Reviews (page 4 of 12)
Some good new wave to start out the day is always refreshing!
Loved every song, will be revisiting this again soon.
What even is “New Wave”? Is this New Wave? If so, where are all the dated 80s synths? Whether my preconceptions of New Wave are accurate or not, I shouldn’t ask and simply be glad I was served this excellent portion of no-nonsense attitude. Loved the instrumentation and vocal delivery. Will definitely revisit this one.
I was expecting a bunch of good songs that I already know. What I got was a bonus punk intro followed by a bunch of good songs that I already know. Will listen again.
Felt almost like two albums, with a more punky vibe than the more 80s feel. Good though
This is an interesting coincidence as a couple days ago in my review of the Who’s Live at Leeds review I mentioned seeing them in 2006. Well, who opened for them at that concert? The Pretenders! At the time I had no idea who the Pretenders were; I didn’t even catch their name during the show, so it wasn’t until years later that I figured out who I had seen that day. I remember they put on a good show, but not much else from that time. Listening to their debut album now and I really quite enjoy it. It's a solid pop-punk album. There's maybe a bit too much 80s pop flair for my tastes on a couple of the tracks, but not enough to turn me off the album.
It was a breath of fresh air to hear more diversity of song both in melody and instrumentation. Main singer is sultry and has great expression with her voice for the in between parts
Pretender? I liked this a lot. Favorite song was probably Space Invader. Vocals were incredible. Did feel a little repetitive at points.
Let me see what you got Akron legend Chrissie Hynde! "Moving through the Cleveland heat" let's fucking go. She's bouncing around on Precious, I really like the way she's moving at her own pace. The Cleveland bars are obviously firing me up. Shoutout Euchlid Avenue. I love the little guitar riff on "Up The Neck", and I'm really enjoying Chrissie's vocals so far. Nothing too groundbreaking, but I really like how she's intentionally a little off-beat at times. Obviously where Blueface got his early influences. Great energy on "Tattooed Love Boys". There's some really fun moments on the guitar so far, this song has a few of them, I love the switch back and forth between the main guitar riff and the ongoing solo. These guys fucking rock, and Chrissie is really entertaining to listen to. The whole band does a good job switching pace throughout songs in a way that keeps things lively. "Space Invader" is a fun instrumental break. I was gonna say take a break Chrissie but I forgot she's one of the guitarists. Really enjoyed this one, and the Space Invaders outro is the cherry on top. Reading her wikipedia page, Chrissie was really Akron blood. Graduated from Firestone, went to Kent State, was even there during the Kent State Massacre. She's a living Akron legend. Hate to show my bias but makes me enjoy this so much more. No disrespect to the Black Keys but Chrissie is coming for their crown. Love the guitar scratching on "The Wait". First slow song on the album so far with "Stop Your Sobbing". This was a nice change of pace. "Private Life" is a vibe, super groovy from the jump. I really like when she's almost rushing through a stanza, there's points where she's almost rapping throughout the album so far. Keeps things super fresh. We've reached "Brass in Pocket", which is supposed to be the standout from the album. It definitely doesn't dissapoint - some funky details on the guitar and really captivating vocals from Chrissie. This is a really great song. "Cuban Slide" rocks, I don't even care enough at this point to go in-depth on it I just think it rocks. Chrissie I'm sorry it took me so long. I'm gonna sound like a broken record here but "Porcelain" just flat out fucking rocks. These guys rock. They're shredding that gaht damn guitar to open this one up. Then a minute and a half in they slow it down and Chrissie comes in for clean up. And she does just that. I haven't mentioned the drums yet because I'm bad at reviewing music but they've been really great the whole time, Chris was right, shout out Martin Chambers. I really enjoyed this album. I acknowledge my bias but I don't really care, I think it's really cool that somebody from Akron in the 70s moved to London and put this band together and they actually make good music. It 's not a revelation or anything but it's really good. That's a 4 in my book.
Akron Queen. What else needs to be said. Honestly though, good music. Solid listen.
This shit was good. Idk why I never really listened to them before. Recognized two songs from my parents playing them when I was young. Gonna have to dive more into their big ass discography. Chrissie Hynde got me feelin some typa way. Way more sexual than expected, makes me want to ignore how much my parents love chrissie hynde. Angsty, solid riffs. Feels ahead of its time. I like.
Akron vs. the world babyyy 74 year old Chrissie Hynde can have my babies Absolutely incredible vibe all around 4.2/5
Unique, very casually listenable, Private Life is a great song!
Yeah really interesting, I feel like they certainly have their place in the history of indie music, as I'm pretty sure Johnny Marr was quite inspired by them guitar wise, and you can kind of hear that in the tones, like the 'jangly' chorused guitar parts, which are all used really well. Its a really great mix of more straightforward punk stuff, alongside quite a lot of Talking Heads style new wave, among other stuff, and the two are often blended really well. She's also an amazing singer, both a lot of more catchy stuff with some arty more abstract choruses and lyrical ideas. I also think the more hard rock/blues inspired solos are weaved really well into hear, which I think is good, as it can very easily become cheesy and horrible. There's also some more reggae type stuff, which I guess was going round at this time with bands like the slits and the clash (thinking about the private life song). Also some great and varied drum and bass bits now that I relisten. The bass has that more trebly tone which Andy Roarke did in the Smiths, among loads of other people probably. Maybe a downside is that some of the vocals feel a bit aimlessly meandering where instead you could have had an instrumental section or something idk. Favourite songs: all but stop your sobbing. Overall around 8/10
This band has grown on me over time and I actually like the pop-ier elements that pull it away from the more raw punk sound. And it makes sense that they continued to pull away with each further release. Not putting this on myself, but I'm not going to as to turn it off either.
23 seconds in, an immediate yes her voice is incred Some really interesting time signatures here. Want to comment on how much I love how the music feels, but can't find the right word. Groove? Flow? Movement? Progression? Unsure, but I'm enjoying Songs added to playlist: - Precious - Up the Neck - Brass in Pocket
very good, very nice, but I've felt like something is missing ❗️
James honeyman-Scott on guitar. Wow. The man who influenced Johnny Marr. This is a great album. My sister got this album for her Xmas and played it nonstop so much so my dad knew the words when they appeared on TOTP. But I think it may have been because he had a soft spot for Chrissie. Pretenders is a good album but pretenders ll is even better.
