Reviews (page 4 of 13)
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.
I used to use to not be a Pretenders fan but after listening to this album I am still not a Pretenders fan.
Not a fan
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
Don't love how she sings to be honest but added 'Kid' to my playlist.
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
I struggled to enjoy this album. Unlike the album I listened to yesterday from Bob Dylan where I felt that it was easy to engage with and tune in, I kept having to go back and relisten to songs on this album so that I could properly give this album a listed. Once I finished the initial album, I then discovered that there was a deluxe version which contained several more songs, a second disc containing a recordings of demos and live BBC live sessions, and a third disc containing recordings from additional live shows. I really wanted to give this album and this artist a full opportunity to shine. It isn't that I dislike the Pretenders. I ended up closing out the album during disc 2, but I did really enjoy the Cuban Slide and I am hoping in the future I can revisit this album with refreshed ears.
3.5. enjoyable listen.
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
Guitars and compositions are mostly nice, I doubt I'll ever remember one thing from this album besides the standouts though
This was fun!
Pretenders debut.
One great song, "Brass In My Pocket"
Not feeling punk or new wave at all. Reminds me of Public Image which is one of my least favorite bands.
Tuff
Strong start!
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
It was ok. Not as good as I wanted it to be.
A surprisingly uninspired listen that feels generic and dated despite its historical reputation. While it avoids the worst production clichés of the 1980s, the record lacks the technical depth or vocal charisma found in previous masterpieces. To a modern ear seeking complexity or unique sonic textures, this debut feels flat and repetitive, offering little in the way of "bite" or innovation.
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
Brass in pocket aside it’s bang average
3.0
I don't like the voice. Voices are so important to me and can quite easily become annoying when they use weird inflections and contrived strangeness. At some stages on this album I can't even recognise the language being used. The music is kind of okay.
This album is fabulous. It's so enjoyable and fun, and with so many great songs that, as a musical project, it's a very very good one. I've loved listening to it, and Pretenders is a band that has a very nice rock touch, giving it sometimes elements from the pop and punk genres. But being very original, with their own particular sound, which is great. So, this album is a delight, and has many different sounds, which is something that has surprised me. The songs flow pretty well, and this makes the album feel very lively and fun, but still being surprising.
What might otherwise be a pedestrian album is made special with Chrissie Hyndes voice and style.
decent post punk med massere attitude. ikke noget specielt.
yeah…good
Another classic album. This must be heard to appreciate the story of rock.
Yea man - some good poppy shit right here.
So I thought this was the "I Would Walk 500 Miles" band at first. Regardless, this is decent. Don't dislike it.
Gostei
i will tear you apart bird guy from reddit
Much of the appeal comes from the sound and the attitude but i found the tunes themselves less engaging. Brass in Pocket will live on in hundreds of playlists but i didn't find much else to get excited about beyond Tattooed Love Boys.
3.25. Solid
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
banger
I loved this. I only knew a few songs from album. So bratty in a great way
unreal!!
Very good stuff. Chrissie Hynde is a great songwriter, and I'll always have a soft spot for that certain singing voice a lot of women in rock had in the late 70s going into the 80s (ex. Patti Smith, the Wilson sisters/Heart). I also have a very soft spot for the chorus-heavy guitar tones of the same time period, which both Hynde and Honeyman-Scott deliver in spades. 9/10.
I enjoy the production - there's a real dreamy quality to it despite being straight up rock - but I'm kind of whelmed by the tracks overall.
9/10 Very consistent album without a single weak song, Chrissie Hynde's vocals are lovely.
fantastic
Still one of my personal favorites. Nearly every song is five stars!
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.
Nice.
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.
Some great songs but overall pretty middle of the road for me
I had a great time listening to this which was good after a long streak of very very average albums. Quite punky in a way that was still approachable. I liked this on the whole
I much preferred the songs nearer to the end of this album - they felt more tuneful and melodic than the earlier jarring snippets of voice. The whole album just felt marmitey, I either really liked the song or it just didn't land at all which is why I'd say this evens out to a 3 for me.
ok, ok, they're a bit shouty but I can see why they're liked a lot
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
Not my style at all. Couldn’t get through it
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.
Funny that this is the first time I’ve listened to a Pretenders album in its entirety! I love Chrissie Hynde’s voice as much as ever, and the music is great, though it does bring home how musically simple pop songs were in this era.
Considering the fact that my dislike of Back on the Chain Gang has been enough to keep me from exploring much more of The Pretenders, this one surpassed my expectations.
Excellent stuff!
I am not a man in a muscle tee wanting to drive a fast car; thus, I found this boring. Stop your sobbing was cool though. Kid is great. Brass in Pocket was the single I’d heard before, and it’s obviously a fun one. The last half of this album was much better than the first.
3.25 - Pretty good. I was surprised to learn that this was a female-fronted band.
