Break Up the Concrete is the first Pretenders album since 1990s Packed! where Chrissie Hynde wrote almost every song on the album on her own, but unlike the generally listless Packed!, Break Up the Concrete is an effective rebirth for Hynde, a reconnection to her roots undoubtedly effected by her return to her native Ohio. This may be a stripped-down record carrying echoes of the Pretenders past, but this is hardly a conscious re-creation of the group's first two records, as it lacks any of the stylish guitar colorings of James Honeyman-Scott, and the group's early hard rock swagger has been swapped out for a frenetic rockabilly bop, as infectious on the barrel-headed boogie "Don't Cut Your Hair" and Bo Diddley romp of the title track as it is on the ingenious Dylan send-up "Boots of Chinese Plastic." Hynde's revived rockabilly roll finds a comfortable pairing in the easy county-rock vibe of her ballads, of which there are far more of than there are rockers here. This emphasis on rockabilly and country-rock gives Break Up the Concrete a bit of an Americana feel -- something enhanced by the gently murmuring accordion on "You Didn't Have To," which otherwise is a cousin to the sighing pop of "Kid" -- but this doesn't necessarily feel like a departure for Hynde: it just feels like a lively, deeply felt Pretenders album, one that has better songs and better performances than usual.
http://treblezine.com/reviews/2897-The_Pretenders_Break_Up_the_Concrete.htmlThe PretendersBreak Up The ConcreteShangri-La Music2008My first introduction to The Pretenders was seeing Chrissie Hynde play the waitress, and her band the customers, in the early video for "Brass in Pocket." But the video that I waited to see over and over again was the one for "Tattooed Love Boys." Seeing Chrissie al...
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For the ninth Pretenders album, Chrissie Hynde attempts Americana. With discomfiting results.
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So on Tuesday night Matt and I went to see The Pretenders at the Highline Ballroom, and they were AMAZING. Chrissie Hynde still sounds like she did in the 80's! the whole band were excellent. The did several songs from Break Up The Concrete which is a great album, but of course we were most excited about the classics, and she did not disappoint. They played Talk of The Town, Kid, Back On Th...
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--- - |- It's been six years since the last Pretenders album, and Chrissie Hynde returns with a new one Sept. 23 called Break Up The Concrete. Fans don't have to wait until then, as the band is offering free MP3 downloads beginning yesterday at various sites, one song per week. First up this week is 'Boots of Chinese [...] ~~- The Pretenders
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Here's yet another of the tracks they have released to bloggers and fans. More of a mellow Poco or Eagles type tune in the traditional Pretenders vocal style. Nice combo.
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I'm being completely seduced by the new Pretenders album. With one track being given away each week, there's time to really get inside each one before the next one drops. It helps that it's a great album.Chrissie's voice is intimate and confessional. She can belt a rocker when she wants, but the two really brilliant songs for me are the one up above and another called "The Maker Of Nothing", w...
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http://treblezine.com/reviews/2897-The_Pretenders_Break_Up_the_Concrete.htmlThe PretendersBreak Up The ConcreteShangri-La Music2008My first introduction to The Pretenders was seeing Chrissie Hynde play the waitress, and her band the customers, in the early video for "Brass in Pocket." But the video that I waited to see over and over again was the one for "Tattooed Love Boys." Seeing Chrissie al...
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Here's this week's cut. This one is quite different than what we've heard so far. I wouldn't call it Country at all, but it has it's own charm. See what you think.
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O.K. folks, here's this week's new track. This is a laid back alt-country sound.
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First CD in 6 years being released in October and it's being called a more country flavored project. This one is kind of cow punk rather than country. I think it's killer. Have a listen and voice your opinion.
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Seem that The Pretenders are exploring all forms of country and country rock on this new CD. This one is a fast paced barn-burner.
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Following John Ingham's lead, here is another new track from their forthcoming CD. This time, they are coming from a country direction. We moggers need to post these as they release them for blogging and mogging, right? I'll post a few more that have been released so far.
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Here's this week's track. A blues groove you don't usually hear from them. Short, but sweet.
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I woke up this morning with Chrissie Hynde's luscious vocal singing in my head. My favorite lyric in Love's a Mystery has to be when she sings, "I'll do it again."Such a simple lyric but so true. Out past loves and losses, no matter who painful and hurtful have in some ways helped mold and guide us in our present relationships. En mi corazon, good or bad, it's been worth it every trip, fall and...
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one thing never changed ~ the pretenders"that old train keeps blowingthrough the center of this townrestores my faithwhen the chips are downit don't take no passengersince the streets got re-arrangedbut that whistle still blowsbecause one thing never changedthe boy i was lovinghad to say so longback to a worldwhere i don't belongit affected me soyou could say i was derangedbut that whistles go...
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Saw this song available now from http://thepretenders.com/Didn't see this one posted yet, lovin all their new material here!
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MUSIC NEWS - Show off your music boots!!!! The Pretenders ,The People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), and YouTube have announced a video contest forfans to make their own video for the band's hit song "Boots Of Chinese Plastic " (off their latest album Break Up The Concrete) . Fans and animal lovers are being requested to create videos via YouTube and lip synch the song "Boots O...
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For the ninth Pretenders album, Chrissie Hynde attempts Americana. With discomfiting results.
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Boots of Chinese Plastic |
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| 2 The Nothing Maker |
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| 3 Don't Lose Faith in Me |
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| 4 Don't Cut Your Hair |
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| 5 Love's a Mystery |
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| 6 The Last Ride |
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| 7 Almost Perfect |
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| 8 You Didn't Have To |
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| 9 Rosalee |
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| 10 Break Up the Concrete |
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| 11 One Thing Never Changed |
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Click to purchase…
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 "Break Up the Concrete")