I already knew a couple of songs from here, but never really listened to the rest of the album before. I'm pleasantly surprised. It frequently rides the line between punk and new wave. This was pretty good
Led Zeppelin in the 80
Pretty cool album, I think it might be one of those I'd like better once I listen to the songs a few times but I did still quite like them. They have a nice style that seems like it started and inspired a lot of later things and I liked the vocals as well. Preferred the A side mostly I think
Never really got into them before but obviously heard a lot of their music. Cool to experience.
Album 44/1001 Chrissie Hynde is the queen of cool and a total badass. 👸🤘 Favourite lyrics: BRASS IN POCKET "Gonna use my arms, gonna use my legs Gonna use my style, gonna use my sidestep Gonna use my fingers, gonna use my, my, my Imagination 'Cause I gonna make you see There's nobody else here, no one like me I'm special (special) So special (special) I gotta have some of your attention, give it to me" "I got rhythm, I can't miss a beat, I got new skank, so reet" PRIVATE LIFE "J'ai les glandes with your theatrics" "I'm very superficial I hate anything official" PRECIOUS "But not me, baby, I'm too precious, you had to fuck off" Favourite song: Brass In Pocket 💵🤑 Honourable mention: Lovers of Today 💑📅 Stop Your Sobbing 🛑😭 Tattooed Love Boys ⚓️💘👬 Up the Neck ⬆️👔 Precious 💎 Kid 🐐 Private Life 🤫
First time listening I've never searched out the Pretenders because I've always been under the impression they were some cornball 80s pop band. And while there was a little bit of that, this was more of a pop-punk album that was heavier than I expected. Really good, catchy songs. Only 2 bad songs. I was surprised by how much I liked this album. Best songs: Space Invader, Kid, Mystery Achievement Bad songs: Private Live (bad white ska), Brass in Pocket (exactly what I expected the whole album to be)
1980 was peak guitar chorus imo.
Perfect blend of good songwriting / bad attitude.
Rocking and shi. Liked a handful of songs a lot, others were either p good or okay. Some kinda floated out of my ear but a lot of great songs and stuff.
8/10 Kid - Lovers of Today (honourable mention) Really enjoyed this one. It is more in my normal genre, but I was not familiar with it prior to listening!
Stunningly modern for a record released 46 years ago. Hynde was way ahead of her time.
i think late 2010s - early 2020s music primed me to like 80s music more
3.5 really close to be a 4.
Great record. I had never heard this album before except for Precious. Great bass playing and the lead singers voice is very clear throughout.
'Bondage to lust, / Abuse of facility / Blackmailed emotions confused, / The demon and devilty.' Chrissie Hynde is neither Poly Styrene nor Patti Smith: she's Strummer + Reed w/ a little bit of Costello there for nerdy relief. The music is essentially unclassifiable - every time I'd like to call it punk or new wave, it displays an edge that's older and more fundamental, a feel for 50s rock 'n' roll and Doo-wop that brings to mind the likes of Link Wray and girl groups such as The Crystals. The reggae-rhythms on tracks like 'Private Life' are purposeful rather than a distraction, more than you can say about most whites attempting that sort of thing. There's a whole lot of joy here, but it's of a perennial kind: summer jams don't monopolize their ambition.
Great album. Always loved their sound.
Enjoyed this, by and large. Even though I'm usually a punk guy I actually enjoyed the second half of the album more. The ballads and more New Wave sound worked quite well and were just a bit more interesting to my ear than the punk numbers. If I had to pick I would probably put "Kid," or "Lovers of Today" as my favourite tracks. Thought Chrissy Hynde's vocals were awesome throughout, just falls a little short of a five for me, but will definitely be giving this further listens.
Wow, completely forgot how many big hits were on this record. Punk-adjacent music. Excellent guitar playing throughout.
Decent, unique vibe
This was a hoot and also a holler. I had a great time listening to this one. Brass in Pocket was a banger, for sure, but the energy was there all throughout the album. Solid experience overall and a great start to my day.
I had known the name Pretenders but I couldn’t tell you any of their songs. I didn’t think I’d know any tracks but shortly after Brass in Pocket started, I went, “Wait is this the ‘I’m special’ song I can never remember the name of?” I was surprised by the range on this album, as there was a good bit of punky stuff but also some more jangly bits. I really like Chrissie Hynde’s vocals they’re unique and have a lot of personality. 4/5
Goes down smooth
I’m pretty familiar with Pretenders’ biggest singles, but this is the first time I’ve listened to a whole album and I really enjoyed it. Brass in Pocket is obviously a classic, but I also really enjoyed Precious, Space Invader, and Private Life. I’ve never enjoyed Tattooed Live Boys for some reason, but I like it more now than I did yesterday!
Pretty cool and Chrissie Hynde obviously kicks ass but it’s also not the most exciting album. Best tracks are Precious (which I was imagining Amyl and the Sniffers doing a cover of) and of course the famous Brass in Pocket (which I used to rock on PlayStation SingStar with my sisters). Mixed bag. (3.5 stars)
Very long album but i thought it was kick ass
The first track "Precious" has that huge flanger thing going on, reminds me of the new Turnstile record, so that is super cool. I have only heard the hits so I'm interested to see what The Pretenders are really like. "Tattooed Love Boys" is pretty dark but has a neat structure and hearing 7/8 is definitely not a common thing back then. Lots of great punky riffs and killswitch tricks which is cool and they are definitely a lot better sounding than a lot of punk bands in my opinion. "Space Invader" is a cool instrumental jam. "Kid" is a real bright spot! "Private Life" is a neat reggae-inspired song that's just slinky and cool. "Brass in Pocket" is of course far and away the best song on the album, but it really is a good record. I definitely enjoyed and would be curious to listen to more of The Pretenders!
Nice
Chrissie's vocals are good! Some songs are very good, but also are few fillers. Precious is simple but infectious, Tattooed Lover Boys has fantastic riff
Gute Mischung aus allem, aber für mich sehr nahe am Pop, trotz allem.
surprisingly fun!
Good Pretenders. Brass in Pocket is a classic.
Oh yeah, this album is great and I honestly believe it's because of Chrissie Hines. Her voice and even her attitude on the awesome album cover makes the Pretenders exactly who they're supposed to be. I heard a story once how it was so hard for her to get a punk band together because she was a woman and the dumb men didn't want her. I'm so happy she found a group, I'm so happy this album is good, I'm so happy of how great they've become in the canon of music history.
