Pretenders

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.

Chrissy is the Queen of Rock.

Great all around album. “ The Wait” is an all-timer!

Such a strong debut and a very enjoyable listening experience for the day. Chrissie Hynde is such a bad ass rock star! Need to listen to them much more than I do.

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.

Some decent post punk/pop tracks throughout but Stop Your Sobbing, Brass in Pocket, Private Life and Kid (my favourite) really stand out here.

Wasn’t convinced by this. Didn’t enjoy it

Not what I thought I was getting but enjoyed it.

Das selbstbetitelte Debütalbum ist ein Mix aus Punk, New Wave und Rock. Es überzeugt mit einer markanten Stimme, und Songs wie *Brass in Pocket* oder *Precious*. Dennoch fühlt sich das Album manchmal unausgewogen an – während einige Tracks kraftvoll und prägnant sind, wirken andere weniger inspiriert. Die Produktion ist solide, aber nicht herausragend, und der Sound wechselt zwischen roh und poliert. Insgesamt ein starkes, aber nicht makelloses Debüt.

pass

Very mid. Not good, not bad, just adequate. I can't say I've purposefully tried to listen to The Pretenders before, and I honestly don't think I will again. Though, I did not realize they were behind "Tattooed Love Boys" (one of my least favorite songs from Guitar Hero II) and "Brass in Pocket" (grocery stores and pharmacies). Seems like it doesn't need to be here.

Tres agréable en travaillant ! Mais ca sonne pas très complexe

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.

J’aime bien. Par contre ça sonne quand même comme du pop punk un peu générique par moment. En 1980 ça a probablement fait école, mais en 2025 on est plus blasé de ce style. Malgré tout c’est agréable! Highlight: Private Life et Stop your Sobbing (qui est un cover par contre)

Great listening

Would be interested in the background of this album and purpose here

Brass In Pocket is an incredible song. Bummed to find out the rest of the album was just them dicking around until the tape ran out

Generic retro pop punk. Not bad, just bland. This was a song that didn't need to be an album. They had some funky bass lines though

Great to revisit holds up really well. Punk energy with soul chord progressions and riffs thrown in.

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.

Pretty good :)

A great mix of power pop, new wave and punk spirit. I really enjoyed listening to it.

Wasn’t really a big fan of the album. Sounds like she’s speaking French half the time. Favorite song is Brass in Pocket.

My mom listened to this, so there's some sentimental value here. Trying to be objective, I like the sharp sound, close to punk rock, but the production with that clean, loud voice sets me a bit off. Songs are got but not outstanding.

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

I wanted to like this more.

3.5* 82%

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.

3/5. Vocals are great, like the sound, interesting rhythms, but the songs don’t really do it for me. I like “Brass In Pocket”.

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.

I really have not had a thought to listen to the Pretenders. Shame on me. This was great.

Some good songs. Some ok songs. Nothing that stood out too much.

82% Best: Precious; Tattooed Love Boys; The Wait; Brass in Pocket; Mystery Achievement Must-Hear? Sure

3.5 - decent punky album

Loved this album, great female vocal and good rock sound.

Pretty cool, not that special imo. Didn’t impress me much

Alright, but kinda repetitive and it stagnates in the middle. 6-7/10

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!!

Chrissie always wanted to be a star. She had a lovely voice, but I personally found her songs a bit bland. This is one of the better ones, but I’m just not a fan

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.

After only ever hearing singles.. now I think I just don’t like the pretenders

A decent mix of Pop Rock, Punk, and New Wave. Nothing in particular caught my attention but it was enjoyable and didn't drag on like so many of the other albums lol. Favourites - Precious, Brass in Pocket

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

Feels like this is what punk was before they started calling it punk. Some of the vocals get a little mismatched with the music for my taste but I did like a good amount of this album. Also seems like this lady is incredibly horny. Highlights “Precious” “Space Invaders”

Sounded like a lesser version of Heart or Blondie. I liked the first song a lot tho

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

Wasn’t really into it

My phone got stuck on repeat during the third song “Up the Neck” but it didn’t bother me I think I listened to that one three times. the Cuban slide song- it was reminding me of another song that sounds exactly like it and I can’t remember what it was. Unless the song I’m thinking of is this song but I doubt it . I don’t have real thoughts jack u can’t ask me for real thoughts and expect real thoughts it just has to come natural I was thinking about me and u guys while listening to the first few songs