Fun little early punk record with a few dense breakdowns. Great vocal quality, to the point of kinda overshadowing the rest. 3.3/5.0
Mich hatten die dann damals schon genervt
I spent a good part of this album waiting for I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) to come on.
Pretenders are very hit or miss for me. Just about all misses here unfortunately
Nothing special
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.
Solid! I liked the mixed meter in some of the songs.
Solid overall. Mostly enjoyed. Songs blurred together a bit, no standouts but liked Mystery Achievement and Brass in Pocket the best.
Listened during “work”. I would have loved this in college. Favorite song: brass in pocket
3/6/26 - Listened while driving to golf. It was fine but nothing super exciting. I did hear some influences on Pearl Jam songs, their more "punky" ones. Middle of the road for me. Top Song - Mystery Achievement
2.5? 2 is a little harsh. But a low three for sure
Very good. Exceeded my expectationd (and those were already pretty high). Chrissie Hynde is great. And so is the rhythm section. Lyrics were also ok. Really enjoyed this one.
Genial. Un rock pop muy sabroso, muy fresco, que por momentos me recordó a Pulp. Un temazo tras otro. Solo conocía la de Tattooed love boys pero amé casi todas. Cinco estrellas.
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!
Odd to say the least. The first half feels like a punk album, something that inspired yeah yeah yeahs, but then it switches to new wave pop slow love song. Wasn’t what I was hoping for through out the album. It wasn’t bad, nothing really stuck with me except that first track
Fav Songs: Kid, Brass in Pocket, Stop Your Sobbing, The Wait Least Fav: The Phone Call 8.2/10
👍
Ik ken de Pretenders vooral van pretentieloze, maar geslaagde liedjes als I go to sleep of Don't get me wrong. En kennelijk hebben ze een bekend kerstlied. De debuutplaat heeft iets meer power, luistert aardig weg, zelfs een reggaenummer, wie had dat gedacht. Maar er zitten ook wat matig geproduceerde, interessantdoenerige new wave-stukken tussen. Dat drukt de score. Ik ben benieuwd of ik een latere plaat van Chrissie en haar matties een hoger cijfer had gegeven, het zou zomaar kunnen.
Het eerste nummer heeft een punk-klank, althans meer dan ik me van deze band herinner. Daarna een vrij makkelijke opzet met een telefoongesprek. Het volgende nummer heeft wat rust ingebouwd. Daarna een keten van muzikale schakelingen. De band doet iets en het varieert wat. Maar het is steeds even zoeken of er nou iets is wat de band echt bijzonder maakt. De zing-pratende zangeres is waarschijnlijk dat waarvan ze het moeten hebben. Tja, wat moet ik hier nou mee? Het is vooral best aardig.
Ok, de Pretenders, zo'n 80s band met een paar redelijke hitjes. En uiteraard krijgen we het debuutalbum, want snobs. Ik ben al een beetje afgestompt als ik de wiki begin te lezen. Ah, de bassist werd uit de band gezet, omdat de gitarist het niet trok dat hij teveel heroine gebruikte. Waarop 2 dagen later diezelfde gitarist zichzelf met cocaine om zeep helpt. Dat de bassist teveel heroine gebruikte, bleek een jaar later, toen hij verdronk in bad na een overdosis. Kijk, dit zijn klassieke rockverhalen waar we van smullen. Kom maar op met dat album! En dan valt het uiteraard tegen. Het is vooral de gebruikelijke ongeinteresseerde (post)punk uit die tijd, maar dan wel met de degelijke zang van Chrissie Hynde. In deel twee krijgen we gelukkig iets bekendere nummers, al komen de echte kneiters meer uit de 80s en staan dus niet op dit album. Als de nummers meer pop(rock) worden, dan klinkt het gewoon beter dan die afgeraffelde punk van eind jaren 70. Tja, ik vraag me dan af of dit het album was dat in de snoblijst had moeten komen. Ik kan dit met een beetje moeite nog niet een vergeetbare 3 geven. Dus wordt het een 2, overbodig wat mij betreft
fue mi primera vez escuchándolos y lo disfruté bastante. definitivamente se volverá un regular
Good but not as good as I wanted it to be lol
pretty good, not amazing, but not bad.
mid
I’ve never been a fan of Chrissie Hynde’s voice. I know some people love it but it just isn’t for me. Combined with a bunch of off beat talk singing throughout the songs, it just doesn’t work in my opinion. I think the band is great, there are a lot of quality tracks underlying the signing, but it doesn’t come together for me.
Snarling attitude, tight tunes and plenty to enjoy
Great surprise!
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.
Didn't really finish, might be fun on a road trip?
Its okey but dont get me
Hay algo que me hace acordar a ataque 77. Ni idea. Me encanta ella
Que embole por favor. No soy muy fan ni de la banda ni del estilo en general, pero esperaba un poco mas. Quizá algun hit mas potente (tiene solo uno y ni siquiera es el que mas me gusta de la banda), o algo que me despierte algún sentimiento copado. No pasó.