Très sympa !
Ct cool
This packs a lovely punch, while still being melodic and relatively easy-listening. I didn't know much beyond Brass In Pocket (a great song), but it was impressive in a way that I didn't expect. Now I think about it, I think maybe my opinion has been sullied by only ever really seeing them on the telly at Glasto, playing the Park Stage every year and looking several hundred years old.
I like this - nice mix of catchy and punky rock. 8/10
I've quite enjoyed this. It's a very tight punk/new wave album without too many bells and whistles, but sometimes a relatively straightforward rocker is just what you need. The album opens up a bit more in its final third with tracks such as "Private Life" and "Lovers of Today"; the latter in particular exercises a great use of build in creeping up from quiet into loud passages, and was a very welcome segway towards the end. I'm impressed by how consistent a package this is for a debut, and I could very well end up buying it.
Great album.
I enjoyed this quite a bit. If I'd been alive when it came out I would've been obsessed
Bonne découverte que ce groupe de new wave féminin. Quelques bons petits bangers
Okish. Instrumentals are actually great. In my humble opinion, the vocals are hit and miss, though.
This record is a gem. It’s the perfect example of “oh yeah I love these guy. I should listen to them more.” Then you don’t. It’s also a great band name. Brass in the pocket is a fantastic single. Not all of the songs are equal, but a good listen.
-simple rock
Overall, a very solid rock album. Everything just seems to sound well done on this album. I would say my least favorite moments would be the opener with how the singer vocalized "precious" throughout the song. Later songs in the album like Brass in Pocket and Lovers of Today stand out as strong tracks to me.
A good rock album. Chrissie Hynde has a great voice for this that might have benefitted from leaning slightly more in the punk-ish direction but it's already a great listen. fav tracks: Tattooed Love Boys, Mystery Achievement
4.9
Listened to this a lot in the reality eighties as my dad was a fan. Good solid debut.
Genre: New Wave A very pleasant surprise. Great vocals, some really great full band playing, and a decent collection of late 70s/early 80s sounds. Chrissie Hynde, lead vocalist and lead songwriter, does a really great job throughout the album providing all-star vocal performances and some great songwriting variety throughout, from pop rock to dub. Really solid! 4/5
I really enjoyed this. I'd never heard of them but this was super chill. Doesn't feel unpleasant like other stuff like this. Vocals were smooth and nice to listen to. This was wonderful.
Post stop your sobbing is great
Just great rock’n’roll. That’s all.
Off the cuff remark: I always put Blondie alongside the Pretenders, and Blondue always won in my book. That side I think the Pretenders album serves up a great slice of guitar pop. Nostalgia aside it's hard not to enjoy the better known moments of sassy attitude and melody, but the other tracks aren't fillers. Standout track: just has to be Brass in My Pocket. A pop glory. Revisit?: undoubtedly.
Super première moitié d'album, le reste un peu plus relou
Good solid punk album
Love it. This is my kind of sound
My first full listen of a Pretenders album and I loved it!
Good
Feels alive, a pulse in the rhythm, somewhere between punk edge and pop. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions: - Tattooed Love Boys - Stop Your Sobbing - Brass in Pocket - Mystery Achievement
The pop and punk influences bring a unique sound to this classic 80s rock album.
I played an extended version of this album and I think the additional tracks added nothing to what was a pretty good album. It's along time since I listened to this album and I thought it pretty good with some real standout tracks. Not essential.
It was fun. More my vibe. I blame Dad
Solid album.
Enfin une voix féminine ! Franchement cool comme groupe dans les rythmes et tout, j'y reviendrai je pense
Pas mal ! J'ai noté Up the Neck, Space Invader et Lovers of Today comme titres qui m'ont plu. 4/5
Super underrated debut. Just a fun time
I dug it more than I expected going in only really knowing Brass In Pocket and Back On The Chain Gang. 3.5 rounding up.
Chill rock from my childhood
This is rock and Chrissie Hynde is the coolest. Bye ✌️
This is like a bridge from 70s music to 80s music. So cool!
This was more punk/garage rock than I was expecting, if a bit too "shiny" production in parts. I like how the bass is way out front in the mix. They are fans of phaser and flanger FX.
So many great tracks
Muy cool este new age
Don't pretend you don't like this. Essential pop punk for anyone who considers themselves a fan of the genre. The songs here will get in your head quicker than Baby Shark.
One of the definitive showcases of the guitar-forward, ass-kicking front-woman sound that helped defined this era of rock.
Never knew Private Life was a Prentenders song and I never knew Stop Sobbing was by The Kinks! This is the first time in 40 plus years I’ve listened to one of their albums all the way through and I’ve been pleasantly surprised, it’s pretty good to be fair.
If you don't like the pretenders you're either too soft or too hard. Get over it!
Okay
I like her vocals a lot
The vocals and the instrumentals are lush - easy driving music!
Несподівано прям сподобалось мені. Гарна музика, хітова та навіть різнопланова місцями.
Finally something to get the blood pumping in the morning! Getting tired of these long boring albums lately!! Awesome debut album, starts kinda slow but stop your sobbing, kid, brass and mystery achievement are A+
перший альбом тут, який мені прям сподобався, дуже свіжий на фоні всього іншого. у вокалістки неймовірна харизма, і мені звісно подобається слухати про жіночу емансипацію і просто girlhood experience. воно не клацнуло зараз на п'ятірку, але я вже бачу, як буду повертатися до цього альбому в майбутньому
3.5 stars. Polished but still punk rock enough to balance out well. Almost like an edgier Blondie. Chrissie Hynde's singing and songwriting carries this, standout is the hit "Brass in Pocket" as well as leadoff "Precious".
Nice classic rock album with plenty of hits. Always hits when it comes up on shuffle.
Sharp, swaggering new wave bite with hooks, heartbreak and danger wrapped in leather and eyeliner.
Thoroughly enjoyable
Much more punk than the single Brass in pocket would lead you to believe. Liked it more than I thought I would.
Fairly good
Очень даже прикольно весело! Вокал понравился больше музыкальной составляющей, пожалуй, крутая тетя сразу понятно
Early punk, real cool.