I have a soft spot for this album since it was the first hand me down record I listened to. It's a fun album, although I thought it started and ended weak. I liked a lot of the songs in the meat of the record. Stop Your Sobbing has been a favorite of mine for years since I first heard this. Space Invaders was a fun instrumental. Private Life sounds like a police song. I would probably give this another star if there was more songs I liked but the songs I do like I really liked. Fun punkish new wave stuff is fun. Highlights: Stop Your Sobbing Up The Neck Space Invader Kid

Good record.

This one didn't really blow my hair back. I like that they took a few risks, but they don't always land.

I didn't know anything other than Brass in Pocket which I've never liked. This was a dull way to spend almost 50 minutes. I disliked almost every song because of how insincere it sounds; biggest offender are the vocals. I liked Space Invaders though.

A really exceptional debut! Somehow perfectly 1980.

First time I’ve listened to this album alway through, although I was familiar with all the singles from it. A lot harder rocking than I thought it would be. Not really punk but you can see her associations with members of the Pistols May have rubbed off on her

Solid singing, great riffs, and a catchy bass, but I'm not going to pretend it's any better than that. Favorite Track: "Kid".

Quite a lot of memories from home growing up. The whole album works well. 4/5

I never listened to it before but thought I'd like it more. Gets much better towards the end.

Personally, this was decent, haven't heard of this band until one of the songs that I clearly remember from guitar hero of all places. Nothing too annoying about this nor was there something to go crazy over.

Meh, isje heilt mi greia. Likte quoten om å skyta seg sjøl åg suga typen ittepå

Is this art punk? The vibe I got was if Laurie Anderson had a punk band

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

Not my fav!

One of THE BEST debut albums. Not a bad track on it.

Nice guitar riffs but god the vocals are just not for me.

22 maj Precious - alltså den är svängig men hade inte lyssnat på den annars The Phone Call - nej. Up The Neck - det här är inte riktigt min typ av musik. Tattooed Love Boys - den här musiken är lite pappa core Space Invader - tror inte dom sjöng nåt i den här The Wait - alltså låtarna är svängiga men jag tycker bara inte om dom Stop Your Sobbing - börjar bli less på detta album. Kid - känns som npc ahh musik Private Life - nu vill jag att det ska vara över Zoonade ut under dom sista låtarna Betyg: 1/10 förlåt

5/5 Velvet Snarls Because this album: • Rocks hard • Feels smart • And still hits like a sucker punch in 2025 It’s angry, clever, sexy, and a little tragic.

I keep forgetting about the Pretenders, but I shouldn’t. Solid all around album.

This album is super duper solid, it would be a 4, but the runtime is a bit too long. I feel like, by "Lovers of Today" you get the point, but then it continues. Cut the fat, and you'd have a bonafide classic.

Nice

Real fun. Doesn't seem like they're pretending.

Prima begin-punk

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.

Best: Brass in Pocket

Just ok

Right off the bat it reminded me of movies like the Sandlot, Everybody Wants Some, Dazed and Confused, etc. This album grew on me a lot, I think 3 stars is too low, but 4 stars is too high. Lady vocals jam, lots of variation in style.

Non è brutto, ma ciò non lo rende nemmeno bello

Didn’t find many hit songs from here.

I didnt rlly like it

Great album only let down by Private Lives and some filler tracks.

Pretenders is a fantastic debut album, and Chrissie Hynde proves herself to be a powerhouse. Her sharp lyrics and commanding presence drive the entire record. The album bursts with energy and raw emotion. Tracks like “Precious,” “Tattooed Love Boys,” “Up the Neck,” and “The Wait” are urgent, punchy, and packed with infectious riffs. The rhythm section is tight and relentless, giving the songs a powerful backbone. There’s also great variety here. Slower, more melodic tracks like “Kid,” “Brass in Pocket,” and “Mystery Achievement” show the band’s range and add emotional depth without losing momentum. This is an album I can happily return to again and again. Favourite song: “Brass in Pocket” — a confident, catchy standout. Least favourite: None. Every track feels essential to the whole. Album artwork: Cool and iconic — a great fit for the music inside.