Solid album, will revisit.
I saw the Pretenders live a couple of years ago and Chrissie Hynde’s still got it.
It was alright. I had trouble connecting to it. Kinda grocery store music vibes.
When I first heard "Brass In My Pocket" on the radio, I really liked the song, but other songs which I heard from this group, I just thought were okay. After listening to this album, I still really liked, "Brass In My Pocket" and although there were a couple of other songs I liked, most of the album was just okay.
Banger
Solid album highlight is brass in pocket
I wasn't blown away, but I liked it. Raw energy and simple songs that work well. It wasn't a boring listen, just not something mind blowing, it was decent.
Good energy on this album. Chrissy Hydne has a really cool voice
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.
Seminal new wave album that helped set the tone and sound for the genre. Really good singles band but the longer tracks are feast (Private Life) or famine (Lovers of Today). Great guitar sound, incredible vocals on Hynde. Shakes out about even for me. Favorite Tracks: Precious, The Phone Call, Tattooed Love Boys, Private Life, Brass in Pocket
Les instrus sont vraiment chouette mais je trouve que la voix de la chanteuse ne rend pas bien du tout. C'est assez pénible à écouter. Note : 2 A réécouter : Non
I loved this! Pure pop punk. Chrissie Hynde is a MOOD and a fashion icon.
Not my style just speaking with instruments weird
banda super nostálgica, me gustó
What a powerful debut! Hynde it’s amazing
Parece que es new Wave, me gustaría que las guitarras sonarán más fuertes, me gusta la energía del primer track No lo encuentro muy destacable entre otros discos de los 80 que he escuchado, parecido a Blondie
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.
rescato un tema nomas. la verdad no me gustó
This is another case where I’ve heard of the band but never listened to the band. It’s fine, I guess? I mean it’s this pretty polished punk, kind of reminiscent of The Ramones. Not bad but not really notable in any way. This kind of punk is essentially pop music and needs strong hooks to work and I don’t think the songs here have them. The world already has the Ramones and The Buzzcocks and Blondie so I don’t think you have to listen to the Pretenders before you die. Two stars.
los cachaba de nombre nomas ta weno
Not my fav, but there was an instrumental on the album that I enjoyed
3/5
Rather fun, actually quite a bit of substance here what with them having a lot of rhythmic and metric confidence. Some skips along the way but I could perhaps return to this as an example of something that takes musical risks but can still create mass appeal. Could be cool in the summer asw
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
Boy did that take me back. I don't know how the 2018 remastering improved it, but I really enjoyed listening to it after all this time. Their instrumental "Space Invader" took me by surprise. Maybe I've never heard the whole album before. I'm glad I got this chance.
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.
not my thing:(
Class!
Cool, but nothing special. The songs were good, but nothing really stood out to me. Big fan of the way it was mixed though.
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
Yay! Finally something that isn't just awful. I like hearing a female vocalist, song structure is good and somewhat catchy, but nothing sticks out.
I liked stop your sobbing and Cuban slide. She kinda sounds like Joni mitchell
Verguisima
I liked the guitar parts, but I found the album repetetive at times. The live songs at the end of the album were my favorites. I most likely won't listen to a song from this album again. It's solid but not for me. 4.5/10
A solid enough new wave record. For every great track on here there are about 2 that I'd take or leave. Enjoyable listen overall however.
Chrissie Hynde is a badass and this album proves that in incredible fashion. The least good song is probably Brass In Pocket and it’s arguably their biggest hit.
Big on attitude. Short on songs. The standout tracks here, apart from Brass, are the ballads. Much of the rest is filler - competently played, just not fully formed songs. Great mixes, quite pleasant. A three.
Quite punk ! Freaky lyrics… Fav song is ‘Mystery Achievement’.
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
Ok
Another album with a 3 hour deluxe edition on Apple Music. Kinda classic 80s. Nothing remarkable.
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
I've never heard of these guys before. All I know is that if I were around in the 80's this woman would definitely have been one of my gay awakenings. Not anywhere close near Stevie Nicks, Kate Bush and Debbie Harry, but she would've been there somewhere. I was born in the wrong generation not because music sucks now, but because I missed my chance to fangirl over these women. Anyway back to the album. It's nothing groundbreaking. It sounds pretty much like I would I expect. It's not BAD, but I wouldn't call myself a fan. I'm not THAT into this type of punk/rock or whatever it is. I just know there were a lot of people doing this at the time so it's nothing really incredible. It's an alright album. Kind of the same as with other many albums on this list. I don't hate it, but I don't like it enough to listen to it again. Had a good time while listening though. Just not my jam.
Really cool. Great vocals, awesome little music breaks and instrumentals, a really talented group of musicians with a common goal to making some great music. What a way to kick off a discography.
As much as I bow to Chrissy H and her trailblazing, this album is...boring.