Better than I thought it would be
Solid 4, not a huge fan of the vocals but very fun musically
Very pleasantly surprised by the consistency and musicianship of this one. Had not heard this album before other than Brass In Pocket. Feels more similar to the Police than I was expecting. I googled to see if anyone had noticed the similarity between the opening guitar riff in Up the Neck to Def Leppard's Photograph. No one had. But they are for at least the first five notes.
Oh this is totally up my alley! Pretenders have been at best in my musical periphery for awhile now, but without anything but the odd song listened to here & there. This is my first time listening to an album start to finish, and it is FANTASTIC. Chrissie Hynde brings the 'tude to perfectly accompany the music being played. Love the energy of this album and glad I finally put it into my ears. A few tunes toward the end didn't quite hit on this first listen, but overall this has been great stuff.
coming out months before remain in light, theres something kind of similar in the side a/side b setup here, where tightly controlled bangers give way to something more uncanny and expansive. in both cases full of great songwriting ideas and more than anything just gives plenty of space for chrissie hynde's vast voice, managing the warmest punk snarls youll ever hear. hynde is embarrassed about her old days writing half-baked philosophical drivel and nonsensical tirades" for nme but like many of these new wavers i can see the connection between that and the desire to make music Wider and Deeper, big lofty ideals given form that is "mundane" in the best way possible...jittery, jangly, joyous, and probably other words that start with j too
v interesting
Fun, groovy, solidly enjoyable
damn i didn’t realize how much i actually like this album… thank you, generator 🙏
Sharp, energetic lyrics pulled me in, the catchy melodies held me there. Quite good.
What a fun jaunt from everyone's favorite campy 80's Transatlantic group! Putting it in the rotation. All of the spoken word has such a silly cadence that I can't help but laugh to sometimes. I can't tell if this was ever sincere and I don't care. A good time with or without a plastic guitar.
It was ok and enjoyed
Fantastic album. Hynde is a force of nature
Good shit. This, I can get behind.
The bass lines on this album were spectacular. This was the first time I've actually listened to this album as a hole, and not just the singles. Chrissie doesn't like when you cry. She makes that very clear through the whole album. No tears from me here. What a great album.
Controversial opinion, but is this pop punk? I feel like it is. Clearly at least punk influenced pop-rock. It’s fun. Catchy and good songwriting
Kid, brass in pocket, mystery achievement are great, stop sobbing
Excellent. A little punk-ish, but more refined. Love Chrissy Hynde's vocals.
Don't get me wrong, aber die Pretenders hatte ich in den 80ern für mich abgehakt. Umso erfreuter bin ich, das mich dieses, mir bis jetzt unbekannte Album, überrascht hat. Bewegt sich zwischen Punk, New Wave und Rock, garniert mit einer unverkennbaren Stimme. Wieder mal eine Entdeckung auf der elenden Liste. Weiter gehts...
Wow, some sexy lyrics. Cool new wave meets punk (or maybe it's the other way). Some more traditional rock sounds too.
It's special! So special.
It's pretty good! As Newman said, it should be a 3.5. But since I don't want to make women into whipping us, I'll bump it to a 4. It's a short album with a few good tracks to lift the album. Top Tracks: "Brass in Pocket," "Space Invader," "Stop Your Sobbing"
Great stuff! It's nothing earth-shattering, but what it does do is everything I'd want out of a good, solid new wave record. Easy 9/10.
Really enjoyed this! I can see myself going back and listening to a lot of the tracks which just had good, fun vibes. More importantly OH MY GOD I FINALLY KNOW THE NAME OF BRASS IN POCKET AFTER HEARING IT FOR YEARS AS A CHILD
Classic Pretenders / Chrissie Hynde
I really liked this album. As an 11 year I remember hearing Brass in Pocket and writing the band off. The album had an edge and an energy that I really enjoyed. I liked the Chrissie Hynde's voice and the way they moved between punk and new wave. I'll listen to this again
For the band’s debut record, it is extremely solid. There are so many cool guitar solos, amazing female lead vocals, and catchy tunes. I really loved this one.
incredible.... amazing.... a work of art.....
This was a lot better than I was expecting. Would listen again.
This album slowly improves as it goes on making it seem better than it maybe is, and Brass in Pocket and Mystery Achievement lift it to 4 stars or B.
A really good album, there were a few songs here which didn't do much for me preventing it from full marks, but the playing especially was fantastic. Kid was the song I liked most on my first listen. 4 stars.
I'd never listened to this album before, and aside from the couple of radio faves, didn't know what to expect. Actually punkier and edgier than I knew of and better for it. Quite good!
Big fan of this.
The great thing about this list is you get to hear so much more from bands you think you're familiar with. In this installment, the very much Punk / Post Punk / New Wave album from the Pretenders. You'd think they were a rock act based on their radio hits but after a listen here you get so much more. 4/5
Chrissie Hynde is another strong figure of female empowerment in music and I’ve always loved her voice which I consider both feminine and mature, punk yet sensitive. The instrumentation on the album is solid (the build-up on “The Wait” is excellent and shows the band could go beyond the usual pop structure). The moods shift naturally, from punk vibe to “Lovers of Today.” A great debut album, especially mature, and one that has aged quite well.
The bad ass female frontman feels like a formula, but I'm a sucker for it pretty much every time. No offense to whoever's singing but she's almost like Zorro. The mask gets passed on from decade to decade. Patti to Chrissie to PJ to Karen O etc etc. All amazing individuals to be sure, but yeah, the formula works. Do they wear leather jackets while eating breakfast?
I only knew their singles. Which are definitely the best tracks. Despite some not great tunes I would say It’s a better than average album. 3.5 which i will likely round up for its originality.
Not a single bad track on it. I'd only heard the one big hit prior. Glad to have heard the whole album. Faves: "Precious", "Space Invaders", "Brass In Pocket", "Mystery Achievement"
Solid debut by an iconic band with a tragic beginning. Favorites, Space Invaders, Brass In Pocket, and Mystery Achievement.
Good riffs and more odd time signatures than I expected — super fun stuff
Love the vocals, love the guitar work, album starts more rockish, but becomes more melodic later
"Brass in Pocket" was one of my favorite videos/songs in the early days of MTV. I was surprised to not see "Back on the Chain Gang" on this album, but Wikipedia says they originally released it as a single and then it was on their third album. Chrissie Hynde was and is awesome - her background is fascinating. I'm glad I got to see these guys open for the B-52s about 25 years ago. I guess this was probably called new wave at the time? But a lot of it sounds just like what would have been called punk a few years earlier. This is awesome. If only I had been a little bit older back then...
