Reviews (page 5 of 13)
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
Oh, this stands up great. Happy to have this back in the rotation 4.5 🌟
initially, the Pretenders serve high energy, meat 'n' potatoes new wave -- without fashion, without synth and pop appeal, without any further influence than its bare building blocks, their debut feels like the scientific control of its genre. as a result, Side A fuses together into this slab of sound, each song sounding pretty close to the last but still the same amount of fun. meanwhile, Side B has these singles that serve as high points in their discography interspersed with long, jammy tracks like "Private Life" and "Lovers of Today". it's like the whole thing is trying to keep it together, playing it safe in the first half like a glued Lego set. then it brings out this fragile original Lego creation that kicks the prebuilt set's ass but also has little greebles and bits falling off of it with each jostle of the table. i admire this hustle; i can't help but award it an 8. also, you're kidding me. nobody in the band was from New York City? Ohio and the UK? alright. i'll believe you... cautiously.
Precious - 4/5 The phone call - 2.5/3 Up the neck - 3/4 Tattooed love boys - 5/5 Space invader - 4/5 The wait - 5/5 Stop your sobbing - 3.5/5 Kid - 4.5/5 Private life - 3.2/5 Brass in pocket - 5/5 Lovers of today - 2/5 Mystery achievement - 5/5 4.09/5 My mom loves them, lol. I've never really liked Chrissie's voice (maybe that's why I like the instrumental Space Invader more?). The songs in general have a nice catch. Songs I might listen to again: tattooed love boys, the wait (nice bass line), brass in pocket, mystery achievement
Really fun album. This feels like one of the first true pop-punk albums. I love how it keeps that punk rock edge throughout, but it mixes in elements of pop, new wave and even rockabilly. Its fast moving, its edgy and its just really fun. All the things you want in a punk album.
Loved it
Interesting early new-wave and punky fun
uno di quegli album per cui parto con zero aspettative e poi mi devo ricredere. mi è piaciuto parecchio.
Molto bravi, non li conoscevo Mi incuriosisce sapere perché un loro album ha la copertina uguale a London Calling dei Clash ma sarà un dubbio che risolverò ad un loro prossimo ascolto
Realmente é um bom rock anos 80. Para quem gosta de Rock vai gostar, e quem gosta de anos 80 então. Gostou de Tattooed Love Boys, The Wait, Stop Your Sobbing, Private Live e Lovers of Today.
My dad always made sure to tell us that Christie Hynde was a bad bitch. Impressive debut with a lot of hits. Surprised that the reviews at the time were mediocre. I particularly like the drum mix
Chrissie Hynde is an interesting character, loved reading her Wikipedia. Raised in Akron. I can add her to the list of Akronites I’ve always known as LeBron, Devo, and the Black Keys. She played in a college band with a dude from Devo. Then moved the UK and tried to get both Sid Vicious and Johnny Rotten to marry her to give her citizenship. And she has a baby with the lead singer of the Kinks. Really enjoyed this overall, but also agree with the take that a lot of this washed over me. Could see this becoming a real favorite or becoming completely forgotten in my collection. Deserves a few more relistens for sure.
A true 3.5, this is a great album with production that sort of bugged me I fear
the first half of the record was enough to earn a 4 from me. Fantastic energy and spunk and punky-grittiness. Super fun and a great listen that I will 100% be putting on again. The song The Wait was a huge discovery for me - a new favourite track! The second half wasn't as great and except for Brass In Pocket which is undeniably a killer jam and a big hit,... I could take or leave most of it.
Really good, Christie Hind has such a distinct voice and if you like it you're half way there as the songs were very good too. Brass in Pocket still gets lots of radio airplay in the UK and it is such a brilliant song. I think with their style of pop Punk music they may well have inspired others along the way. I could hear similarities with bands like Razorlight as I listened. Definitely deserves a 4
I have a soft spot for talky British bands but this is a good one
Not something I would listen to often, but a very fun album. The Wait is my favourite on the album.
