As early as 1986, when “Get Close” was released, there was talk of a comeback by the Pretenders. Their splendid first two records were so much a part of the New Wave era of 1979 (and 1981) that the band seemed an anachronism as the 1980s progressed. But with lively music. And they had Chrissie Hynde. In addition to her easy-going, brash singing, she can write damn good songs. Pretenders songs are always instantly recognizable. Even their “Stop Your Sobbing” by Ray Davies, with whom Hynde was briefly involved, sounds like the Pretenders. And if she had sung songs by Jim Kerr, to whom she was married for a while, they would have sounded like the Pretenders too.
“A melodic journey in twelve songs”
She later made some solo records and titled a Pretenders album Last Of The Independents. Of course, this is only true in a higher sense. But the Pretenders are appreciated. No American artist – Hynde hails from Akron, Ohio – has been so happily welcomed into the circle of younger and mostly British boys. In Glastonbury the Pretenders played with Johnny Marr and Dave Grohl that spring; Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood plays Relentless. Now they’re even making documentaries about the Pretenders.
The Kreglen guitars still shape the songs of the band today. It seems they’re making more records than ever – and even better ones. They even play guitar solos. But “Relentless” doesn’t seem outdated, as the saying goes. Guitar bands always come back. And Hynde’s songs—most of which she co-wrote with guitarist James Walbourne—are never braided. It has settled on a medium tempo, only very rarely could one say it is a ballad. And if so, then it’s nice, but not kitschy.
On this record, it’s an almost Chris Isaak-esque tune, “The Copa,” with meowing guitar. “A Love”, long since released as a single, is one of the Pretenders’ best songs. Not “for a long time”. But at all. Once it would have been a hit like “Don’t Get Me Wrong”. Chrissie Hynde calls the record “a melodic journey in twelve songs”. You can leave it like that.
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