think this list is making me realize that whilst I do like punk, I don't like it nearly as much as I thought I did. It's important to say, for a debut album, this is insanely confident. It's rare for a band to understand it's defining sound right from the jump as much as here. The only real downside is I find the album to be a bit uneven, with the second side being notably stronger then the first half. Which is interesting, so far it's usually been the other way around.
Ekaa kertaa pretenderssiä. Ja pirun kovaa menee!
Not my all-time favorite album, but I did enjoy listening to it.
Favourite Songs: Up The Neck Kid Private Life Lovers Of Today
Enjoying the music quite a bit. Nice tone and sweet riffs with solid drum beats. "Space Invader" is a really cool instrumental. Obviously I've heard "Brass in Pocket" but I had no clue what it was until it started playing. The vocals are not fully to my taste, but there's nothing wrong with them. Perfectly fine. Overall a pretty good album.
An incredible debut, thoroughly consistent even if I don’t think every track is an all-timer. Only real complaint is that the album ends so abruptly. Feels like it needed an extra track to wind down rather than just stopping but it is what it is.
Really enjoyed going back and listening to this album. Chrissie Hynde has such a unique and amazing voice with a great delivery. A punky edge probably influenced by her acquaintance with Steve Jones(sex pistols). My 13 yo son couldn’t believe it was so old haha
7/10 Favorite: Brass in Pocket
El sonido de los 80s
Хороший ровный альбом с одним бронебойным хитом. Сколько уже тут таких было.
Was taken aback at how much I liked this given how much I dislike their hit ‘Brass in Pocket’. This is a punk band masquerading as a new wave 80s band on a couple songs because they wanted to make a little money! There’s some great punk tunes on here; the opener ‘Precious’ is fantastic. The couple soft rock tracks aside, there’s a lot to like here, great guitars and the lead singer has a great voice for rock and roll. Solid 4/5
Luv me some Pretenders
Quite enjoying the energy shown here – there’s some great tracks. The Wait has some good riffs and guitar work, and Space Invader gives us a cool instrumental which I didn’t expect. Chrissie Hynde’s voice can be an acquired taste but it does seem to perfectly fit their style. They really mix the vibe up quite a lot which definitely keeps things interesting. “Lovers of Today” is a sort of dark, slow, moody piece and I really dig what they’re going for here. Prior to listening to this record I only really knew the hits, so it’s cool to hear the great musicianship they have and all the different styles they have to offer. Yes we have the main hit “Brass in Pocket” which I’ve heard a million times before, and now hearing the whole album I’d say it’s one of the weakest overall songs on here. Overall I’m quite impressed with this album and it’s pleasantly surprised me. Top picks: Lovers of Today, Tattooed Love Boys, Private Life
I’d have never heard of the pretenders until now, but I’m quite happy I got to hear this album. It has a really neat sound with lots of guitars, the lead vocalist (Chrissie) sings in a somewhat lowkey tone which I think suits these instrumentals very well. The album has a punk slant at times, but generally stays in the soft-rock or rock-pop sphere, I think all of these sounds worked here. The pop style hooks were neat too. My main critique is more of a gripe - my least favourite track is the longest, I just think Private Life is kinda boring and drags too long. Lovers of Today is of a similar length and I really enjoyed that track, so it’s not a length problem as much as it being that song I guess. This is definitely an album I will need to give another listen to at some point, I found myself enjoying the sounds of the record as the album went along, with slight exception. I was pleasantly surprised with this one. Right now I will give it a 3.5/5 but because I feel confident that I’ll enjoy it more with a re-listen, I will give it a 4. Favourite songs: Stop Your Sobbing, Kid, Up the Neck, Brass in Pocket, Lovers of Today 4/5.
Really liked this one and didn't really know most of it outside of Brass in Pocket. Cool punk energy with pop sensibilities, and Chrissy Hynde is just an awesome frontwoman. Guitar work is good, production keeps things interesting, Quite a debut honestly!
This feels like an album that was probably much better at the time. While it feels a little dated today it's still fun. 3.7
Started this album and the first track really didn't do anything for me at all. Yet, as I kept listening I was really getting into it and enjoyed the whole thing. I would go 7/10
Stellar album and a rare instance of the hit single being one of the worst songs off the album. A little punk, a little pop, a little 80’s. The lead singer has so much personality oozing out of her. Such a lethal combo of flare packed into catchy, digestible hooks. “Precious” got me amped from the start. “Tattooed Love Boys” had an awesome little guitar solo after a first few minutes of fun lyrical imagery. “Stop Your Sobbing” wasn’t the best song, but was a necessary mixup that offers something a little lighter and melodic. The following “Kid” sorta continues on that path too. 4/5 we’re on a heater it’s been like a week of good albums now
This was fun!