I always felt like these guys got overlooked. Solid, inconstant stuff from them. 7/10
Damn, what a debut! Great mix of styles and grooves. Loved the rawness of “Precious” as an opener and shifting gears until finally ending with the poppier groove of “Mystery Achievement”.
Love this. You can just hear how great the band's chemistry is on almost every song. Kind of confused why Brass in pocket is considered one of their best songs, its alright but far from my favorite here. Think the energy they bring on songs like tattooed love Boys and the wait is brilliant
4/5 its really good
First few albums remind me of drycleaning. Deep voice talking over badass guitars and bass. Me gusta
Enjoyable album, will listen to it again.
Favorites: Precious, Up the Neck, Private Life Absolutely on the punk side of new wave, I found a lot of things enjoyable about this first listen. While I don’t consider this to be a hallmark of the genre, it’s certainly groundbreaking in the popularity and evolution of new wave.
Chrissie Hynde ran so Karen O could limp
very solid
I knew some of the hits but never listened to a whole album. This is really good especially for a debut!
Like a greatest hits album, but they have a lot more songs. I’d share this with any rock music fan.
Solid sound. I like the overall vibes. Good instrumentals and vocal work. Not super compelling any whichway and kinda peters out at the end of its fairly long runtime. 'Brass In Pockets' was my fave.
Bravo Chrissie Hynde. Belle voix chaleureuse, bons riffs de guit.
Un son punk doux, une jolie voix de la chanteuse qui laisse pressentir des Tori Amos et Alanis Morissette (Gwen Stefani?). J'aime l'énergie et quelques passes musicales un peu out (fin de Up the neck sonne un peu grunge). Pas eu beaucoup de temps pour faire tourner en boucle, mais j'ai bien aimé en gros.
Great listening
Chrissie Hinds is a queen and the band is excellent. Some of the songs are a little too in-your-face for me — maybe I would have gravitated to that sound when I was younger. But, many tracks are just brilliant lyrically and melodically — and when Hinds’ delivery lines up with the right song, it’s magic! There are some absolute classics here — it’s a four.
A great mix of power pop, new wave and punk spirit. I really enjoyed listening to it.
After the first listen, it didn't sound that good. However, it's a grower once it's in your ears. I understand now why they say this is one of the best debut albums ever. I even ordered a vinyl.
Pretty fly
The Pretenders are a great band but they would be nothing without Chrissy Hynde. She’s got a great voice. Check out Mystery Achievement for a good example of her sonic capabilities.
Now this is what I’m talking about. A proper, new, refreshing classic that I haven’t heard before to delve into. Personality-filled, energetic, Blondie-esque fusion record which has so much to enjoy. Love the vocals and the drums are very well produced and, I’d say, somewhat addictive. Slows down in the last couple of songs and doesn’t offer as much within these due to the length and lack of complexity, however the majority of the record is upbeat, or if not, memorable and confident.
New wave classic
This is a solid debut with some genre-influencing elements. When listening to 'Mystery Achievement', for example, I couldn't help hearing Adam Ant's 'Desperate But Not Serious', and 'The Phone Call' reminded me of Aerosmith's 'Shut Up And Dance' (both released well after this). I think I also heard The Kinks, but they would have come before. At any rate, this is great. Probably not one I'll add to my personal collection, but I'm glad I listened to it, and it DOES deserve to be on this list.
82% Best: Precious; Tattooed Love Boys; The Wait; Brass in Pocket; Mystery Achievement Must-Hear? Sure
Once again an album that's part of my collection but never got much attention. It's a strong album though. It starts off really well and punky, reaching a high point in 'The wait'. But then we have to listen to a totally unnecessary and weak Kinks-cover, 'Stop sobbing' How could they make this their debut-single? 'Kid' is pretty weak too, with some country-vibes. But 'Private life' is excellent, as of course 'Brass in pocket' is. The closing songs are good too. Great album, almost five stars if it weren't for the wek songs in the middle.
enjoyed!!
Слушал с удовольствием. Рокенрол и панк и новая волна.
Impressive debut from this group. So many good tracks on this one. I never thought The Pretenders had the magic that this album captured on anything after...I mean there were good songs and singles and what not, but as an overall effort, nothing came close to this. 3.67/5 stars = 4. Can't miss tracks: Tattooed Love Boys Stop Your Sobbing Private Life Brass in Pocket
Such a great album even if you exclude the hits. I always discounted The Pretenders, but now I see I was wrong to do that.
Shania Twain meets Joan Jett and writes a perfectly decent pop-rock album. Bit of a weak start, definitely gets better as it goes. Precious (5/10) The Phone Call (6/10) Up the Neck (6/10) Tattooed Love Boys (8/10) Space Invader (5/10) The Wait (9/10) Stop Your Sobbing (7/10) Kid (8/10) Private Life (6/10) Brass in Pocket (8/10) Lovers of Today (7/10) Mystery Achievement (9/10) 7.6/10
Chrissie Hynde can step on my balls! Fantastic album, great change of pace from yesterday’s pile of shit. Albums got the angst, sadness, happiness and sexuality we all look for in music. At a first glance I got a sense of Big Marlins Jessica Snyder early years on the vocals but that then was switched to a Joan Jett vibe which was completely way off and wrong. Space Invader, Private Life, Lovers of Today are probably my favorite three. I like to believe that when we all got to Brass In Pocket we all went “Oh shit they did THIS song!?” Stop Your Sobbing really resonated with me simply for the reason I daydreamed of bawling uncontrollably in Chrissie Hyndes arms and she yelled at me repeatedly to stop sobbing. Enjoyed this one enough that I gave it a full re-listen today to refresh what I liked specifically. Would definitely listen again but at the same time not the best album and not really any songs I would put on alone I think. Honorable Mention: Porcelain 7/10
A really exceptional debut! Somehow perfectly 1980.
Quite a lot of memories from home growing up. The whole album works well. 4/5
Who’da thunk Grace Jones’s Private Life was a cover? Not me. Like this quite a lot.
Pleasantly surprised by this one - a lot more of a straight rock, post-punky album than Brass in Pocket would have had me believe. Gonna have to come back to this one again
One of THE BEST debut albums. Not a bad track on it.
