Best Pretenders Album

solid lp

I have a lot of love for Get Close which my dad used to play in the car a lot when I was little

Indeed!

Get Close is great. Hymn To Her! Baby! Don't Get Me Wrong!

Even aged 16 I cringed at the cheese of the "like walkin' on staaage" bit in "My Baby". But you'd have to be made of stone not to be moved by the other two.

“dance” is an abomination but yeah get close rules. “Don’t get me wrong” def my Pretenders OPO, “light of the moon” is sexy and mysterious, and yeah I have a soft spot for “hymn to her” and the Hendrix cover.

"Tradition of Love" is my secret favorite.

Even aged 16 I cringed at the cheese of the "like walkin' on staaage" bit in "My Baby".

FP'd you for this, that moment is electric.

!

I'm standing in the middle of life with my pants behind me

!

sorry but this is ilx you knew the stakes when you drew yr weapon

I spend so long with the riff to Middle Of The Road looping through my head, what a song

NO votes for "Learning to Crawl"??? I don't get you people.

Starts with two monster hits, the album tracks are ace ("Time the Avenger"!) and no amount of Limbaugh can taint the loping greatness of "My City Was Gone"

Surprising indeed. I always thought it was more well regarded than II, at the very least.

I don't think they actually made a mediocre record until Loose Screw. Even the much maligned packed! has some terrific moments and, at its weakest, is never worse than pleasant.

packed! has some pretty tunes: "Sense of Purpose," "Let's Make a Pact," "Never Do That," "When Will I See You." It got indifferent reviews at the time, but I suspect it's held in higher regard.

Viva El Amor! was their best since LTC.

"Criminal" is also gorgeous. Chrissie is an undervalued ballad singer.

^^ yeah. I first noticed when as a college lad I played Get Close's "Chill Factor" and "Hymn to Her" over and over.

“Chill factor” is a really powerful lyric

She had her dreams too
But how can she pursue
Her ambitions, be they great or small
You took her wings and flew
But remember when you're through
Your rise was due
To somebody else's fall

How are the rarities on the box set and various deluxe reissues? Any keepers or stand-outs?

I like a lot of the covers on the box set: "Everyday is Like Sunday," "Angel of the Morning," "The Needle and the Damage Done."

Box set is called Pirate Radio?

Yup.

I always thought Packed! such a strange title for a studio album; it sounds like a Pretenders compilation

A pun on the song title "Let's Make a Pact," perhaps?

I always loved the groovy instrumental tracks on the b-side of "Brass in Pocket"

I was read a recipe that involved ditalini the other day, and have had Brass In Pocket stuck in my head ever since, because that's what Chrissie singing "Detrot leaning" sounds like to me

Johnny Marr sat in on a few songs for their Glastonbury set (I forgot he briefly joined the band though he only cut one track with them - an underwhelming song from a well-meaning but forgettable movie), and then Dave Grohl joined them on drums for "Tattooed Love Boys." My kind of supergroup:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IMwmTLkq1g

I got pretty good

oh that was BLAZING, I love how they all shrugged past the fuckups. Chrissie is unbelievable.
Great that her guitarist absolutely smoked Marr but he was unfazed and had a great time.

New tracks sounded good. Didn’t check out the last Pretenders album but will need to now.

Enjoyed the Dylan covers albums she did a couple of years ago. No revelations from it, but some interesting choices and she always sounds great.

Johnny Marr sat in on a few songs for their Glastonbury set (I forgot he briefly joined the band though he only cut one track with them - an underwhelming song from a well-meaning but forgettable movie),

I like 'When Will I See You.'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9T0_MZEVCE