Comments for Pretenders, Last of the Independents

Ms Hynde can still win new converts after 16 years of the Pretenders' various formats. I think this album is a return to true Hynde material and a much better effort than 1990's "Packed". This is a person of our time - there has not been a performer that comes close since the first format burst onto the UK post punk scene with Stop Your Sobbing, Kid, The Wait and Precious in 1979. I think iut is more likely that there are more bands out there that wanna-be like Hynde and co - she has already set a role model, but of course would not admit it. Check out the vocals on "Revloution" and "Every Mother's Son" - you won't be disappointed.

A bit over-produced in places, this album is a good effort at returning to the form of old for Chrissie Hynde. However, she has not been able to achieve the passion and drive of the first Pretenders album. Bordering on being derivative (e.g. "Rebel Rock Me" of "Thumbelina" from Learning to Crawl and "I'm a Mother" from Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall (Part 1)), several tracks do shine. Her cover of Dylan's "Forever Young" is brilliant, as is the brutal "977". A comeback for Chrissie? Perhaps, as proof by the recent MTV Unplugged appearance by her and the new pretenders. Will she ever achieve the heights of the first album's critical praise or the commercial success of Learning to Crawl? Probably not, but who cares. Chrissie Hynde has something truly unique in rock, a beautiful, passionate voice coupled with a point of view that demands to be taken seriously. Dream on all you Sheryl Crows and Courtney Loves, you couldn't hold a candle to Chrissie Hynde. Buy the album and become a fan.

great song

Pretenders is a great cd. My brother got this cd and I thought it would be stupid and sound like a wanna-be band,but they were very good. I was surprised and listen to thedisc all of the time. The best tracks are "Revolution", "Money Talks", and "I`ll Stand by You". Check this great cdout.