This is an excellent album. It is musically on point, and Chrissie Hynde's sultry vocals are amazing. "Brass in the Pocket" has always been one of my favorite songs. Although I like Nick Lowe, I am glad he decided to leave this project. As far as his contribution, I think "Stop Your Sobbing" is one of the weaker tracks.
Who doesn’t love the pretenders, it’s not their best album so I’ll rank it down but it’s still really good!
A classic!
Fun album from a fun band! They are fantastic at having more punk-centric tracks mixed with poppier fun melodies. Underrated act that I need to delve further into. Notable Tracks: - Precious - Tattooed Love Boys - shout-out Guitar Hero 2 - Space Invader - Kid - Brass in Pocket - Mystery Achievement 8/10
This was a pretty cool post-punk album. The Pretenders are definitely more punk than I expected. Based on the few songs I already knew, I thought they leaned more into new wave, which they do at times, but overall, I’d say they’re heavier on the punk side.
could i write poetry to this? y
Any Northeast Ohioan with access to Classic Rock radio has probably heard just about every track on this album a million times. There's nothing wrong with it. It's just impossible to listen with fresh ears.
Wow, haven't listened to this since the mid-80s. Shame on me.
Songs I liked most: Precious, Tattooed Love Boys and Mystery Achievement Songs I disliked: Private Life and Lovers of Today Overall rating: 4. Liked the first half of the album better than the second half
Fun album.
Such a pleasantly surprising album. Really enjoyed this one
Enjoyable - plenty of recognizable songs to enjoy
good álbum
Groupe connu uniquement par le morceau 'Brass In Pocket' (+++) qui passait beaucoup à la radio à l'époque. Cet album est une excellente surprise, avec des morceaux très dynamiques (je ne m'y attendais pas) et originaux. J'ai apprécié en particulier : 'Tattooed Love Boys' 'Space Invader' instrumental 'Mystery Achievement' Même si je suis moins convaincu par certains morceaux plus calmes comme 'kid' ou 'Private life' (bons chorus guitare mais un trop long), je vais probablement ajouter cet album à ma collection. =>4/5
An excellent album with a variety of styles. There’s lots of punk and hard rock, especially in the first half, along with more melodic rock and new wave. But it feels like one cohesive sound too. Definitely the sort of album you can put on and enjoy in one straight listen. “Brass in Pocket” is the classic here — great song — but everything is strong. Chrissie Hynde is a great lead singer.
good rockin album
sure
Pretty solid -- I like this
The farther I went into the album, the more I liked it. Proper piece of rocking.
The Good: They aren't pretending anything! The Bad: They have bad taste in clothes… The Ugly: only 47 minutes and 2 seconds long… What an absolute joy to listen to. I believe that I was familiar with 2 Pretenders songs, gratefully now I am familiar with more! Off to give them there well deserved 4*… oh so close to 5*
Bra gammrock
Pretenders are a classic staple
Really enjoyed this album who knew
Confident and entertaining 3.9
Personally I preferred Parallel Lines if I had to pick between those 2, but this was still really cool. Thank you 1001 albums very cool
Nice "old" Rock Sound
Only knew of “Brass in Pocket” coming into today and as is the case with most other albums with a prominent single, I figured the rest of this album wouldn’t quite stack up to that. I’d say I was quite wrong there, as the entire album was pretty enjoyable and somewhat up my alley. This is very early pop-punk/punk rock and its release date is appropriate, as it sounds like a bridge between the 70's and 80's. I'm not sure this could've worked with anyone other than Chrissie Hynde on vocals too, as she adds her own "punk rock girl" flair with some tender and soft tracks mixed in.
Chrissy Hynde rocks
Almost all great songs! Did already know and like half of them lol 4.5
This is a pretty good album. I was previously only familiar with Brass in Pocket, but really the whole album is good. I would come back to this one.