I keep forgetting about the Pretenders, but I shouldn’t. Solid all around album.
Strong end to the album, was slightly unsure at the beginning but really got into it. Chrissie Hynde has a fantastic voice and you can really see her influence on modern artists.
Great album only let down by Private Lives and some filler tracks.
chrissie hynde i want you so bad
Hyped me up for the pemi
Nice
Vad bra alla debutalbum är??
Excellent debut album with an innovative blend of new wave and punk. The biggest hit was the only stinker for me, interestingly
cool album, nothing mindblowing but good music. the album is a bit long and there were a few songs that probably couldve been cut to make the flow a little tighter
The Pretenders are such a solid rock band so I highly enjoyed this listen. I remember having ‘Brass in Pocket’ on an old karaoke video game when I was younger. I had a great time with this album and I would definitely recommend it to others!
I liked this album a lot, but not quite enough to give it a 5. The album cover made me think Cars, and they definitely have a similar new wave feel, in that it is a newer sound but still some heavy anchoring to guitars and bass and drums. Somewhere between punk and new wave. I've always been a fan of Chrissie Hynde - she's got such a unique voice. Not the greatest voice, but a far better voice than punk with the sarcasm of a punk voice. To me, Precious epitomizes my view of both the band and Hynde's vocals. It's perfect. Brass in Pocket is a classic, where Hynde shows more vocal ability. Other favorites were all of side one - The Phone Call (crunchy musical sound), Up the Neck (PiL feel), Tattooed Love Boys (weird sort of ska sound, like when the Clash tried it), Space Invader (really great sound here), The Wait (again, a different take on punk and new wave), Stop Your Sobbing (fun, different pace to this than the rest) - and Mystery Achievement on side two (sneaky good, maybe second best song on the album for me). If it wasn't for the dip on side two, I think I'd be at a 5.
I'm definitely a New Wave fan, but I never really connected with the Pretenders. Listening to this mostly in the background I thought that might change - lots of cool moments made me think I needed to re-assess. On close listen I still liked it (particularly the guitars), but still felt that lack of connection. I'm not sure what it is - I think Chrissie Hynde's singing is an acquired taste. Sometimes I like it, sometimes not so much, and I can't find a consistent reason. On the one hand I like it better when she's not singing with punk affectations, but that feels kind of wrong, like I'm telling some woman that she should smile more. I'm going with the 4 even though I suspect the album deserves a 5. Favorite tracks: Tattooed Love Boys, Stop Your Sobbing, Private Life (great guitar parts, although sounds a little too close to the Police), Brass in Pocket (classic).
I really enjoy Chrissie Hynde's voice and line delivery. Very enjoyable listen all around.
Very good
Kinda dug it most of the time.
Sounds like the beginnings of alt-rock and punk rock in one album. Loved it!
Great strong first half
Punchy
The more I listen to late 70s/early 80s rock albums, the more I realize this stuff is really right up my alley. While I didn't like this Pretenders album as much as other stuff like Blondie, the Cars, Television, and the Talking Heads, it was still a super fun listen. 3.5 stars
Despite hearing this so much growing up, hearing it now I appreciate it way more. Still not a fan of 'Stop your Sobbing', but the rest of the album sounds great. 'The Wait' is my new favorite Pretenders song.
Love the Pretenders. She still sounds great today. This album pairs perfectly with a blue rare steak.
Pretenders - S/T It’s going to be a 4 from me after years without listening to a record I used to enjoy a lot. A very welcome reintroduction. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’ve really only known the Pretenders from their big hits. While I’ve enjoyed them, it hadn’t really occurred to me to explore them more. But man I was wrong. I love the voice, the rhythms, the overall sound.
I'm into it. Nice mix of '50s rock 'n roll, '70s post-punk, and 80s new wave and pop. Best of all possible worlds.
Banger
8/10
very good
Qualidade.
Up the Neck
This album is so good, and Chrissie Hynde’s voice absolutely shines throughout. It starts off so strong with “Precious” and doesn’t let up after that. The best songs are the opening track, “Tattooed Love Boys,” “Stop Your Sobbing,” “Brass In Pocket,” and “Mystery Achievement.” I don’t know much of the Pretenders outside of their singles, which I love, and don’t think I’ve ever listened to a full album from them. Glad I listened to this one because it’s fantastic.
Classic.
I have found that women with the last name Hynde (or any spelling variation thereof) tend to be some pretty bad ass women. Chrissie Hynde is no exception! This album beautifully bridges the gap between punk and new wave. Porcelain is really fun bass and guitar-driven jam. Space Invader was a song I had never heard with a really cool rock-reggae groove. But the question always remains: did Brass in the Pocket show the world just how “special” Scarlett Johansson was in the movie Lost in Translation or did Scarlett Johansson show just how special Chrissie Hynde was in the song? The world may never know….
An album of two halves. The first there's a lot of weird time signatures and post post punk leanings and the second side is more polished pop. Chrissie Hynde's voice is pure magic throughout
I'm a sucker for old school punk and I went into this extremely skeptical as I expected some 80s ballad pop... I was quite wrong. Touche.
Całkime niezłe. Lepsze niż myślałem. Takie na 4 nawet
Space Invader and Private Life - amazing. Brass in Pocket, Up the Neck - solid. Some less interesting songs, but nice listen overall. 71/100, will round up to 4*
Not just mum songs
The Pretenders are a band people don't really talk about that much, but when you listen to them you can hear exactly how they influenced a whole swath of modern artists.
I was not a huge fan when this came out but it has grown on me over the years
Surprised by how much I enjoyed this! Not what I expected.
Is it late stage Punk or early stage New Wave? Chrissie Hynde isn't here to be pigeonholed by the likes of me... "Brass In Pocket" is the standout/radio friendly bop, but there a lot to love in here if Pop Punk is your shit.
++: Precious, The Phone Call, Space Invader, The Wait, Kid, Private Life, Lovers of Today, Mystery Achievement +: Tattooed Love Boys, Stop Your Sobbing, Brass in Pocket +-: Up the Neck 8,5/10
I really enjoyed the beginning of every song but sometimes the middle part of the songs was really redundant for some songs which sucks because the riffs are insane, the voice of the singer is really great. I gave me some Siouxsie vibes sometimes. Really good album in general.
