Pretenders

I’m pretty familiar with Pretenders’ biggest singles, but this is the first time I’ve listened to a whole album and I really enjoyed it. Brass in Pocket is obviously a classic, but I also really enjoyed Precious, Space Invader, and Private Life. I’ve never enjoyed Tattooed Live Boys for some reason, but I like it more now than I did yesterday!

Oh yeah, this album is great and I honestly believe it's because of Chrissie Hines. Her voice and even her attitude on the awesome album cover makes the Pretenders exactly who they're supposed to be. I heard a story once how it was so hard for her to get a punk band together because she was a woman and the dumb men didn't want her. I'm so happy she found a group, I'm so happy this album is good, I'm so happy of how great they've become in the canon of music history.

I've quite enjoyed this. It's a very tight punk/new wave album without too many bells and whistles, but sometimes a relatively straightforward rocker is just what you need. The album opens up a bit more in its final third with tracks such as "Private Life" and "Lovers of Today"; the latter in particular exercises a great use of build in creeping up from quiet into loud passages, and was a very welcome segway towards the end.

I'm impressed by how consistent a package this is for a debut, and I could very well end up buying it.

Overall, a very solid rock album. Everything just seems to sound well done on this album. I would say my least favorite moments would be the opener with how the singer vocalized "precious" throughout the song. Later songs in the album like Brass in Pocket and Lovers of Today stand out as strong tracks to me.

A great album through. Some punk stuff, some pop stuff, a bit of new wave. All good.

My first full listen of a Pretenders album and I loved it!

Although I really like a couple of The Pretenders’ singles, most of the songs I know by them are variations on a theme. So while I thought this album was patchy, I do appreciate that it was more varied and punky than I was expecting.

A very British album cover. I feel like I should know the Pretenders, but maybe there are just a lot of "The XYZers" bands out there. The Proclaimers? Maybe that's what I know. Oh, but the lady is Chrissie Hynde, and I have heard of her (because she's in the Pretenders). Whew. 'Precious' seems to be about Cleveland, which is not what I expected. Turns out Chrissie was born in Akron. That explains why "shut the light" is a lyric. I wonder if she knows Lebron.

Anyway, I've never heard any of these songs before, I'm pretty sure. They sound pretty 80s to me, like Heart or Hole or Blondie or any number of one-word lady-led energetic rock bands. Weird tempo variation shenanigans though. Glad I'm not wasting this super sleepy week on my most beloved albums, but this isn't doing it for me. It's not offensive or terrible or anything, but there's no real hook what hooked me. I think the second half of the album is much stronger. Good energy!

Highlights: 'Kid', 'Brass in Pocket', 'Mystery Achievement'

This album is fine. But there's a flat feeling to it. And Chrissie Hynde's vocal range is a bit limited. It's fun to know and it makes sense that Nick Lowe produced this. While I know the hits, I'm not likely to return to this.

Not a huge fan of the vocals, but the rest of the music was fine. 2.5/5

Несподівано прям сподобалось мені. Гарна музика, хітова та навіть різнопланова місцями.

Oh this is totally up my alley! Pretenders have been at best in my musical periphery for awhile now, but without anything but the odd song listened to here & there. This is my first time listening to an album start to finish, and it is FANTASTIC. Chrissie Hynde brings the 'tude to perfectly accompany the music being played. Love the energy of this album and glad I finally put it into my ears. A few tunes toward the end didn't quite hit on this first listen, but overall this has been great stuff.

I vibed. This is peak "live band at the bar" music, maybe even a notch above that. Love Chrissie Hynde's vocals and attitude. No real standouts to speak of, but everything's pretty good.

One of those albums that doesn't really feel like it belongs on the list. Can't really see what is so special about it, not like it was the first or only New Wave band fronted by a woman, and surely it's not the best or most important one at that. I found most songs to be kind of middling but the last 3-4 songs were nice and picked up the pace. Brass In Pocket is a fun song and I probably didn't pay that much attention, so this album gets the benefit of the doubt,

I always associated the Pretenders with a completely different genre. I was excited about the album and after listening to about half of it, I was unnerved. I did listen to the album all the way through, but in between I was on the verge of abandoning it. This doesn't qualify as one of the best albums. 3/5

I only knew their singles. Which are definitely the best tracks. Despite some not great tunes I would say It’s a better than average album. 3.5 which i will likely round up for its originality.

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.

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.

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

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.