No. 110 I really liked this, very emo but so mooth.
The Runaways meets The Cars, loved it!
Had never heard this before. I liked it quite a bit. Good early 80s UK punk.
Ordinary in every way. Never liked them as there's just nothing that grabs you and they sound like a good pub band at best
4 out of 5 Classic Brit rock. Chrissie Hynde kicks ass.
The Pretenders debut is rightly considered a classic. Its mix of ’77 punk, new wave and retro rock struck a chord with millions of music fans on the lookout for something new – but not too new. Both the album and the single “Brass In Pocket” topped the UK charts in January 1980 - which is quite the entrance. Considering its vintage, there’s nothing post-punk or experimental in what they do, the albums success is down to Chrissie Hynde’s great songs, pop hooks aplenty, and a band who know when to keep it tight and when to swagger. The singles are all first-rate and all proved to be radio-friendly, but it’s the strength of tracks like the ferocious opener “Precious”, the reggae influenced “Private Lives” - which Grace Jones brilliantly covered - and the brutal “Tattooed Love Boys” - which took on a significantly more sinister interpretation after Hynde’s autobiography was published - that make Pretenders such a powerful artistic statement. 9/10
Ok. Doesn't do much for me.
Some cool songs I would listen to in the radio on a drive. Unfortunately a lot of songs are not “jamming” with me.
Funktioniert als abpum ganz gut, wirklich hängen geblieben ist aber nichts - 3.2
Not sure I’ve listened to a full album of theirs and for some reason I’m not too hopeful, expecting the new wave, poppy synths, especially from the cover, but let’s see! Ah okay, maybe a little more punk than I thought actually and nice production and cadence on the vocals. Almost too close at times tho! Much grittier and layered than I expected. Some mind bending time signatures and nice playing around with instruments, FX, breakdowns. Yeh, very pleasantly surprised. ‘Stop Your Sobbing’ feels like a huge turning point and I don’t really get it. Second half is like a different band and much prefer the first half. Second half seems to be where the singles and most popular songs are. Confused! First half, easy 4*, second 3* (3.5)
This album is so frustrating. This is normally right up my alley, but this album feels so undercooked. Rarely do things fit together in a satisfying way.
This was okay, largely forgettable. But I really liked brass in pocket
Warbling
Really feels like this is two different albums. I like the back half much more than the first.
This is completely new to me and really not what I thought The Pretenders sounded like coming in only knowing Brass in Pocket and that Christmas song. Feels kind of Blondie-ish Started a bit meh but (possibly because it was Friday night when I was listening and the rum kicked in…) the album seemed to get better the further I got through it.
I liked the song without words best. Good beats but quirky 80s style lyrics. Very consistent
very charming, definitely more raw & unpolished than later albums ... but also a bit all over the place with many "skip" songs
twas OK
A lot of droning, but could've been worse.
My first listen to this album of theirs. Very strong first showing from them. Great lyrics. Loved the more aggressive tone of the band relative to their later stuff. I'm surprised more tracks from this album don't get played, it's better than just the hits that survived to their best-of compilations.
Dont get me wrong, they are alright
Loved it I think the version on iTunes was too long though I think there were four discs
In my head this was something else. Suprised that it was this and the female vocalist. Loved the early odd time signature song, but mostly forgettable except the single which is a classic
on paper this album seems like something I would absolutely adore but in reality it's not. it's just quite boring.
It's at least 4 stars. This album is so diverse, versatile and with great sound and lyrics. The story of "Tatooed love boys" is so strange and deep. Every track has its own atmosphere. 4 for my taste and 5 overall
It’s ok.
Dig the bass guitar on "The Wait" and the instrumentals throughout but especially on "Private Life". The songs with simpler instrumentation are my favorite. Really dig this one. Wasn't familiar with Pretenders before now. This was a happy introduction.
Little long
Awesome! Love The Pretenders!
The Pretenders are one of those bands that I don't listen to a lot, but when I do hear one of their songs, it reminds me how much I enjoy them. So, it was nice to listen to this album this morning and revisit some songs I knew and hear some songs I wasn't familiar with for the first time. The thing I will say about this album, generally, is it seemed a bit inconsistent to me at times. There are some great songs on the album and then suddenly there is a dud of a song. But overall, it's a great album.
A very enjoyable listen! Nice instrumental work on many of the tracks
Absolutely loving the vocals in this, and the instrumentation is very groovy. I'll probably return to a fair number of these.
Liked this album! Never heard of them before but I really like their sound here. Vocalist is great and whoever is on guitar is shredding. 4/5
Found a rating of this when I first started 1001 back in 2020. 1.5 Starts "Could not finish. Couldn't find anything I liked". While I couldn't help my self to stick it out again, 1.5 was harsh. Kid and Brass in my pocket are both decent songs - more like a 2
Bad ass vocals bad ass woman bad ass vibes
okayy finally a girl! i liked it, my favorite was probably private life! alsoo why do they keep having it been the album name that same name as the artist or is that the point? it’s like most of them!