I love the fidgety, playful energy Pretenders bring to each song. They sound like they are continually teetering on the edge of exploding, actively working to hold the whole production together. Chrissie Hynde is great, keeping the momentum going with her powerful voice and force of personality. It’s an album of peaks and troughs though - it has the singles you know and love and some more quality tracks besides.

Vibes da vecchio film americano Carino non molto fiko ma ci sta

Carino,niente di particolare Ricorda in certi punti i rush Pensavo peggio

estuvo ok

Simple rock. Nice flow. Got a little bit bored by the end of it. I mean 26 (!) songs

Sort of fine, not something I found overly compelling. Can imagine others being into it 3*

chrissie hynde i want you so bad

yeah it was ok

Wanted to enjoy.

Hyped me up for the pemi

Not a huge fan

Another solid album, was a lot more accessible and fun of a listen than I originally thought looking at the Wikipedia

Definitely ahead of its time but not particularly my jam

Nice

Thought it was great, especially for the 80s! Saved a few songs, really liked instrumental of Space Invader

Sorry, I'm not a fan of Chrissie Hynde or the Pretenders. I always thought "Brass In Pocket" was lame.

I knew almost all of these songs. I hadn't realized that they are all on this debut album.

Not bad, punky Rock

Känns som det finns många bra idéer, en del experimentella riff o trumkomp men helheten når inte riktigt ända fram för mig tyvärr och jag känner att kompositionerna lämnar en del att önska.

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

2.0/5.0: Disappointing

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

Album 769 of 1089 Pretenders - Pretenders (1979) Rating : 4.5 / 5 Great songs, instrumentation and performance. Nice mix of punk, rock & new wave. Should be in everyone's collection.

Solid. Some interesting, excellent moments and some not great bits where they lost me. Standout for me was Space Invaders. Did not like Stop Your Sobbing or Private Life.

Strong album. Great voice. A few misses, but overall, good blending from punk to more mainstream rock.

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!

Cavakes nie zo mijn ding

This is the hundred third album I’m rating. I have no idea what this shit is. Adding to my Playlist - Space Invader, The Wait, Stop your Sobbing, Kid, Brass in Pocket, and Mystery Achievement. Not Adding to my Playlist - Precious, The Phone Call, Up the Neck, Tattooed Love Boys, Private Life, and Lovers of Today. All in all I liked 6/12 songs. Not the greatest thing in the world but it was ok.

What ever

Not much to say this morning. American girl makes good in the UK & helps usher in punk. One of the greatest female fronted albums to ever come out of the 20th Century this doesn't rock hard for a girl it just ROCKS HARD AF. Punky new wave rock at its finest. NO COLLECTION IS COMPLETE WITHOUT IT.

It's wild how music can transport you back to one day in your life from 34 years ago. First time I heard this I was in the back of a car riding to a Renaissance faire. I was really blown away by how good it was. Everything that day was perfect. Good friends, good weather, good food and drink. Good memories of that day. The first two Pretenders albums are untouchable. I'd take Chrissie Hynde to front any band I was in.

Decent album imo

My sister dubbed this album on cassette for me when we were teenagers. From that, The Pretenders were always a band I enjoyed. I can listen to pretty much over and over, so relistenability factors deep ointo my rating of this album. I think the only song I never was a big fan of was "Stop Your Sobbing", running all the words together Gottastopsobbingnow never really worked for me. The bass on "Mystery Achievement"... man, it's so good. Completely a classic for me. Glad I got to see the latest incarnation live recently.

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).

3.5/5. Thought it was pretty meh in the beginning, but it grew on me throughout

I really enjoy Chrissie Hynde's voice and line delivery. Very enjoyable listen all around.

Very good

Kinda dug it most of the time.

It was fine. Can't say I really got into it thougb

Not bad at all

Sounds like the beginnings of alt-rock and punk rock in one album. Loved it!

Great strong first half

it was okay at best. i don’t really have much to say and didn’t make note of anything in particular, good or bad. however, this does not get a 3/5 just because it was so mid that i zoned out. 2/5.

I like other Pretenders' albums better. They were more elaborted, less raw.

Great album.

