The Pretenders CD Review

Label: E1 Entertainment
The Pretenders
Live In London

www.thepretenders.com

By Myles LaCavera


30 years is a lengthy career by any standard, but in the music industry it is a remarkable and Hall of Fame worthy accomplishment.

Formed in London 1978 by fresh musical upstart Chrissie Hynde, The Pretenders have had a brilliant if not tempestuous ride on the musical express. That’s a nod to Hynde’s former employ at the venerable New Musical Express for all of you playing at home.

The Pretenders have remained active throughout their three decade long career, with their latest full album, Break Up The Concrete, released just in 2008, to both critical and commercial success. It was during the tour of this album in 2009 that the band captured a show at Shepard’s Bush Empire and released a live DVD/CD.

As with any multi-generational band you can expect a scattershot of career defining hits from the band’s debut single, 1979’s cover of the Kink’s “Stop Your Sobbing”; the one-two punch of “Brass In Pocket” and “Don’t Get Me Wrong”; and the fresh faced rockabilly of “Don’t Cut Your Hair” which stands as the balls out kicker of the show and shows the band still has it on Break Up The Concrete. The band has included a letter perfect run through of “Back On The Chain Gang” and as the album is billed as a no-dubs, 100% live recording it is a testament to the band’s subtle and under appreciated musicianship. They’ve picked up the tempo for “Brass In Pocket” and turned up the sex on Hynde’s contralto, a voice that has influenced the likes of Aimee Mann and Band of Skulls’ Emma Richardson.

“Live In London” can stand as much as an introduction for yet another generation of fans as it can a long time fan’s companion to their copy of The Pretenders or 95’s live album, The Isle Of View.