Enjoyed this album, catchy guitar parts and a unique sound. Reminded me of a cross between the Clash and Blondie. Had heard a couple songs before from guitar hero so I was picturing jamming out to this as a middleschooler. Favorite songs were: 4. Tattoos Love Boys 8. Kid 10. Brass in Pocket 8/10
Fine but a little repetitive. I liked some of the deeper tracks.
This really is a great album. The thing is that aside from one or two songs the performance and attitude are stellar but the songwriting itself is just okay. It’s a time when women weren’t aloud to rock- and Chrissie and the boys said F that. And for that, and Brass in Pocket, alone this album is a 4. This is the epitome of a record that I know that if it’s on I won’t skip- I’ll dig in and dig it- but I’ll rarely if ever put it on myself. And that speaks much more to my own limited comfort and taste and nostalgia than it does to The Pretenders.
A New Wave classic: The Pretenders debut! Some of the songs on this album are eternal classics like "Tattooed Love Boys" and "Brass in Pocket". Although the album has some low moments, it's still a great debut album and one of the most important New Wave albums of the 80s. I'll give it 4 stars!
I’ve definitely been guilty of writing the pretenders off as a ‘it’s only worth listening to the singles off commercial radio’ type of band. Very wrong! Very very wrong! Absolute bangers! The album takes a bit of a dip about 2/3 of the way through which is a shame. 4.3
I thought this was a super enjoyable album and an easy listen
Punky Brit Rock
It was interesting. There were highs and lows, but I'll definitely get back to this album/band later.
They hit the ground running here, though greater songs were to follow.
Ich kenne mehr die Hits von Pretenders. Dieses Album überrasch. Vor allem die Gesangsnummern sind total verspielt. Der Instrumentale Teil zündet nicht ganz. "Private Life" kenne ich mehr durch Grace Jones, wußte gar nicht, dass das Original von der Leadsängerin der Pretenders ist. Mir gefällt die Interpretation von Grace Jones schon sehr gut, aber die Originalversion überrascht durch tolle Chor Einsätze, entspannten Sprechgesang und von einem Arrangement weit weg vom Mainstream. Super
"The Pretenders" was a name I'd already known, but when it popped up, I couldn't figure out why for the life of me. I knew they were an important band for **some** reason... It just alluded me at the moment. Or maybe I never knew, I'unno. Well, after listening to the album, I can tell you the exact reason: these are just real good tunes. It's not any more complicated than that. Although, I will say in agreement with Robbi Miller (from SOUNDS): yeah, the second side's better than the first. I listened to the first side while I was taking a walk, and, sure, I could hear **something** in there, but overall nothing really struck me. I can't even think of a specific song to bring up as an example. Listening to the second side hours later, however, after taking a second to warm up to it... Damn, goodness. "Brass In Pocket" and "Lovers Of Today"? Absolutely incredible, both of them. Listening to this album was worth it alone for discovering those two. **Especially** the last minute or so of "Lovers Of Today", I swear. For most of the day I was feeling a pretty decent 3, but after taking in the second side, yeah, I'll give it a 4. I've been made happy enough to be generous and do that.
The original brat.
Great album. More punk rock than I expected. But more polished towards the later half of the album.
A fantastic debut album, but a couple of the slower numbers were not quite the ticket for me.
very fun
Liked the album, listened more than once :) But especially loved the below musics of the album: - The Wait - Precious
Brass in Pocket is a classic and there were some other great tracks. This did seem like it could be trimmed down but still a fantastic debut Rating: 4.0
Great album! I preferred the second half over the first but solid throughout
Stop your sobbing, precious, brass in pocket are excellent songs.
Hello old friend. I remember buying this LP back in 1980, enjoying it immensely, but not ever getting a CD or listening on Spotty. So, it great to revisit and appreciate the mix of raw New Wave punch, effective slower songs, and Chrissie's lovely voice. Well worth a listen. The cover of Private Life is better than Grace Jones' IMHO.
