ALBUMS: The Pretenders (1980); Learning to Crawl (1983)
MVC Rating: Pretenders 4.5/ $$$; Learning 4.5/$$$
This band I just picked up on after hearing them on the radio. Strong female lead singer and good songwriter. Chrissie led the band with a sneer that offered rock and roll a direction as it moved into the Nuevo Wavo sound.
‘Learning to Cry’ was the third album and put them square in the commercial arena as New Wave examples of where the sound was going and what’s next. They just rocked and rolled people, that’s all- no more no less. I’d pick up these two albums if you don’t have any Pretenders — they are nearly Desert Island records, in and of themselves.
Brass in Pocket was their initial hit off the first album. They had strong rockers including “Precious.” The first album had a punkier sound. I don’t have the second album but I think it too was punkiel The first album had a full tank a gas, a scraping tailpipe and it looked like it might know where it is going.
Learning to Crawl proved they knew where to go. (Back) On the Chan Gang is an all time classic and ‘Middle of the Road;’ Thumbelina; My City was Gone; and 2000 Miles all deserve to be in the conversation. “I Hurt You,’ — Whew!