Pretenders debut is a mixed bag; some songs are smash hits, others are filler. Gotta nice run from Space Invader through Brass In Pocket. Great finish with Mystery Achievement! They did the college tour and played the 3000 seat Snivley Arena at UNH in 1980. Did not attend as felt $10 ticket price was too high and there’s better things to do. We’ll be hearing from Pretenders again. L = (3.75*s) J = (3.5s)
Albumi #184, 23.03.2025 Pretendersin debyyttialbumi julkaistiin vuonna 1980. Mukavasti punkia, new wavea ja rockia sekoitteleva albumi on varsin kelpo teos.
This was way better than expected, a little punk and a little pop. 3.5 rounded to 4
This was great. I’ve heard the Pretenders, I think I listened to their greatest hits cd in the past. This album was not what I expected based on that. It was way more experimental and unpolished. It had a punk edge to it. You can hear glimpses of their future in songs like the big hit, Glass in Pocket, but this was way more raw and energetic than their hits. Pleasantly surpriser.
I kind of like this album because I like how the voice sounds but not how the instruments sound. I would not recommend this to someone else because I feel like they would not like this type of music. Many to someone that is around 30 but otherwise no. I would give it a solid 4 stars out of 5.
the first song I couldn't really hear and it was okay for the parts I heard. the next song was good it was still quiet I kinda like it though there is not much to hear. the last song is kinda good all the songs are really quiet I cant really understand them. overall they are kinda good I might recommend them.
Somehow was not very familiar with The Pretenders, aside from a vague assumption that they were not worth digging in to, until now. Enjoyed this way more than I expected, Stop Your Sobbing was a repeated standout.
very fun, sometimes got a bit too kate bush but most of it was better than expected
This album kept me interested
An extremely strong debut, tough and tender and true. "Kid" and "Stop Your Sobbing" are both great but the whole thing exudes a youthful energy and confidence that maybe CH didn't actually feel. This holds up extremely well.
This starts out as a loud rocking punk record - before evolving into a showcase of Chrissie Hynde’s powerful voice. It’s special. (So special.)
I liked this more than i expected to. It gets less raw as it progresses, like an album transitioning in real time away from late 70’s punk towards a more polished 1980’s soundscape. It’s interesting, although my personal taste leans towards those earlier tracks on the album.
Crissie is the best.
More radio hits than I was expecting. I enjoyed the energy this album put out. "Mystery Achievement" and "Space Invader" are easily the best tracks on this album. 4/5
Pretty solid and enjoyable album. Pleasantly surprised.
Great debut album, only knew the singles but they don't really reflect how punky and confrontational Hynde and the band were here.
Liked the full album very much for the variety of styles on it. Vocals fit the music and the music and the lyrics perfectly.
Looking at the album artwork my expectations were low but I really loved this album. Every song was a treat.
Another excellent album, I’ve always wanted to go back and explore the beginning of The Pretenders. This rocks out of the gate with pure confidence, how do you not love Chrissie Hynde’s delivery? Especially on the first couple tracks. There are all kinds of creative, angular rock production choices on this thing. Only ding I give it is for being a little long-winded and not keeping up the consistency the whole way through. Still, great album and a must-listen, #84.
Surprisingly good to just leave on and let roll.
Not quite a 5, but if have given 4.5
I have Pretenders Greatest Hits but not this album. I like it and will get it for my library!
what do you call chicken breast strips that have been battered and are about to be fried? Pretenders Seriously, though... This album is legit!
Damn this is a good album--I had only heard the major hit and Stop Your Sobbing sounds familiar, but the rest of the album is really solid. I'm at 4.5, but going to 4 and it begs further listens.
4/5. This feels like if the cool alt kids at your school made music. Looking at the cover, they are really trying to be cool and thankfully the music does ooze slickness and smooth, in an artsy kid kind of way. The bassist is really coming through and the instrumentals as a whole create a nice punk edge while staying accessible. The vocalist is unique as well, the lowest female voice I have heard from memory and she keeps you engaged. It's an excellent album but not all songs are perfect. Best Song: Brass In Pocket, Mystery Achievement, Space Invader
WHAT IF I SAY I'M NOT LIKE THE OTHERS WHAT IF I SAY I'M NOT JUST- That was not on this album. However, it was a good album. 4 stars.
Completely exceeded expectations. Especially enjoyed the first couple of tracks and the last track. Why don't we talk about The Pretenders more?
Listened Before? N Very, VERY good. I'm familiar with a few of these (especially Brass in Pocket), but I hadn't heard most of it. I really like the punk-leaning songs but even the pop/rock tracks hold up very well. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Brass in Pocket
quite fun
Fine. My favourite tracks are Brass in Pocket, Private Life, Stop Your Sobbing and Space Invader.
Christie Hynde's voice has always been great and the lyrics on this are amazing.
bom demais e saudades guitar hero 2
8/10 Favorite Tracks: Tattooed Love Boys, Lovers of Today
First half is more punk than I would have expected, second half would be more the sound I'd associate with the Pretenders, either way and excellent record, Chrissie is an excellent lead, can sing punk, pop, rock, etc. Great selection of songs that have replayability
A solid rock album with the attitude of punk.
The whole album has the distinct vocals that we know from 'Brass In Pocket' (TIL that's the name of that song) with a bit of a groovy, upbeat, rock flair. Fun album. 4.5
Pretty solid with several of their best songs.
Another album that I could have been listening to in 1979 instead of the Doobie Brothers and "Sharing the Night Together." I mean, yacht rock is comfort music to me--but why wasn't I exposed to this? And "Brass in Pocket" isn't even the best song on the album!
I don’t know if it’s my mood, the quality of the music, or the fact that I was listening to a “spring” album in the dead of winter, but this didn’t vibe with me. I wish I liked it more. EDIT: I gave this one another listen on a warmer day when I was in a better mood. I was right! This is a fun, driving album. Not perfect but it is very good.
Good beats…takes me back to 90’s
Yeah, this rocks.
Surprising. I liked their punkness and the guitar playing a lot, more than I expected to. And Chrissy Hynes sings like Lou Reed dressed in drag - wait, Lou Reed sings like Lou Reed dressed in drag…you know what I’m trying to say.
Quite liked it, will relisten at some point
Good album. Good rock with good hooks. Very poppy and feels super new for how old the album really is.