Didn't really like this

- litt fattig tekster - helt ok beats/melodier. Litt kjedelig og formløst - vokalist synger ganske kult

Eh

Another boring useless 80s rock album to listen to no different from the last and I predict no different from the next.

Punchy

This was pretty good. I was aware of the more well-known tracks, but the whole album was very listenable. I'd be quite happy to listen to it again, but I don't think I'll take any steps to listen to it again. That's a standard 3 stars for me.

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.

Was ok. Not a fan of her voice

Love the Pretenders. She still sounds great today. This album pairs perfectly with a blue rare steak.

Ok

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. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What an energetic debut. First half doesn't nearly hold up as well as the back half of the album which feels more polished and realized. But let's face it, Pretenders hinges on those deep tones of that one-of-a-kind voice from Chrissie Hyndes. With all due respect to her bandmates, she IS the Pretenders.

There’s an attitude and a sneer that’s punk but it’s so smug that it’s hard to believe. I like a good amount of songs here but it doesn’t ever get to real punk energy.

ran out of gas after like 15 minutes

Why is this album so long? Or am I just finding it boring and repetitive? I don't know. I enjoy the singer's voice and I think it could be good background music.

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.

Chrissie Hynde is an awesome frontperson and delivers some great lyrics, but I kept waiting and waiting for the music to grip me, and it never really happened. Too polished for punk, too sloppy playing for anything

Chrissie Hynde is pretty cool. This album is not. Too smooth to be punk, too plain to be new wave. There’s not much to really enjoy on here.

Enjoyable. Had heard a few of the songs in the past but this was pretty solid end to end. 3.5/5

They're shredding a bit, it's funky. I'm fine with it. Sultry, almost beachy? I can see 80s strutting to this. Glad Chrissie Hynde is still around.

Got a bit samey

Didn't like it on the initial listen, will try to give it a second go

Just okay

Interesting but didn't enjoy it that much

I get the reductiveness of saying "It's a bit Blondie, init" about a female-fronted punk-pop band, but y'know, it's a bit Blondie init. Jangly guitars, spiky vocals, heartbeat-strict drums. Not bad, but not one I'm likely to return to to be honest.

I had a hard time getting into this one. While I liked the guitar parts and some songs had a good groove going, the vocals were not my thing. Didn't love Hynde's style and I struggled to make out what she was saying a lot of the time. Outside of that I don't really have a lot to say about it. It was all pretty average rock with some good guitar parts and a few catchy jams. Standouts for me were: "Tattooed Love Boys, " and "Private Life" - had some great moments Maybe this was a hit back in the 80s but I don't think this would hold up as well today. Musically it was pretty decent so I don't know why this one didn't win me over when on paper it should have. I think this is a completely average 3 star album that had some pretty good moments, some kind of boring moments, and some moments that somehow irritated me in a way I can't completely explain.

Banger

8/10

very good

Irgendwie alles sehr ähnlich und nervig.

Love her vocals and edgy lyrics. Kind of a mix between new wave and punk. 3.5 stars

That was not very good… weak vocal performance and mid instrumentals 2/5

Qualidade.

Punk.

Didn't recognise the band name particularly but a couple of the songs sound very vaguely familiar, maybe just the style? Upbeat, I enjoyed having it on in the background, but I wouldn't seek it out to relisten.

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.

This was fine. Not my favorite.

стилево неплохо, но уступает однокурсникам по новой британской волне

i liked the effects and varying time signatures, but idk if i would gravitate towards it

Classic.

I enjoy this! I love the guitar riffs. It's edgy, musical, and cool girl 80s rock.

turns out i just really really hate brass in pocket but can handle the pretenders in general. good to know

Not bad. "Precious" is a good tune, and "Brass in Pocket" is justifiably popular. The rest is decent, but not spectacular.

Not sure how I feel about this They were trying to be something that they weren't. They played with style but didn't add their own emotion to it. 3.5/5 stars

Didn't get anything out of it.

Rock, 1979 -> 3

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….

Random thoughts: * The first few song were way more punk than I expected. Then they ended up covering a lot of genres with pop and rock thrown in there. They were not easy to pinpoint. * I like Stop Your Sobbing quite a bit. * Brass in Pocket is the standout hit track for sure. * I guess they have been putting out albums since 1980, but this early 80s stuff is what I think about when I think of the Pretenders. I wasn't ever really a big fan and this definitely didn't make me a fan either. I could take it or leave it. It was perfectly fine.