Close to being good but ultimately I disliked almost every song, sorry!
Love. Faves are Kid, Mystery Achievement, and of course, the iconic Brass in Pocket which is the perfect hype song.
Great stuff
Like it 3/5
Listens: 3 (but the non-expanded/deluxe edition; ain't nobody got time for that) Standout tracks: Up The Neck, Brass In Pocket I've never heard of The Pretenders before, but I've definitely heard the song Brass In Pocket, so about 3/4s of the way through the album (the studio part) I get that ah ha moment where I get to put a song to a band. Overall a fine album. I do wish that 1) it wasn't a link to the 3+ hour delux edition and 2) I wish there existed a version of the album that was just the studio tracks. It probably would have made the experience better.
I didn't get this album. I mean I guess there were a few cool tempo changes, but did I miss the part that made them a "must listen to album"? Their biggest hit was also the one that sounded the least like any other song on the album, it's like confirmation that what they were doing wasn't working. I felt like they didn't blend pop and punk as well as they thought. Both types of music seemed to step on the others toes and stopped it from being better. I dunno man. It's ok.
Brass in Pocket
a great album - love the sound 4/5
Probably really good and I respect it. Just wasn't for me.
New album to me, though I realized of course I've heard Brass in Pocket, lot of radio play on that one. I can't say I loved it. Vocals have that feeling of a more spoken word than singing. Instrumentation was good. Middle of the road, possibly something I'd pull out if I gave it a few more spins.
Early Pretenders were a lot punkier than I remembered, except that they know multiple chords and the lyrics are all intelligible. The second song on the album is in 7/8, for goodness' sake! So basically, these are clever and sophisticated songwriters with a punk attitude, which I appreciate. Chrissie Hynde has an amazing voice - sexy, playful, fragile, and furious by turns. I'm more a fan of "Learning to Crawl", but this was definitely a debut album that promised great things in the future. Favorite songs: "Tattooed Love Boys", "The Wait"
Killer album! I love everything about. The recording itself is top notch. The guitar tones, thumping drums & the bass is killer with all the melodic walking bass lines & of course Chrissie Hynde establishing from the very start that she is a badass not to be fucked with!
Huh. Never heard of this album or artist before, but I'm thinking I'm in for something new-wavey given the album cover and year of release. Hopefully I'm right in my prediction for a change. Hmm. Interesting. I'm halfway on this. I quite like Hynde's vocals. They're cool and crystal clear. The instrumentals are pretty decent, too. The tight guitar hooks and thudding percussion make this album difficult to avoid nodding along to. Some crafty effects and neat guitar distortion also offer a varied listening experience. My problem with this album is that it's nothing I haven't heard before. It's relatively by the book for a punky new wave album, and I didn't feel like the longer tracks justified their runtimes. The songwriting is weirdly weak, too. While this album is chock full of catchy guitar hooks, I rarely felt that Hynde's vocal talent was being put to proper use. Overall, I'm still favourable to this album. It's not really within my sphere of interest, but I can acknowledge that there is quality here. Book time. Nothing really in there beyond this band being fronted by a woman and all of her contemporaries doubting their success because of that. Wikipedia reveals that this album blends multiple genres, had a polarised reaction at the time, but is highly regarded now, has received enduring critical acclaim and charted well internationally. Even if this album had nothing to its name, I'd probably still stick my neck out for it. I cosign this inclusion.
Oui, ça c'est très cool
Just a great record. Not much more to say about it.
New wave punk, debut Stop your sobbing Brass in pocket Mystery achievement
Well made, but nothing too special. Would listen to again.
I have a new respect for the Pretenders. This is a very solid album and fun to listen to. Makes me want to explore more of their catalog
Don’t know what I expected here but for some reason the album art and the fact it’s from the 80s initially put me off. I was completely wrong however. This is an interesting and fun album with plenty of crunchy riffs but also softer tunes. To attach a genre to it would be hard, but it was overall very good. A touch long and minus points for a cover.
Rockiger Sound mit prägnanter stimme, passt.
ok
I’m starting to notice a pattern in my musical journey: I’m very picky about Rock. I’ve realized I love the 'glamorous' 80s sound, think Bruce Springsteen, Blondie, or Tina Turner. Unfortunately, The Pretenders (1979) didn't quite hit that mark for me. The first half of the album felt very loud and unappealing to my taste. However, there were some undeniable standouts: 'Up the Neck,' 'Stop Your Sobbing,' 'Kid,' and 'Brass in Pocket.' A special shout-out goes to 'Lovers of Today,' which is absolutely stunning. While I recognize the artistry and appreciate what they were doing, I don't see myself revisiting this album as a whole. I'll be keeping the highlights on my playlist, but otherwise, I’m ready for the next one.
No "Back on the Chain Gang," but not knowing much about the band besides that seemed a solid effort.