An impressively well developed sound for a debut album. Pop rock with more than a sprinkling of post-punk.
Solid rock album. Coil listen to this many times over.
Decent 8 Lots of banger on this record, especially the closing track.
Album #700 Chrissy Hines and the boys from Ohio in their debut album. Iconic, with some timeless songs, but on the whole, I have never been a huge Pretenders fan. Still, an album everyone needs to listen to at least once.
The Pretenders rarely disappoint...one of the most underappreciated bands from that era.
I wouldn't have listened to this album if it were not on this list and I would have missed out, great album and totally different from Brass In Pocket
What's not to love? Great pop.
Man, this album is dope start to finish. I have heard Brass in Pocket literally every time I hosted karaoke (frankly, I am sick of hearing it), but the rest of the album is so much better. There are some straightforward songs, but there are some offbeat rhythms throughout the record. I love it. Love the vocals, love the music, love the arrangements. I'm glad this one is on the list, because I don't know if I would've listened to this on my own. Phone Call and Lovers of Today were favorites.
When you are in need of conjuring up Chrissie Hynde levels of confidence and badassery, cast this simple spell: gaze into a mirror, and use the following: ✅ Arms ✅ Legs ✅ Style ✅ Sidestep ✅ Fingers ✅ Imagination At the very least, you will feel special, so special. This was a fun listen, and exactly the sort of thing I had in mind when beginning this project, diving deeper into a band I was somewhat familiar with. Probably my new fave here is "Mystery Achievement."
I really dug this one. Chrissie Hynde has a unique and very recognizable voice that I really like. For some reason it made me think of Veronica Bennett of the Ronettes or the lead singer of the Shirelles. Just something about the style of her singing. The more punkish songs seemed to have an organized structure to them rather than just a more chaotic aggressive punk sound. I liked the Phone Call (which had some interesting timing twists and turns) and Up the Neck. Now I feel like I see where some influence comes from for the The Sounds, Ladyhawke, CSS, and New Young Pony Club. I'll definitely be listening to this again and will check out more of their albums.
Pretty banging
interesting, solid and fun. lotta vibes
A very pleasant surprise. I too had paid little attention to these guys, as I was never super keen on their singles. But there’s a lot more going on than I gave them credit for. Can easily be compared to their peers such as Blondie or The Police. Much more punk than pop, I would not have guessed half their line up would die of drug overdoses a few years later (I say that like it’s a good thing). Will try and find the time to listen to more.
The singer's voice was frustratingly familiar, and it took the entire album before I placed it as the band that did "Back on the Chain Gang." Overall, a unique combo of punk and new wave, with some 50's vibes. Given the retro movement today, with Stephen Sanchez, Bruno Mars, and others charting well, it sounds like it could fit in even if it came out today.
Tattooed Love Boys and Stop your Sobbing are great songs. We enjoyed this album a lot (it was a needed respite after a few less enjoyable albums).
A real classic rock sound with a “baddie” attitude. I recognize some of the guitar parts (e.g. tattooed love boys) but have no idea from where.
Pretty good actually, love this type of music
I heard this one once before. A good pop-rock-punk record. Chrissie Hynde has a great voice with some attitude. There are a couple of boring songs, but for the most part it holds up well. I will listen again.
Love her singing style. Good progression and unique play style. Can hear influences of 80s UK punk, The Police and Fleetwood Mac. I enjoyed the album!
Went back and forth between 3 and 4 stars. Quite enjoyed this one but didn't blow me away.
Really enjoyed this one, verging on a 5, but it didn't really blow me away. A solid 80s rock album.