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 knew i liked brass in pocket, but this album had so many great songs i've never heard before.

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.

In my top ten. One of those albums that reveals something you never heard before every time you listen. This time, I am hearing the guitar solos in "Private Life," where in the past I haven't paid much attention to this song. Masterful. Everything about this album amazes me, from the lust to the guitar tone, from the voice(s) to the inventiveness. The Wait, Tattooed Love Boys, Precious - good lord! THe only POSSIBLE weakness is Lovers of Today, but everything else here makes up for it and - you know - it still has Chrissy Hynde, so that makes it awesome anyway. One of the best debut albums EV... ER. Gets me every time.

Har redan hört. Aldrig gillat pretenders tyvärr. Törs inte lyssna. Tråkigt att få denna som andra album.

Excellent. Vinyl buy

Całkime niezłe. Lepsze niż myślałem. Takie na 4 nawet

Muito britpop, não desgostei, mas a maioria achei meio chatinha, porém favoritei 2 que gostei. Nunca tinha ouvido falar da banda, achei que era a musica do foo fighters por um momento

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*

Disappointed yet again, some songs had something interesting going for them, with odd time signatures and such. Just a bit boring in the long run though... EDIT: This was one of the first albums I reviewed. I've since come to learn there is some MUCH WORSE stuff out there. Bumping this up to a 3

Rimelig fin punk rock, rimelig tight, godt at træne til. Fede akkorder af og til

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.

Really liked it

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.

This is just not for me. I'm not into that early poppy punk stuff. I can elements of this in some subsequent groups from the '80's and early '90's. It also gives me some Heart vibes. But, like I said, this isn't for me.

It was okay - some good songs

Really really good. Good subject material and an innovative 80s sound. Fun!

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.

Pretty unremarkable. There were a few good tracks but felt like something was missing. I also hate Brass in Pocket.

Good Stuff.

I wanted so badly to like this more than I did, because Precious is so fucking good, but it's just not a very strong or memorable record. It does have its moments though.

++: 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

In love, so so so so so in love with this album. I've listened to a shamefull amount Lovers of today

Essential and timeless. Their mix of punk directness and energy with classic 60s and rock'n roll elements made for a era defining and accessible record. From a time, when music could be edgy and reach mainstream success at the same time.

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.

Why is the guy on the left so alone lol Good vibes makes one want to smile

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)

Felt like this debut is a bit lacking. It's good but not great. Side A is mostly post-punk songs with "Stop Sobbing" by far best track. Side B picks up production and is def better. You know the songs that stand out and Pretenders certainly do shine on them. I was in and out of this one but the hits do hit...2.85.

Pretty cool debut album. I'll always appreciate when a band can carve out a fresh sound from the get-go. Pretenders did exactly that by bringing a modified punk rock edge to the 80's rock scene. Chrissie Hynde's vocals have a lot of character that stand out from other female vocalists of the time. The backing instrument tracks are varied and still contemporary many years on. While I have certainly been exposed to Pretenders I feel like I should get them into my rotation more. They seem like a band that is slept on that could have some other stuff in their collection I might enjoy. Solid entry. 3.33 stars

Was just ok, not in my musical wheelhouse

6.5/10

A game of two halves. Fairly strong opening followed by a poor performance in the second half.

Started off fairly promising with an edge to the songs, but it got progressively worse and seemed to be a bit disjointed.

An album kind of like a microcosm of its time. Half a side of half arsed punk vibes moving into a second half of the beginning of turgid 80s rock. Nobody is a winner here.

Albumi #184, 23.03.2025 Pretendersin debyyttialbumi julkaistiin vuonna 1980. Mukavasti punkia, new wavea ja rockia sekoitteleva albumi on varsin kelpo teos.

Repeatitive, vibe is there.

вайбово, ничего не скажешь, 3/5

Favourites: Up The Neck, Space Invader, Kid, Lovers of Today

Surprisingly similar to my last album, Throwing Muses self-titled. Female-led 80s alt rock/grunge. The vocals are interesting notes and rhythms. Tattooed Love Boys is a good song. Kid is good too. Pretty good album, it got a bit stale midway through.