Expected this to be full of songs where you go, "oh THEY did this song!" but that didn't even happen once. This is all fine but I'm not a post-punk girly anyway (which is a term I use for all 80's rock music with chorus on the guitar).
80s teen movie montage music, but not in a bad way.
Gave it a listen right away and it’s not bad at all!
As debut albums go this takes some beating but I'm biased, aged 13 with money from my paper round this is the 1st album I ever bought. Still play it and play it loud! Love it
solid 2
They got lucky with Brass in Pocket because every other song fucking sucks
Ma foi, autant dire que ça ne m'a pas parlé. C'est pas que c'est mauvais ni rien, mais ça m'a semblé tout simplement moyen et plutôt insipide, mais pas non plus au moins de mettre moins de la moyenne. C'est ça le défaut avec la notation sur 5 où on n'a même pas droit aux chiffres après la virgule. On se retrouve à faire des catégories bourrines. J'aurai pu mettre 12/20, mais comme je n'ai le choix qu'entre 2 ou 3 pour représenter ma note, ben je suis emmerdé. Donc ce sera 3, faute de pouvoir être plus précis (et oui, je sais que 3/5 est strictement égal à 12/20, mais ça me fait classer cet album avec d'autres que j'aurai notés plus haut). Pour en revenir strictement à la musique, je peux concevoir que beaucoup adorent cet album. Il y a une bonne énergie, le son des guitares est percutant juste comme il faut et la chanteuse est charismatique. Mais quand ça ne passe pas, ça ne passe pas.
Very nice voice
a little bit samey
A lot a sounds most of them were amazing
3.5/5
Love Brass in Pocket. The rest sounds very much of its time. Not my era. Nice voice though!
It's a good sign for an album when I've gone out and looked up the name of the singer by the middle of the opening track. I wasn't familiar with the Pretenders (though I know I've heard "Brass in Pocket") but I liked this immediately. "Precious" is a great opener and Hynde rules.
Альбом непоганий, але нічим не зачепив. На один раз ок, але навряд чи буду повертатися до нього
En unos de los momentos musicalmente más efervescentes del pasado siglo llega Chrissie Hynde y amigos a ofrecernos una inteligente mezcla de punk, pop y rock justo cuando el punk todavía coexistía con los primeros nuevos románticos. Y ahí es donde The Pretenders han tenido más sentido y más éxito. Recuerdo haber escuchado “Brass In The Pocket” en Radio 3 la primera vez y enseguida sentir que eso era algo especial, novedoso (cómo parecía casi todo lo que se publicaba por aquel entonces) y muy pegadizo. No repitieron la frescura de este primer disco más adelante, pero Chrissie sí se convirtió en la dama del rock que hoy es.
Some absolute bangers on this album but I struggled to like a couple of tracks, which is why I gave it a 4.
I don’t know what this type of 80’s music is called, but it’s a lot of fun
Loved a lot of songs but wasn't as fussed about a few. The ones that worked were great though, and the less so ones were still good
This album appeals to a certain kinds of people. Awesome people. Except Lovers of Today. I can’t get fully behind that song.
Two observations: 1) The Pretenders music has aged well. This still sounds great in 2026. 2) I love albums that aren’t built around singles. Brass in Pocket and Kid are tucked into the back half almost as an afterthought. There’s a coherency to the record, never a sense of filler/killing time until the bangers.
Not the best Pretenders album, so surprised to see it on the list. Funny to listen to the expanded version and hear the disparity of the raw live performances against the polished studio tracks. Another band where I love the singles, but find it difficult to dig into the albums
po é bão acho que eu gostava mto de pretenders há uns anos??
forte, hein! rockzinho new wave até meio punkzinho as vezes, bem gostosim de ouvir. nao eh um blondie, mas quebra o galho!!
Great
can we pretend we re airplanes in the night sky like shooting stars?
shi
Só conhecia literalmente uma música dessa banda. No geral gostei do álbum. Algumas músicas possuem linhas melódicas estranhas e outras algo mais próximo do convencial. Gostei muito do trabalho de guitarra e baixo. A voz da cantora é boa, embora às vezes ache meio limpa demais e quase indo numa intenção meio country rsrs. Destaques: "Stop Your Sobbing", "Mystery Achievement" (as duas melhores), "Lovers of Today", "Private Life" e "Kid".
Brass in Pocket was familiar because of parents, but nothing else was really like "oh thats good"
Hat mich überrascht, kann man nochmal hören.
This is a good rock album with strong guitar hooks and great songs. It sounds less like new wave than I expected, instead being a more traditional rock album. While the vocals work well in the context of the album, the real star is the guitar; it's hooky, muscular, and energetic in equal measure. It makes the album what it is, despite lacking the technical flash of say, Deep Purple. Essentially, this album has strong songwriting backed with a good band.
Better than Coldplay
Ai pas aimé le son
I’ll stand by you….. ma jeunesse…..