Outstanding debut album. Edgier blondie bridging pop & punk.
stronggggg start - at space invader and the wait I started to lose interest and private life was a bit too long 😭😭😭 but I LOVED The Phone Call and Brass in Pocket!!!! A really good album and I would listen again 🙏🙏 ALSO.. THE ALBUM FLOWS SO NICELY TRACK ORDER IS GENIUS
Chrissie's so cool
enjoyed it 7/10
Didn't realise at first this was a double album, but I'll bet 'Stop Your Sobbing' was track 1 disc 2. There's a definite change in style. If I didn't already know it was a cover I would have guessed it was. The first half was quite raw, like a diamond in the rough, you could hear what they were going to become. The second half was a bit more polished. With bits they would use in subsequent tracks. Like the bass line in 'Private Lives' and the drum intro to 'Mistery Achievement'. I have always loved Chrissy's voice it's got a special something about it. So all in all a great debut promising the great things to follow. Worth no less than a 4.
Wow. Wasn’t expecting this to be that good! Much more punky and more great guitars than I imagined. Added to my library and listened to a few times already.
A great debut album, before the rough edges were smoothed out for mainstream pop radio. I've always loved 'Stop Your Sobbing'. It's just not played enough, unlike the big single. 4 stars.
I liked it a lot
Haha this is so great. Such a fun debut. Precious is a great opener, Brass in Pocket is incredible but I think Mystery Achievement is the standout for me today. Certainly worth further exploration.
I didn't think I knew anything off this album, but when "Brass in Pocket" came on, that turned out to be wrong. I liked the first, punkier half of the album more than the second, I think - this is totally where the Yeah Yeah Yeahs got their schtick, right? - but I did enjoy the new wave and rock n roll elements in the second half too. I think more listens might get this to a 5, but for now it's more like 4.5... Fave tracks - "Precious" is a great opener! "Tattooed Love Boys" and "The Wait" both slap. Their version of "Stop Your Sobbing" is pretty cool, and heralds the direction change in the latter part of the album.... "Lovers of Today" has that Yeah Yeah Yeahs-get-introspective sound I like, too...
Sounds a lot like Blondie but never quite their stride. Cuban Stride comes close but it gets a little lost while also sounding a little too much like “I Want Candy.” A lot of what I like about the good tracks fees like it was lifted from other songs and their big hit (Brass in Pocket) is very middle of the road New Wave.
Very good. A few great songs.
Pretenders are one of those bands I take for granted, and then I’ll listen to a song or an album and be reminded how much I love them. This one in particular is a favorite, love the bass line in Mystery Achievement, the Kinks cover, the Howard the Duck shoutout in Precious. Absolute classic.
Some really cool songs. A few five star-ers. A very solid overall 4. I liked it a lot.
I don’t think I realised that this is what Pretenders sounded like. This list needs more female vocalist rock music, because whenever I get it I always love it.
Fun listen, very 80s
coming out of the punk scene, with a garage-band feel, great singles band, and really good live over the years
Wonderful debut.
Way more interesting than I expected.
Kid // Private Life // Brass in Pocket // Lovers of Today //
Oh man, I’ve only heard of this because of the Vandals Turns out, TV’s GE smith was no match for this
“I shot my mouth off and he showed me what that hole was for.”
Partly heard before Saved 9/12 Top track: Brass in Pocket
It has been sometime since I last heard the album. The singles drift through now and them. When the album was released almost everywhere you went someone had a copy or it was playing at a party. It certainly caught a wave. Forty years on it still resonates as a fine album, maybe no longer a great one.
It's a fun album
Coming into it, all I knew was \"Brass in Pocket\". The rest of the album was a breezy piece of new wave. Highlights were hearing the OG version of \"Private Life\".
You know, I've never listened to a Pretenders album, and I regret I waited so long. What a great album. Still sounds relevant. Has aged like wine. Just.... fantastic stuff.
