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 enlarge | Artist: The Pretenders
Label: Artist First
Category: Music
List Price: $18.98
Buy New: $9.00
You Save: $9.98 (53%)
New (48) Used (13) Collectible (2) from $9.00
Rating:  34 reviews
Sales Rank: 139
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.3
MPN: 101009
UPC: 811771010095
EAN: 0811771010095
ASIN: B001CVCB94
Release Date: October 7, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 34
 Hot......... October 8, 2008
Michael J. Sussal (Somewhere in Connecticut)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Excellent First Listen. I am not a huge Pretenders Fan but have the utmost respect for Chrissie Hynde and her music. I am very impressed with the CD and would recommended it. It certainly is not like the classics but it is a very tight CD and well produced and might be a classic in its own right.
 Has its moments - 3 1/2 stars October 10, 2008
T. Korol (Rochester, NY)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
I really want to gush over this, but alas... how about half of it?
I saw them 2 years ago (with Martin Chambers aboard) and there is no doubt Chrissie still has it and then some. But history is history, and myself being a longtime fan, how do you top the 1st three releases (P, P-II, Crawl)? No group could maintain that level of consistency. I think this release is typical of most of her work since (excepting Isle of View, a great live release). There is a lot of really really good stuff, a couple classics/great ones, and some songs that are certainly good but to be honest, forgettable. I think overall the lyrics are strong. The musicianship is fine. For me, too many of the songs just don't stand out in the arrangements or melody. This disc certainly has a good mix - rockers, ballads, stompers. And lots of pedal steel. Oh, and Jim Keltner (yay).
A quick track by track (clearly subjective and open to debate) omitting titles for brevity: 1 - Boots is classic. uh-1-2-3-4... Turn it up! 2 - a ballad and I like this one quite a bit; not classic, but moody and lyrically strong. 3 - Bluesy. just ok, will probably skip this one a lot. 4 - very good raucous stomping bo diddley/rockabilly number. we've heard it before but it still sounds good. 5 - I love Love's a mystery.. It just hits me right. great melody, simple yet smart lyrics, good pedal steel. 6 - quick paced acoustic number; good piano fills. very listenable but is this really memorable? a great example of what I'm trying to get across - good, can't criticize it, but I want more than good. 7 - I keep listening to Almost Perfect and on one hand think 'wow, this is great' and on the other keep feeling 'what the heck is missing'?? It's real moody, and here and there seems like it is about to explode (in a good way) but doesn't. I keep imagining this song with some snarky, fuzzy, distorted guitar fills (a la Honeyman-scott) to really bring it home. 8 - another ballad. ho-hum. does not do much for me; skippable. 9 - nice crunching guitar interplay, medium paced rocker, but on this one I find the lyrics boring. After a few listens I find now I drift off 1/2 way through and skip to... 10! title track. great stomper. rock on Chrissie - daga daga daga daga... 11 - I agree with another review - one of her best ballads ever. This is a gorgeous song, pedal steel really adds a lot. Chrissie just emotes so well in her singing on this. Beautiful, aching, tender, longing. Perfect.
Look, fans are no doubt going to like this a lot, and overall I do like it. The songs that don't grab me are by no means bad; I guess I just expect more (maybe too much?). And I gotta respect Chrissie's talent - certainly earned her spot in the Hall! I just can't give this the accolades others have. In retrospect I would have downloaded 1/2 the songs and left the rest. But it is still good to have a CD from Chrissie, no matter who backs her as "the Pretenders". It's her show and when she is good (songwise), you don't get many better.
 The Concrete Wins October 13, 2008
Joseph P. Darak Jr. (Gallup, NM United States)
5 out of 14 found this review helpful
If your a huge Pretenders fan, than I suppose this album will do. However if you were just going to take a chance on this album out of curiosity, then I suggest you spend your money on another choice. I found it very unimaginitive and very bland. Nothing stands out. I thought the writing was really low rate. There are a few ok songs, but the majority of the offerings are not even up to ok. I write this brief review to save others from my mistake of giving this album a chance. It didn't work for me, and no one I've played it for like it either.
NO PRETENDING HERE... October 10, 2008
Petty Fan (U.S,)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
When I heard that Chrissie Hynde and The Pretenders were releasing a new album I was excited.Bought it and am so happy I did...I always respected Chrissie and appreciated all the great rock she has given through the years.This album is filled with the traditional sound of Chrissie throughout.The mid-tempo rockers and slower Chrissie style ballads...capturing the old style Pretenders with a modern twist.If you are a Chrissie Hynde/Pretenders fan,there is no reason not to buy this one.It rocks...My personal faves are Boots of Chinese Plastic,The Nothing Maker,Don't Cut Your Hair,Love's A Mystery,The Last Ride,Rosalee and Break Up The Concrete.Pretty much every song.Just to tell you how rich an album this is...Rock on Chrissie...Glad you are back...
This is a good album from the Pretenders October 17, 2008
Robert G Yokoyama (Mililani, Hawaii)
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
This is an excellent new album from the Pretenders. Chrissie still delivers superb vocals, even though her band is made of relatively new musicians. The best song on this album is "Love's a Mystery". Chrissie's vocals are great on this track. I love the pedal steel guitar playing by Eric Heywood on this tune. Heywood also performs on the track "The Nothing Maker". This is a pretty song that questions an individual's value to society. I also like the upbeat tracks "Boots Of Chinese Plastic" and "Don't Cut Your Hair". These songs really get me moving. I miss Martin Chambers on drums, but Jim Keltner does a good job replacing him here. Another highlight is the track "You Didn't Have To". This is a beautiful song featuring James Walbourne on the accordian. The Last Ride is an excellent song about friendship. I really like this song. "One Thing Never Changed" is a very touching song. I like the tenderness in Chrissie's voice here. This is a very entertaining album.
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