the Pretenders : Releases >>

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Ignoring the "Precious" side of Chrissie Hynde's rocking and writing, The Singles still captures a good bit of what was special about her in the '80s. Bopping assertions of strength ("Brass in Pocket"), wistful dreaminess ("Talk of the Town"), flat-out weepers ("2000 Miles"), her tough-mom attitude ("Middle of the Road")--the many sides of her seven-inches are generously surveyed herein. --Rickey Wright

Isle Of View (CD + DVD) >>

Pretenders II >>

Loose Screw >>

It is unlikely that anybody will press "Play" on Loose Screw anticipating an audacious shift in direction for the Pretenders: Chrissie Hynde hasn't changed so much as her hairstyle since 1977. However, while Loose Screw is dominated, like all other Pretenders recordings, by Hynde's instantly recognisable drawl, it does dare to throw a few new shapes. These are mostly in the form of a dominant but never quite overpowering reggae influence; the result, while never quite as catastrophic as anything perpetrated by UB40, falls some way short of emulating the muscular menace the Clash projected on London Calling.

Possibly by way of reassurance, Loose Screw is topped and tailed by songs whose strength is their familiarity. Opening track "Lie to Me" is rambunctious new wave rock & roll, an older and angrier companion piece to "Back on the Chain Gang" or "Middle of the Road"; the album's finale, "I Wish You Love", is a gorgeous ballad displaying Hynde's under-utilised abilities as a torch singer, much as "2000 Miles" once did. --Andrew Mueller

Pretenders: Remastered & Expanded >>

Pretenders (VINYL) [VINYL] >>

This nearly perfect debut album showcases both the extraordinary songs of Ohio-born singer Chrissie Hynde and the rhythmically complex performances of her UK- bred band, Pretenders. The band tramples through the sexual aggression of "Precious", "Up the Neck" and "Tattooed Love Boys"; the classic pop of "Kid" and "Brass in Pocket"; and a brilliant cover of the Kinks's "Stop Your Sobbing". Hynde's sneering vocals add resonance to these tales of sexual revenge, abuse, and longing appropriately fleshed out with blood, guts and guitar. --Rob O'Connor

Learning to Crawl: Remastered & Expanded >>

Live at the Isle of View >>

There are a lot of diehard Pretenders boosters out there who'll warm to this unplugged hits set much faster than Last of the Independents. Hynde's singing has never been finer, and it was a brilliant stroke to incorporate a string quartet into the acoustic soundscape. Everything here is first-rate (notably the little-known "I Hurt You" and "Criminal"), but it's the ultra-fresh versions of "Brass in Pocket", "Private Life", and "2000 Miles" that will bring a lump to the throat of thirtysomething fans. --Jeff Bateman