5/20 Je n'ai vraiment pas aimé l'album Que ce soit la voix de la chanteuse, les musiques parfois vraiment horrible (et sinon, simplement pas très belles), et l'ambiance globale de l'album, rien ne m'a plu. Vraiment, j'aurais préféré ne pas connaître l'existence de cet album. Seul palmarès, le titre Space Invader, seule musique instrumentale de l'album, qui est écoutable. Sans être exceptionnelle, c'est clairement la moins pire de tous, et la seule que je pourrais réécouter (mais uniquement sous la contrainte, jamais de mon plein gré).
This was on replay the whole day but still a 2
Not super my vibe but interested in the vision
Very good album, this is a 3,7.
2.5 - One really recognisable song but not bad overall
This is a good refresher to the White Album, butonly holds 1 or 2 real bangers for me.
Nikdy som jej hlas neobľuboval, ale prvé piesne albumu ma celkom prekvapili, viackrát sa asi k tomuto albumu nedostanem. Hudba celkom ok, ale ten hlas...
I listened to this on my own only a few months before it came up in the generator. Its an okay album. Many of the tracks are boring or similar sounding, but there are also some great tracks, Brass in Pocket, Precious, Up the Neck, and a few more.
New Wave was a cool genre and the Pretenders show exactly why. You have the energy and attitude of punk, but infused into melodic maybe-pop rock. Of course, Chrissie Hynde might just be the Queen of Cool anyway. She is the chief songwriter and visionary here, with vocals described well as “casual but sensual.” She introduced the band to an old song by the Kinks (“Stop Your Sobbing”), made it the band’s first single, then had a baby with Ray Davies. Very good album. Can’t go all the way to 5 but this is a very strong 4/5.
I wonder what the 80s thought the 80s were going to be like after hearing this album. There is so much energy and vitality to this album, and Chrissie effortlessly moves across her vocal range with saucy confidence. I mean, if she'd ask, I'd join the movement... before waiting to hear what it's all about. I was shocked when I finally got to "Brass in Pocket," which is great, but not super representative of the rock joy in this album.
funky man idk i didnt really pay attention
Bad ass
Great album. Good tracks. Easy listening but engaging. Varied enough. Will easily listen to it a lot.
One of those bands where I know the name, but don’t recall ever actually listening to any (though a couple of the songs sounded really familiar). Some pretty decent early punk/new wave, along with some pretty boring songs (especially in the back half). A little uneven, but the standouts (like Precious and Mystery Achievement) were great.
fun listen
I really like this woman's voice, sounds really cool especially for the time. I was enjoying this album and then got to Brass in Pocket and realized I already knew that song and liked it. That song is enough to bring the whole album up a point itself.
Another album to put in my bucket of pretentious 70s junk.
for the first half it mostly felt like pretty decent 80's background music, perfectly pleasant, but the second half was strong enough to bump it up to really quite enjoyable. favorite song is Mystery Achievement or Kid (Lovers of Today is also great)
Rating: 7/10 Turns out I really like this New Wave stuff. Doesn't feel wholly original for the year it came out but it's just so many solid rock songs with a punk edge. This might firmly be considered this a classic for the genre in this period, a clear staple of the sound. Lots of fun and Chrissie Hynde's voice is great
I absolutely haaaaaate the Pretenders when they play on Shaw's radio, but honestly this album was very solid. The vocals are still a little annoying but now it's a cool type of annoying when they're not playing on a grocery store speaker. Private Life fav song 7.0/10
It's always nice when you're surprised by an album. My only real exposure to the Pretenders before was through their more mid-tempo stuff. There's a lot more punk and new wave influence on this album that I thought. In particular, Private Life feels like it could be a Fear of Music-era Talking Heads album track, with the slightly more psychedelic guitar riffs. Chrissie Hynde's voice really elevates much of the material, and offers herself as a really captivating narrator, making songs like Brass in Pocket both sexual and wistful
I liked it but not as much as I thought I would
liked the rock
.
War was? Ist völlig an mir vorbeigerauscht.
Nochmal: Komplett easy listening, aber es blieb nichts hängen. Die Definition von Durchschnitt.
Coole New Wave-Platte. Mir gefällt auch, dass sie sich hier und da etwas ausprobieren, z. B. mit Instrumentals oder bluesigeren Songs. Insgesamt wars mir ein klein wenig zu gleichförmig.
Einfach richtig gut
Puh, da ist weder was hervorgestochen, noch was hängengeblieben. Positiv kann ich nur anmerken, dass es nicht unangenehm oder nervig wurde.
Hat mir viel Spaß gemacht.
why are only the bad albums 10,000 songs long
Good, not super special
not much of an emotional connection but solid album
Liked it more than I expected. Vocals can get a little annoying.