Fun fact - the song 'Space Invaders' is used on the Sopranos episode 'House Arrest' when the rubbish truck dumps a load of stuff outside a deli. The bassline of that song hit me when I first watched it and I'd forgotten I knew this album until I heard Precious again. Also hadn't realised Chrissie Hynde wrote Private Life (as covered amazingly by Grace Jones). A fun album with solid songwriting and quite a broad mix of genres (punk, nu wave, reggae, 60s girl group-styles, rock...)
Didn't feel particularly excited by this one popping up, but I didn't realise Pretenders were this good. Space Invader my fave.
First few tracks were mediocre imo, but as the album went on it got a lot more consistent
Simply good music :-)
love this album
Tuneful, frantic, energetic. The best kind of punk.
Great album, nice songs all around, 4*
What a pleasant surprise! This is a prime example of what this list is for ... I had no prior exposure other than the singles I've heard on the radio through the years. This doesn't sound like a debut album (in the best way possible.) It seamlessly transitions styles with ease and the production is top notch. While the single is the obvious choice, the rest of the album is a very enjoyable listen. Would definitely give this another couple spins. Standout Tracks: Space Invader, Kid, Brass in Pocket
1979 - their first album. Straight ahead club rock with simple guitar, drums, bass, vocals - Brass in Pocket, the only song with an asterisk, is one of the mellowist. Mystery Achievement is a fun one.
Wasn’t expecting much. Punk, but female vocals. Rather pleasant. Space Invader goes hard Kid was really good Let this one play. Keeps getting better as it goes on I wasn’t a fan of the first 4 or so songs. Much like that Meat Puppets album, it really got better when they got they punk out of the way 4 star
Good stuff.
4 stars
Loved a lot of the songs on here. Precious, Tattooed Love Boys and Stop Your Sobbing are all fantastic. Solid album fair play, was a nice surprise
I really liked this! I LOVED her voice, although I didn't like the way it was mixed in a few of the songs.
I've definitely listened to songs by The Pretenders before, but hadn't ever sat and listened to an album. I enjoyed it!
If I were 14 in 1980 I could see this changing my life.
Great (post) punk rock album. Lead singer has a good range. Diverse instrumentals. Got better as the album went along. Didn’t pay too much attention to the lyrics, they seemed fine. Standouts: Space Invader, Stop Your Sobbing, Kid, Brass In Pocket, and Mystery Achievement.
I had to give this two listens, after the first it would have been lucky to get a 3, but something about it pulled me in on the second listen.
Honestly really liked this album. It was fun and rock-n-rolly with some really interesting compositions thrown in. Reminded me of Blondie, obviously. But unlike blondie I enjoyed the whole album more. 4.5
Good album, great vocals. 4.0
I love Change in Pocket but really enjoyed a lot of the other tracks – I was surprised at how punky it was and how good the lyrics. I'd definitely listen again.
I discoverd the Pretenders after watching the Pistol mini-series, and even tho i havent listen a lot to them i notice them and the Song Brass In Pocket became for me a wonderfull song. Chrissie Hynde is probably on the best roxk frontwoman, and a criminaly underated singer (all genders) she also had a very fasinating story, with the Sex Pistol and all. The album feel Punk Rock, but also new Wave, wich is mostly punk that can go on mainstream radio. Precious is a pure punk rock song, brutal riff, agressive lyrics and hard core drumming. The Phone Call is a very short song nothing much to say, cool riff Up The Neck have a very good intro riff, more Blondie Inspired i guess, she sound a bit like Debby Harry sometimes but a bit rauchier Stop your sobbing could almost look like a Beatles Song of course with the Punk vibe but still, very good song Kid is more like a ballad, and also sound a it like the 60’s rock (The Beatles) very good song, one of the best in the album. Brass In Pocket is their best song, overall, just so iconic riff, very great vocal performance and lyrics more mainstream new wave aproche but still perfect. The others song are not bad but simply not so much impactfull The debut album was a commercial success, and it is totally deserved, the album is the best new wave albun i have heard and really show the talent of the band, with Chrissie Hynde a the front (love her)
one good song the rest was bad
I really like the Pretenders. Chrissie Hynde has such a cool voice and the band has a very unique sound. We have Get Close on vinyl, which I love. This is a good one too! Brass in Pocket, Mystery Achievement and Stop Your Sobbing are great standouts.