I knew around half the songs already as they're one of the 1st Wave stalwarts and they've def grown on me over that course. Great stuff, punchy and consistent. One of those groups that benefited from me hearing a wider range of their songs since Brass in Pocket is the big hit and it's still decent but doesn't grab me as much as most of the other songs
One of the strangest vocals I've heard in the punk genre (and, to be honest, in music as a whole). At least at the beginning, the singing is best described as a semi-conversational shout/ramble concerning various personal problems. Very much reminds me of Hang On To Yourself from Bowie's Ziggy Stardust album. Later, we get a much fuller, more powerful demonstration of Hynde's vocal prowess as she edges towards the likes of Patti Smith and (maybe) Nico. Or a female David Byrne. The band shreds out power chords in full force, mixed with plenty of 80s-anticipatory elements, like that weird wishwashy vocal effect (you hear it at the end of the Eagles' Life In The Fast Lane. I have no idea what it's called) and a New Wave-esque guitar timbre that's a bit hard to describe. The Phone Call uses a 7/4 time signature that takes some time to get used to, particularly as it switches itself out with 4/4 between sections. (Tattooed Love Boys does the same thing, and I love it.) And both of these tracks have one of the most front-and-centre applications of the hasty, conversational vocal. Hey, at least these folks aren't trying to pretend they have a good vocalist when they don't. And as it turns out, their lead singer is actually pretty great. We hear her properly for the first time in Up the Neck, and her Byrne-esque vocal doesn't fail to impress. (It's better than Byrne's, anyway.) The Wait easily makes my highlight list, if only for the great bassline (again reminding me of that Bowie track). Actually, the basswork throughout the record is pretty great. Private Life is much longer than all other tracks for no obvious reason, but it's also darn strong at any given moment. Again, the bass shines, and several guitar solos add to it tremendously. All the elements work together to create a mysterious, reggae-ish mood reminiscent of something the Police would have released around the same time. 4/5 Key tracks: Tattooed Love Boys, The Wait, Brass in Pocket
yeah…good
Another classic album. This must be heard to appreciate the story of rock.
Yea man - some good poppy shit right here.
I thought this was a pretty excellent rock album. I knew more of the songs than I expected to.
The first side of this is brilliant crisp, sharp, angular punk/post-punk. Brass in Pocket the standout song on the second side. Combined this adds up to a very enjoyable album altogether. Reminds me of Blondie somewhat although is that just because of an iconic female lead singer and songwriter shining through? 4 out of 5 stars.
-nicht langweilig werdend -ich mag das Genre -7.5/10 -verschiedenste Stimmungen -klingt gut
unreal!!
fantastic
This is #day584 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… just recently I watched a "What's In My Bag?" episode with Maynard James Keenan at Amoeba, where he expressed his appreciation for this record as well as a Devo one. That made me curious to check it out, since I knew it was on the list (also excited about that Devo record down the road). Pretty much the kind of stuff I'm after when it comes to the late '70s-early '80s. Punk rock seeping into new wave and whatnot. This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day585.
I didn't really know the Pretenders but I had a vague thought they were a kind of genetic synth pop group. I liked this way more than I expected. Much rockier and punkier than I thought it would be.
Solid album.
Liked the second half more than the first - have listened to this version of stop your sobbing maybe a million times as a kid - but the rest of the album I enjoyed a lot too!
Love these guys
A very strong 4 stars, almost 5 (will likely get there as listen to it more). I had heard of the Pretenders but never really heard them and had always had the impression that the music was much lighter / softer (more along the lines of Brass in Pocket that I'm pretty sure I've heard), but this is much more rocking than expect and was a great listen with edge and energy.
Excellent stuff!
The parallels between this group, Blondie and Garbage (which I’ve also been served on the generator) are sort of interesting. The attitude and melodic approach here I sort of prefer to those acts.
Listened during “work”. I would have loved this in college. Favorite song: brass in pocket
I’ve had the opportunity to see the Pretenders live, and get a pretty good idea of the group’s “personality.” But otherwise the only studio recordings I knew from them are a string of radio-friendly hits. So I went in with some preparation, but not the expectation that I would enjoy this album as much as I did. There was a lot to gain from this listen, from the cheeky antics on “Precious” to the garage-punk inspired instrumental “Space Invader.” Neither of these tracks are conducive for radio, one because of its profane vocals and the other because its complete lack of them. But I even found some diamonds in the rough, like, “The Wait” that somehow missed their elevation to the rock canon. An album with a lot to offer, and not enough acclaim.