Never heard before. Will try
It was…good? Tbh I didn’t listen as attentively as I should have so I’m not confident in this rating. I like the vibe though for like, background music which is nice. The singers voice is really nice (not necessarily talent wise, her voice is just sehr angenehm to listen to) Honestly I think I’ll listen to this two or three more times and forget about it completely.
Actually turned out to be a pretty good album, would listen back to a few songs. Great voice, fun melodies and riffs
Prefacing this, "Private Life" has been one of my favourite tracks for years, especially after I started exploring their discography in the wake of seeing them perform at the Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert. I forgot how different each track, in terms of it's harmonies and tone, are from each other. Immediately, I remember "Tattooed Love Boys", with it's guitar sound almost glockenspiel-like. Hynde's delivery of lyrics from track to track always keep it fun, even when more serious and emotional lyrics are in play. Overall, a really great debut album for The Pretenders, showcasing Hynde's unique voice and lyrics as well as the bands ability to pull in influences from Punk, Rock and New-Wave all into one. The moody bassline at the start of Space Invader instantly won my heart, and even more so with the final sounds being straight from the 1978 game itself. "Brass in Pocket", at this point, has become a deeply rooted classic in British music history and for good reason too. Everything from the instruments, lyrics and Hynde's voice lends itself to the swagger need to back up the title of the song.
5/5 my first five star album in this project. I loved it- the first sing, Precious was new to me. I loved the “fuck off” near the end of the song. What an incredible debut album
The very best album Pretenders ever made. Whipcrack smart and a sneer that will cut through you. Took influence from Police, Blondie, PiL and cooked it up to a sum greater than the parts. One of the best albums of all time.
Was gonna be a 3 but the last 2 songs were really great
Meh.
Precious - 5/10: Not bad, but I'm not obsessed with her vocals. The Phone Call - 5/10: I like the guitar on this track. Up the Neck - 6/10: I like the music/instruments/beat (whatever you call it) on this track. Tattooed Love Boys - 6/10 I like the instruments/beat and guitar solo on this song. Space Invader - 6/10: I don't usually like "instrumental" songs, but I liked the intro and overall beat. The Wait - 6/10: I like the guitar on this track. Stop Your Sobbing - 5/10: Just not my favorite. Kid - 7/10: I like her vocals and the instruments/beat. Private Life - 7/10: Same as the last song. I really like the guitar on this track, especially the solo at the end. Brass in Pocket - 5/10: I just wasn't really feeling it. Lovers of Today - 5/10: Same as the last song. Mystery Achievement - 6/10: I like the instruments/beat. Overall Score: 69/100 Overall Rating: 6/10 - I didn't love the singer's vocals in all the tracks, but I did enjoy them at the end. That's really the only thing that threw me off, and overall it's not a bad album. I could see myself possibly listening to a few tracks on it again.
01) Precious - 7,5 02) The Phone Call - 6,5 03) Up the Neck - 6,5 04) Tattooed Love Boys - 7,0 05) Space Invader - 7,0 06) The Wait - 6,5 07) Stop Your Sobbing - 8,0 08) Kid - 7,5 09) Private Life - 7,5 10) Brass in Pocket - 10,0 11) Lovers of Today - 7,5 12) Mystery Achievement - 7,5 TOTAL: 7,42 (74/100) Current ranking: 353/790
It was fine
This started much punkier and choppy than I was expecting and i really enjoyed it. As it went on, it became washier and more new wavey which is less my sort of thing. Not sure id call it much of a mix of the genres mind, was more one of the other. Not bad but the bits I didn't like bring it down more than the bits I like bringing it up.
Brass in Pocket is great, the rest of it is alright I suppose. Chrissie Hynde has a great punk voice. Didn't mind it, wouldn't come back.
I'm a sucker for anything vaguely punky with a female vocalist. Wasn't sure I knew them, but I did recognise "stop your sobbing" and "brass in pocket". It didn't blow me away and some of it was better than others, but overall enjoyed it and probably will be back. 3.5
A strong debut album for one of the better groups in the '80s. A perfect melting pot of rock, punk and New Wave.
Pretty good. Quite punky at the start. Got a bit more mainstream rock-pop towards the end, but not in a bad way.
I quite enjoyed this album. Lots of fun songs that kept me engaged throughout the whole listen. Wish I could see these guys live.
very punk rock
My ears didn't hear anything even slightly punk about this album. However, it was a nice mixture of new wave and pop/ rock that kept me interested from start to finish. When I was young I remembered Brass in Pocket playing on the radio, and never knew what Ms Hynde was threating to use in the chorus. Sure, some words were clear, but "gonna use my sassy"? Turns out it was "sidestep" all along. Thank goodness for the internet! Four stars.
Saai
This is a long album. . .
punk, romantic, definitely rock n’ roll at heart.
*listened before the project* I like her singing style:)
Can't all be winners. There's a few songs I like on this
STARFISH AND COFFEEEEEEEE SO GOODDDD. Love all the songs and the cover is perfection.