Phenomenal new wave music. Chrissie Hynde became one of my favorite punky ladies recently, like 2019. The jangly offset fender guitar tone, creative and thematic melodies and crisp and clean percussion with bold basslines. This all culminates into some pretty electric new wave post punk shit. This self titled album is a behemoth, I like earlier albums like Learning to Crawl more but I mean Tattooed Love Boys come on.
Banger after banger
Really fun
Made me notice.
Slay
This was good. I was impressed. Had some attitude. Up the neck was my favorite song. Brass in pocket was the most polished song no wonder it was the single. I’ll give it a 4, it was better than a lot of the threes I’d given out recently.
Pleasant surprise. I only knew a couple of their songs and I don't really like those. But this album rocks. At least, side A does. I like the high energy songs. I don't like the slow songs very much, like the only song on the album I knew before: Brass In Pocket. So basically, I don't like side B very much. Favorite song: Tattooed Love Boys.
Another classic rock album. Made me want to play guitar hero.
Never listened to Pretenders beyond their hits before. Some really good grooves and fun listen.
Hynde is occasionally a bit much of a Patti Smith knockoff for me, but at her best, she's damn good, and the band RIPS. Excellent songwriting and arrangement. 4/5
What a pleasant surprise! Honestly saw the name and got them mixed up with the Foo Fighters Pretenders record, but this is a great example of girl rock. Very few skips. I think my favorites are Precious, Cant Control Myself, Brass Pockets, Lovers of Today and Up the Neck. A lot of good stuff here.
Nice.
Sexy, powerful, catchy. Not my favorite type of music but Chrissy Hynde's voice is absolutely insane. So unique and sultry and funny and fun. More interesting than I would have given it credit for based on the one song I knew before, "Brass in Pocket"
Chrissie Hynde is just very cool
Album #2 - 4/5 Overall a really fun new wave punk/rock album. "Precious" was SUCH a banger to kick off the album. Other standouts for me were "The Wait" and the instrumental, "Space Invader." I am also stoked on the drums throughout the entire album, holy shit. All the time signature changes? So good. It's pretty wild to comprehend that this was their debut album. Also, the range of genres they touch was pretty sweet. I'm so glad to now know who Chrissie Hynde is. That voice!! The confidence & attitude! Proposing to men in other rock bands so she could get a green card to stay in England for the punk rock music scene? Obsessed. Listening through all the songs and reading up on most of the lyrics I was a little shaken up by the sexual violence in "Tattooed Love Boys" & "Up the Neck." (Maybe also alluded to in "Precious" and "The Phone Call"?) That was just a bit much for me.
I don’t think the Pretenders’ biggest hits do their reputation justice. A much better album than you’d expect if all you know is “I’ll Stand By You.” Enjoyed the listen.
Stand out tracks: Precious, Tattooed Lover Boys, Private Life, and Brass In Pocket This is an album that I honestly would have never listened to on my own, I’m very pleasantly surprised, their use of different time signatures is what really drew me in and made me pay attention to this, they don’t do it on every song, but when they do it it’s done masterfully, a lot of good stuff to listen to on this album, I’ll definitely be revisiting it!
Fav song: Brass In Pocket This album was pleasantly surprising to me. In equal measures of punk AND great writing. This type of vibe usually isn't my thing but I'll be revisiting this one for sure!
Pop, punk, rock. LOVE her voice! Chrissie Hydne. The definition of cool rock voice. Best punk rock I’ve heard so far, awesome guitars. Loads of instrumentals. Turns into kind of cheesy pop half way.
# Album Name: Pretenders # Artist: Pretenders # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: Well what can i say, i wasnt expecting this from the Pretenders. This album was a real mix of punk and new wave. On a first pass of the album, i was like ok this isnt bad. Then i came back to it a few times and its become a real grower. Brass in pocket is like the odd one out for me. It doesnt quite fit the feel of the rest of the album but its THE song everyone knows on the album. Its a great tune. The rest of the album really stands up too. Stand out tracks Private life and space invader. I love the guitar and vocals on private life. Great song. Theres several other tunes worth a listen like phone call, love boys. I'd give this a low 4. It wasnt great but it was very enjoyable. # Top Tunes: Private life , brass in pocket, space invader. # Would I listen to it again? I would.
Jangle pop that has no equal. Edgy without realizing it.
The essence of early 80’s new wave. An iconic great album!
According to my uncle, this is what “new wave” is. Love the genre, and love Chrissie Hynde.. great album
This kicks so much ass. Punky new proto-new wave. Reagan and Thatcher hadn't quite yet influenced the culture of maximalism that we'd see for much of the ensuing decade. I've always liked Chrissy Hynde's voice, idiosyncratic as it is, and even though I only know Brass In Pocket (which I didn't know by name), I found this an easy listen.
Not going to complain about this particular new-wave punk album, it's rare you find one of these with a lead female vocalist. And yeah, Chrissie is the best part of the album. There's just so much personality and variety in those vocals, fusing that classic swagger on a majority of the first half, and, with the second half, showcasing a softer, more melodic side with songs like 'Stop Your Sobbing', 'Kid', and, my personal favorite, 'Lovers of Today' - all songs that showcase her undeniable range as a singer. Her vocals at times remind me a lot of Justine Frischmann or PJ Harvey - though obviously, she predates them by nearly a decade. Instrumentally, the album sounds remarkably of its time, especially in the first half with those guitars on 'Up the Neck' for example. I didn't mind it though, but most of my highlights were in the second slower half... I especially liked that hypnotic groove on 'Private Life' - which sounds almost proto-dream-pop with all that guitar reverb. Though my favorite song from an instrumental standpoint is one of the punkier ones with 'The Wait'...I love that bassline on the chorus paired with Chrissie's near-incomprehensible vocals. And that noisy explosion in the song's closing minute or so is easily the most fiery moment on the entire record. The huge song off this album 'Brass in Pocket' was pretty catchy, and groovy - though it does sound like the most radio-friendly song here. To me, the song seems to be about one's dwindling image of self in the presence of a lover they deem more important or worthy. I do think it's a tad long for its own good, but either way, I was grooving all the way to the end of this thing. Can see myself returning to it in the future.
So good! Maybe not my speed entirely but really good.
Great debut album. Really like the whole vibe of this one. Chrissy Hynde was way ahead of her time. 4.0
bangers