Side A: This is ok. Sounds a lot like other poppy punk bands from the time. Cool cover to end it. Side B: Is this the same band? God damn. Hints of a surf rock ballad on "Kid", a reggae groove on "Private Life" and every other track is enjoyable pop music? Play that back, man!
Fav Songs: Kid, Brass in Pocket, Stop Your Sobbing, The Wait Least Fav: The Phone Call 8.2/10
I really can't say I know much about The Pretenders, at least I didn't prior to this, but this was a really phenomenal introduction. The album hooked me from track one and kept my focus pretty much the entire time. There were maybe a couple songs that were just okay, but I was very impressed. I enjoy the vocalist, and the instruments sound freaking awesome throughout. Incredibly solid.
I saw the Pretenders live a couple of years ago and Chrissie Hynde’s still got it.
Enjoyed this one quite a bit. Very punchy album that brings it from the start. I think Chrissie Hynde kicks ass. Yet another great debut album on this list.
I loved this! Pure pop punk. Chrissie Hynde is a MOOD and a fashion icon.
236/1001 Pretenders - s/t Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ✅ I liked this a lot on first listen. I was intrigued that they put the more punk sounding tracks in the first half and then the more well known poppier stuff in the back half, rather than mixing them altogether. Good stuff though.
Me gusta. I always had a thing for badass rock women like Joan Jett and Hynde. This one has a nice sprinkle of growly punk and catchy songs.
I’m really impressed by this one, despite it not being my personal favorite genre/era. It was one of those records that immediately read as hugely important, especially now knowing that Chrissy Hynde is such a badass. She clearly had such an eye and ear for talent, and knew her worth as a musical powerhouse. Girl taught Sid Viscous to play guitar gods sake! She even played in a band with mark mothersbaugh at Kent state. The record is so varied and the riffs are great, I really enjoyed this. P.S. artists from Ohio are always super goated and always be setting the trends shout out Akron
Really, really enjoyed this. Chrissie Hynde has a fucking great voice, and there's some proper tunes on this. Lovers of Today was my song of the album and favourite first listen with Stop Your Sobbing and Kid being my other highlights
This is an interesting album. I'm not sure it's a good album in the way that I usually talk about good albums, but there's something happening here that makes it clear that they're working with something a little extra. It's both caught in the box of 70s punk and but it's straining at the edges, AND it's got a lot of wacky shit like space invaders. I bet all the coolest people in 1980 were listening to this, but then, again, I'm not sure it's good? I mean, it's good, but for all the things that make it special, it's kind of uneven, so it's not really good. Tough to describe, but a real work. Don't do drugs.
Class!
There’s an undeniable swagger to the Pretenders' debut album, mostly thanks to Chrissie Hynde’s effortlessly cool vocal delivery and the band's tight, new wave-meets-punk energy. After sitting down with it, I can clearly see why it's considered a staple of its era, even if it isn't an absolutely flawless ride from front to back. For this listen, I spun a 1st UK pressing on vinyl, and I have to say, it is absolutely fantastic. Both the pressing quality and the mastering are top-notch, providing a warmth, detail, and dynamic punch that completely elevates the entire listening experience. The album is packed with some genuinely great tracks. Songs like "Brass in Pocket" and "Kid" are absolute standouts, catchy, sharp, and totally timeless. "Precious" sets an incredible tone right out of the gate with its raw, biting attitude, while the guitar work from James Honeyman-Scott gives the whole record a fantastic, jangly edge. The highs on this project are incredibly high, showcasing a band that clearly knew exactly what their sound was from day one. That being said, the reason it doesn't quite reach that perfect masterpiece status for me is that the momentum isn't always sustained perfectly. A few of the deeper cuts tend to fade a bit into the background compared to the sheer, undeniable hooks of the main singles. It's not bad filler by any means, but it does make the pacing feel a little uneven at times. Overall, it's a remarkably strong debut. Even with a few slight lulls, the highlights are just too good to ignore. I will definitely be coming back to this album in the future to revisit those killer tracks and soak in that signature attitude. 7.5/10
Verguisima
gostei, bom.
An amazing album, the vibes and the vocals are amazing Fav songs - Private Life, Mystery Achievement 4/5
i liked it, and plan to listen to more of them
Great album! Brass is on it but basically every song is good.
Pretty awesome overall
4.0 stars I really enjoyed this one. On first listen, I almost thought you could swap Chrissie Hynde with Joe Strummer and land somewhere in the sonic neighborhood of The Clash. What stood out most was Hynde’s presence: confident, sharp, and effortlessly cool. The album blends punk energy with flashes of reggae and new wave in a way that feels natural rather than calculated. It’s gritty but melodic, tough but still hook-driven. This is an easy re-listen for me. Favorite tracks: Up the Neck, Tattooed Love Boys, Brass in Pocket