Great stuff, love her vocals.
Good stuff, good times, fun album. Not an incredible amount of range here, but they do their one trick very well. We get a little taste of something slower on “Stop Your Sobbing”, however, no full fledged experience. It does what it does well and that’s worth something. 4/5
This one came to my like as for many others here: a surprise. Later days Pretenders were what I knew so far and I never felt inclined to listen to their back catalogue. What a miss . Great energy, cool playing, no fillers, nice raw punky edge to the pop/rock lingo. And Chrissy Hynde should deserve much credit for the singing here. This will not be heard for the last time.
Honestamente, antes de escuchar este trabajo, solo había escuchado singles de The Pretenders. Este LP cambió completamente mi perspectiva con respecto a la banda. Un disco sumamente sólido con interpretaciones muy interesantes, buenas composiciones y letras nostálgicas con un claro espíritu punk. Pretenders claramente fueron uno de los eslabones más importantes de la fusión del pop y el punk de los '80s, aportando desde su vereda al New Wave.
Solid.
really engaging. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would
Very nice
They have such a unique sound
Enjoyed it more than expected, but it dragged a bit at the end. Didn’t like the one that sounded like sting and the police
An interesting album, cool new wave vibes, great guitar playing, some sweet bass lines. I like the singer's voice and lyrics too.
That is a good example of something I may not have really (like,really!) listened to, if not for this list. I knew the Pretenders were good, but I did not realize how good. I thought this was great. It carries tons of attitude, it's sexy, it oozes personality. A really fun record, that draws on the energy of punk rock but is also quite sophisticated. I loved the sound of the guitars - the crisp and sharpness, but there are also lots of textured, subtle work. And that voice of Chryssie Hynde, completely unique. I will come back here.
Can't believe I haven't heard this before. Loved the sounds, sentiment, and attitude throughout. Def coming back to this.
Respect for Chrissie Hyde and this album- why listening to these 1001 albums is worth it.. First time enjoyed kid…. Knew Brass but didn’t know it title…
Love
I think Chrrissie Hynde's voice is what make this such a good album rises it above a lot of othere bands at this time.
No pretending here.
I listened to this twice and Mystery Achievement really grabbed me both times. I was familiar with Brass in Pocket but had no idea that was the song title or that it was by the Pretenders. 3.5 rounded up to 4.
Brass in pocket is my fav so far. Vocals are interesting in a lot of the songs
This album will always be special to me personally, but there is a great arc here; the frenetic opener with Precious, the interplanetary journey with Space Invader, the ageless hit with Brass In Pocket, the wide open spaces of Lovers of Today, the underrated album closer in Mystery Achievement. Anyway, this is a cornerstone of the new wave movement and a debut album any band would aspire toward.
Smooth blend of pop and various rock genres. Pretenders are easy to listen to. Chrissy Hynde's lyrics are generally well constructed and meaningful with very nice productions. 4 / 5
I love this type of 70s new wave punk. The bass on this album kills me, great lines that I feel like I'd pull from. Also when do you hear a 7/4 time signature in music like this?
Spent my entire first listen recognizing this woman's voice but unable to place it. Then I got to Brass in Pocket, a great song that I am embarrassed I didn't know the title or artist of. Lovely new wave with great vocals and fun instrumentals.
I own this one
Old school cool.
pretty good! just shy of being great, not even much of a Pretenders fan, but Space Invader is always a good listen.
The Pretenders are great and this album has many examples of that. Loved “Brass in Pocket” and “Tattooed Love Boys”
I unfairly always thought of the Pretenders as not a serious band but I was wrong, this rips.
