Courtesy of the aggressive guitars and leather-tough cool, Pretenders moves fast, Hynde's assertive deliveries and take-notice lyrics jolting the senses with a lethal mix of sophistication, toughness, tenderness, rebelliousness, and romance. Schooled in the era's raw, unfiltered English punk yet equally versed in rockabilly, new-wave pop, and British Invasion rock, the band orchestrates songs that overflow with keen hooks, sexual swagger, and ear-catching melodies. Such distinctiveness helps explain why Pretenders remains as contemporary now as it did 30-odd years ago. Together, the four sound like no other band.
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Similarly, the rhythm section contributes considerable thump and classically styled explosiveness. Honeyman-Scott's ringing arpeggio tones seamlessly combine with Hynde's no-muss sass, sensuality, and soulfulness. Indeed, while Hynde is the unquestionable leader of the gang, the Pretenders are the sum of their total parts, displaying rapport and interaction that never came together more convincingly, naturally, or emotionally as it does on their debut. Replete with detail and nuance-particularly, Hynde's singing and Honeyman-Scott's terrific array of hovering chords, colorful palettes, and inventive effects-this is a record that rewards repeat listening and full-bloom playback.Ĭited by Rolling Stone as the 155th Greatest Album of All Time, Pretenders took shape via the vision of the Ohio-born Hynde and chemistry she achieved with three Brits circling the same punk orbit-one that saw the frontwoman work with the Sex Pistols and briefly embark on a serious music-criticism career. Originally recorded live in the studio at high volume levels by producer Chris Thomas, the record now boasts added extension, sharper imaging, multi-dimensional soundstaging, and a crispness that practically places the Pretenders onstage in your room. Mastered from the original master tapes, Mobile Fidelity's collectible SACD of Pretenders grants the influential music newfound clarity, punch, dynamics, and perspective that enhance the realism and attack of everything from Hynde's vocal snarl to the band's myriad textures.
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Equally significant, the album remains just one of two studio efforts featuring the original members before tragedy ended the lives of guitarist James Honeyman-Scott and bassist Pete Farndon. The no-nonsense set also announced the arrival of the inimitable Chrissie Hynde, one of the greatest singer-songwriters in rock history, gender be damned. Such is the magnitude of originality, creativity, and nerve the band captured on a record that captivated each side of the Atlantic and both upended and advanced tradition. The milieu the Pretenders create on their groundbreaking debut didn't exist when the album came out in early 1980. Pretenders' Self-Titled Record Moves Fast With Biting Hooks, Soulful Melodies, and Guitar-Charged Toughness: Includes "Brass In Pocket," "Precious," and "Tattooed Love Boys" Mastered from the Original Master Tapes: Added Extension, Sharper Imaging, Multi-Dimensional Soundstaging Place Pretenders on a Small Stage in Your Room Pretenders Is One of the Most Essential Debuts Ever Released: No-Nonsense 1980 Set Ranked 155th Greatest Album of All Time by Rolling Stone
![tattooed love boys the pretenders tattooed love boys the pretenders](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zWNfuE1Fg4Q/maxresdefault.jpg)
Pretenders Pretenders on Numbered-Edition Hybrid SACD from Mobile Fidelity