Mostly fun albeit frivolous

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.

Frankly, incredible. There's some real punk here. There's actual attitude. It's energetic, it's sexy. Midway through, the album more or less shifts to be a bit more new wave, but it's absolutely seamless and doesn't miss a beat. I had heard of the Pretenders, but not really listened to them before. I'm shocked at how spectacular this is. Fav tracks: Precious, Up the Neck, Tattooed Love Boys, The Wait, Stop Your Sobbing, Kid, Private Life

Straight down the middle for this. Brass In Pocket is great, there was nothing else I found distinctive enough to notice. I’ll be sticking to their hits.

I rate stop your sobbing a a 2 star because its really not for me and ive listend to this befroe and i didnt like it I rate kid a 2 star because its really not for me and ive listend to this befroe and i didnt like it. I rate brass in paket a 2 star because its really not for me and ive listend to this befroe and i didnt like it.

Song: Stop your sobbing this song is good but why does the girl looked kind of depressed Song: kid this song is good because this is like a song the radio puts on sometimes so it is good Song: brass in pocket this song is okay but I would give it 3 stars

I do not like this album because I feel like the instruments overpower the singer's voice. However, I enjoy the upbeat.

I don't like this song because of the beat. I would not recommend this song. I don't like this song because it was not my type. I would not recommend this song. I don't like this song because it was not good. I would not recommend this song.

I think this album is mid because I like the singers and their voice but the instruments overpower the music. They don't sound good with the singers voice.

Do you want to listen to some music that has some piano? Well in Stop Your Sobbing you can! I rate this song a ⭐⭐⭐. I kind of recommend this song. Do you want to listen to some music that has a lot of guitar? Well in Kid you can! I rate it a ⭐⭐⭐. I kind recommend this song. Do you want to listen to some music that has a lot of drums? Well in Brass in pocket you can! I rate this song a ⭐⭐⭐. I kind of recommend this song.

I don't like this song I don't like the beat and I don't like how they sound. The second song was the same it is boring and it is to quiet . I do not recommend this album the songs are to slow.

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 didt really like its not bad but its also not good its not really my style of music the second one i dont really like ethier its just not my style of music. i dont like genre the third one i dont like ehtier the lyrics are werid and i just dont like the song and the type of music

i like the voice and isturments ofnit the abulm the voices sound cool i like them the cover is cool the last song i reconzined

the first song is okay the lyrics were alr the background music was good but there was something making it sound a little weird idk if it was the voice but it sounds weird . the second song is okay to but now I know its the voice thats making it sound weird

Is the person in the red jacket a man or a woman? I thought "Stop your sobbing" was okay. It was a little bit boring. I liked the lyrics and I liked the singers voice. I liked "Kid" it was pretty good. I liked the lyrics a lot. I also like how the singer sounds. "Grass in Pocket" was good. I loved the singing and the music. They go really well together. I would recommend this album.

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.

I do like this album because, the first song is very good. the second song is ok but I like the first and second better. what I like about the second song is the beat in the background. I would recommend this album to someone who likes old 80s music.

What a treat, right up my alley and i've somehow never given it a spin before. Recognised a couple of songs once they came on, but i'd struggle to pick a weak song out of everything else here too. Will be getting plays in the future for sure.

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.

I like it but pretty middle of the road compared to all the other new wave albums so far on this list. Will keep it in rotation to see if it’s a grower and a shower. “Private Life” sounds like they had the Police come in as the backing band for one song. Standouts: “Kids”, “Private Life”, “Brass In Pocket”

It was quite Brass in pocket and other hits but it was over long and samey

I’m in the camp of “like the music, don’t love the vocals” Still enjoyed it.