Solid vocals, solid instrumentals. 7/10
Cooler people than me probably love this album. To me, it’s better than neutral, but nothing to write home about.
Aside from those really popular ones, there were some really cool tracks on this one. A really nice edge to the record on the whole. Lots of fun to explore the debut!
Private life is an absolute rock banger
It must’ve been late 1979 or early 1980. My father went to buy me a copy of Smash Hits. Different issues had different badges on them. He chose the one with the pretenders badge. I think he ended up wearing it. Their music at the time felt very fresh, even though I’m sure Chrissie Hyndes channelled Patti Smith a bit. Every single was brilliant, and we knew all the words. The album still holds up. I’m not sure where that badge is now. Am sure it got lost in the vortex of time. But the pretenders still have a touch of magic. I’m not sure the album is completely five star but it’s great nonetheless.
I’m not the biggest Pretenders fan, but there’s no denying greatness. I saw Chrissy tour solo 5-6 years ago. It was a little weird when her in between song banter included talk of her grandchildren!
Thoughts before listening: I am new convert to this album having only recently picked up a used copy at a record store on a whim. I knew the Pretenders were well respected, but I only really knew their hits. I never would have listed them as one of my favorite bands, but this album is really good. I'm glad to see it made the 1,001 album list. Review: Yeah I love this album. It is so much more than its massive hit "Brass in Pocket". Sure thats a great song, but the power of this album is the rockers that bring punk rock attitude with pop hooks and strong musicianship. Songs like "Precious", "Tattooed Love Boys", "Private Life", "Mystery Achievement", and my personal favorite "Lovers of Today" are the highlights here. 4-stars.
Surprised by how good it was
4.4 - this was really really good. Definitely going to be in my cycle of listening and want to explore more of them
an early new wave album with quite some merit to its name. lovely sets of songs with just the right amount of edge, spunk, and grace. lots of feel-good tracks. but that's about it. can't really say too much other than it's a nice little set of tunes
Chrissie Hynde's voice is irresistible A great debut album with the absolute classic 'Brass in Pocket' leading the charge. An excellent introduction to an impressive talent.
A combo of Talking Heads and Blondie - I liked it!
4 because I would absolutely listen to this album again, but I'd skip a couple of tracks (Space Invader, Lovers of Today) in the future. Definitely enjoyed it though. Standout tracks: Up the Neck, Precious
So freaking good
This was greattt. I haven't listened to more than a handful of Pretenders songs, but I'm keen to put this on more so I can once and for all learn that this is Chrissie Hynde not Amphlett, and the band is the Pretenders and not the Proclaimers.
Fun album
I didn’t know the Pretenders hit this hard on some of these. Nice little post punk romp. Clearly I need to listen to more than just the singles.
ganz nett
Fab
Good stuff - bangin' rock guitar, good vocals, nice variety of mood and pace - couple very good songs. I liked it.
Surprisngly punk and new wave (I’ve known of the pretenders but never actually sat down and listened to them) so it starts right up my street - with some reggae influences at times and also a tinge of good pop with Brass in Pocket. Didn’t expect I’d like it so much.
Why did no one tell me to listen to this?? It’s great. My main complaint and compliment are that it’s not a very cohesive album. The songs are all there but they don’t go together, which is good or annoying, depending on mood. Overall, two very enthusiastic thumbs up. Why did no one tell me about “Kid”???
A cool and tough and quite assured debut. "Precioius" sets a clear and strong tone. "Kid" and "Stop Your Sobbing" (the latter produced by Nick Lowe, who deserves more representation in this list) are the gems here, and among the sweetest songs of that era, one's personal faves to be sure. At during one's teens, one struggled to determine to whom one was more attracted – Chrissie Hynde or Madonna. Glad to see the latter was influenced by the former.
3.65
Heerlijke stem en punkier dan ik dacht
I think my favorite song was their cover of Stop Your Sobbing by The Kinks.