There’s no denying Brass in Pocket is a classic—confident, sultry, and effortlessly cool—but the rest of Pretenders struggles to reach the same heights. The album blends new wave, punk, and pop with a slick but slightly restrained energy, making for a pleasant listen, but one that doesn’t leave a lasting impression. Chrissie Hynde’s voice has a great balance of toughness and vulnerability, and the band is tight, but too many of the tracks blur together without much to set them apart. Songs like Kid and Tattooed Love Boys have their moments, but nothing quite jumps out in the way Brass in Pocket does. It’s not a bad album by any means—everything sounds good, the performances are solid, and the production is clean—but there’s just something missing in terms of real standout moments. It’s an enjoyable listen, but it doesn’t demand revisiting beyond its biggest hit.

nothing special, especially the lyrics and vocals were pretty bad. However the intrumentals were great. Favorite track: space invader. Overall score: 4.8/10

Was okay, no huge interest in listening again

Didn't really rock wid it

very fun, sometimes got a bit too kate bush but most of it was better than expected

Buena mezcla de punk, new wave y rock clásico que ha servido de influencia a grupos como The Smiths, Yeah Yeah Yeahs o The Strokes. Musicalmente es muy bueno, con unos cambios de compás muy interesantes. También me han gustado mucho la voz y la actitud de la cantante, Chrissie Hynde, que convierten a este álbum en un clásico, merecedor de formar parte de esta lista. Aunque, a decir verdad, ningún tema en concreto ha conseguido atraparme, y tras haberlo escuchado dos veces, me quedo con una sensación agridulce. Esperaba más, pero me ha acabado resultando un álbum típico de su época que probablemente voy a acabar olvidando.

This album kept me interested

It's good

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.)

3/5

not bad, pretty cunty

Ain’t for me

I hate British people Bland and uninspired

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.

Their hits were great but not much else on the rest of the album. I did like the instrumental mid-way through the album.

the individual elements are great - vocal delivery, drummer’s parts and pocket, guitar tone and riffs, but when put together, it doesn’t deliver too much the album is so interesting and changes in a fun way but nothing about it feels incredible. the songs sometimes get dull or are annoying to listen to there are some good jams the album also doesn’t seem super cohesive. listening to an individual song would be nice but as an album, it feels like almost every song is a bit too seperate from the one before or after and it makes it hard to get into the vibe of the music the second half is way different to the first “private life” is way way way too long not a fan of the way the vocals are mixed at all

Different certainly, not my fav but I liked some of the songs.

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.

Fun and new wavey

Never listened to a full Pretenders album before despite knowing a lot of their songs. Kind of what I expected, good album but not the best that's on lists like this. Chrissie Hynde has one of the best rock voices of all time though. Fav tracks: Private Life, Brass in Pocket, Up the Neck

Good

Not bad, punky

It was ok

sbatti smith

Not on Apple Music? Boo hoo!

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.

I just dont like it

I've only ever heard their singles, but I might need to check out more of their stuff 'cause this was pretty good. I didn't enjoy it enough to give it four stars, but it's a decent album nonetheless. The second half of the album is far more interesting, with gems like 'Brass in pocket' and 'Private Life'. 3.5 stars

was ok

1. preciouz - 1.5 2. phone - 1 3. neck - 1.5 4. boyz - 1 5. zpace - 2 6. uuait - 1.5 7. zobbing - 1.5 8. kid - 2.5 9. private - 1 10. brazz - 1 11. loverz - 1.5 12. myztery - 1.5

Looking at the album artwork my expectations were low but I really loved this album. Every song was a treat.

Interesting, nice mix for punk. But I don't think I'll revisit this.

Decent

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.

Wel oke Brass in pocket is hitje Rest niet heel bijzonder Maar wel mooie stem

Нормальный такой роцк. Почему-то я был уверен, что эта группа играет музыку совсем другого толку, а тут паверкорды налево и направо. Лучшая песня - Space Invader.

Not quite a 5, but if have given 4.5

At last! A decent album after several days of mediocrity never explored The Pretenders beyond their singles but really liking this and worth adding to favourites and will def listen again favourite tracks Private Life Brass in Pocket Stop Your Sobbing

I have Pretenders Greatest Hits but not this album. I like it and will get it for my library!

🎧Very neutral on this. Chrissie Hynde’s voice is cool and has a lot of character, but some of these songs kinda stink (like Stop Your Sobbing and Private Life). Then there’s Brass in Pocket, a classic and undeniably fun, flirty tune. Overall didn’t love it, didn’t hate it.

what do you call chicken breast strips that have been battered and are about to be fried? Pretenders Seriously, though... This album is legit!

Very good stuff. Chrissy Hynde's voice is brilliant

So nice I listened twice