i hate the pretenders.

no guru · **Posted:** Fri May 06, 2005 3:42 pm

Pretenders have moved between sentimental and rough over and over again over the years, with the rough getting less and less in recent years. A very uneven band, but some songs like "Tattoed Love Boys" and "My City Was Gone" still stand out. And tracks like "Middle Of The Road" sound much better on pop radio than most other crud.

And I've always respected Chrisse's stance that she doesn't give a shit what the industry or critics think of her. She's always been a mom first and a rocker second and has only done the Pretenders rockstar bit whenever it suited her family needs.

Radcliffe · **Posted:** Fri May 06, 2005 4:16 pm

It's threads like this one that show me the reasons why there's so much love for stuff like the Arcade Fire and the Wrens around here.

pollysix · **Joined:** Tue Oct 26, 2004 2:56 am **Posts:** 5174

jewels santana Wrote:

i don't think patti smith could kick michael stipes ass.

ayah Wrote:

and my five year old nephew could kick michael stipe's ass.

Dudes... it's Eno.

billy g · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 1:41 pm **Posts:** 9020

Radcliffe Wrote:

It's threads like this one that show me the reasons why there's so much love for stuff like the Arcade Fire and the Wrens around here.

So Arcade Fire are crap? I ask cause I've been almost suckered into buying the album. David Byrne and David Bowie saying great things about them almost pushed me over the edge, but then I listened to some samples, thought this doesn't sound like anything special and put it back on the rack. I thought it could be that they were a grower? No?

np: Rocket From the Crypt "Scream Dracula Scream"

Radcliffe · **Posted:** Fri May 06, 2005 4:28 pm

billy g Wrote:

Radcliffe Wrote:

It's threads like this one that show me the reasons why there's so much love for stuff like the Arcade Fire and the Wrens around here.

So Arcade Fire are crap? I ask cause I've been almost suckered into buying the album. David Byrne and David Bowie saying great things about them almost pushed me over the edge, but then I listened to some samples, thought this doesn't sound like anything special and put it back on the rack. I thought it could be that they were a grower? No?

I wouldn't classify it as crap, but your "nothing special" response was dead on the money.

mcaputo · **Posted:** Fri May 06, 2005 4:36 pm

pretenders > arcade fire > wrens

np - be bop deluxe

Cotton · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 6:12 pm **Posts:** 17155

billy g Wrote:

She's mentioned quite a bit in Rotton's autobiography and is one of the few people that Johnny never seems to have a bad thing to say about.

the thing is, i hate Johnny Rotten even more than I hate the Pretenders. and i think Michael Stipe could beat him up.

I, for one, have never started an Arcade Fire or a Wrens thread on neither this board nor the last one. I only come here to talk about movies.

Stone red's dark sunshine · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 2:17 pm **Posts:** 1096

I respect Chrissie, but I really don't like The Pretenders' music. I still think the best thing she ever did was marry Ray Davies.

PopTodd · **Posted:** Fri May 06, 2005 4:53 pm

You respect her because she can kick your ass... even in her mid-50's.
Do don't like her for the same reason.

I love her for that.
Oh yeah, and because not only can you hear that in her voice, but also because she has an AMAZING range. I'm surprised that nobody has yet mentioned that fact. One of the best voices in Rock.

Pretenders did a cover of some old 70's Philly soul classic, and she NAILED it!!! (Someone help me out here. Which song was it?)

Black Magic Putin · **Posted:** Fri May 06, 2005 4:53 pm

i don't think that i've ever thought about this band.

rogneeb · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 1:07 pm **Posts:** 12618

i have the singles album...never really listen to it.

Stone red's dark sunshine · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 2:17 pm **Posts:** 1096

PopTodd Wrote:

You respect her because she can kick your ass... even in her mid-50's.

Yeah, but most women in their 50s could probably kick my ass. I'm not exactly the biggest guy in the world (just ask nobody), but I am scrappy . . .

I respect her because of her roots in the punk movement in England.

FT · **Posted:** Fri May 06, 2005 5:52 pm

I would agree with Cotton, were it not for their absolutely brilliant first two albums (and one EP). That's one helluva opening one-two punch to start a career. Sadly, it all went tragically downhill after that. So, to sum up...

1980-81 Pretenders = Top 5 Band on the Planet (at that time)
1982-present Pretenders and/or solo Hynde = craptrilescent

Billzebub · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 10:26 pm **Posts:** 6459

elephantstone Wrote:

i totally agree...can't stand 'em.

although billzebub put a pretenders song on one of his mixes he sent me (can't remember the name, and it's at home now), and it was actually really good. didn't sound like what i think of when i think pretenders.

That was "The Wait" from their first album, which is really quite good, easily their best. Pretenders II, is decent but not as great, and "Learning To Crawl" had a couple great songs and the rest was so-so.

Dunwoody Dude · **Joined:** Wed Nov 03, 2004 11:20 am **Posts:** 2869

Yeah, I'm kinda ambivalent about them. In fact she kinda bugs me for no reason I can explain.

Did find it amusing how in one of the many Clash bios she talks about Mick Jones as if were just some kid who was just terribly naive and kinda pathetic. She kinda felt sorry for him.

Steve

nobody · **Posted:** Fri May 06, 2005 8:04 pm

Stone Wrote:

PopTodd Wrote:

You respect her because she can kick your ass... even in her mid-50's.

Yeah, but most women in their 50s could probably kick my ass. I'm not exactly the biggest guy in the world (just ask nobody), but I am scrappy . . .

I respect her because of her roots in the punk movement in England.

I don't know man...I'm betting you could even take a few chicks in their 40s.

shiv · **Posted:** Fri May 06, 2005 8:12 pm

I don't like them but I can't say I really hate them either. Just a band I don't really feel a need to listen to.

Natural Mike · **Posted:** Fri May 06, 2005 8:28 pm

At least one Pretenders song will play any time I turn on Chicago's own WXRT.

The Pretenders are to XRT what Phil Collins is to any lite rock station.

tkyd · **Posted:** Fri May 06, 2005 9:56 pm

PopTodd Wrote:

First THREE Pretenders albums are great. Yes, I am including Waiting To Crawl. And, it might be nostalgia talking, but "Back On the Chain Gang" IS a great song and WAS a great single.

Agreed. I can't stand anything after Learning to Crawl. The first album is pretty close to perfect. And yeah James Honeyman Scott was awesome. There are some video bootlegs out there that showcase his talent I think.

HideousLump · **Posted:** Fri May 06, 2005 11:21 pm

A Short Excerpt from Hideous Lump's Listmania:

...
9. The Pretenders - The Pretenders
...

PopTodd Wrote:

Pretenders did a cover of some old 70's Philly soul classic, and she NAILED it!!! (Someone help me out here. Which song was it?)

"Thin Line Between Love and Hate." NAILED!

Charli · **Posted:** Sat May 07, 2005 12:25 am

Natural Mike Wrote:

At least one Pretenders song will play any time I turn on Chicago's own WXRT.

The Pretenders are to XRT what Phil Collins is to any lite rock station.

Really? I thought that was the Talking Heads. XRT seems to cream their pants over them daily.

Finch Platte · **Posted:** Sat May 07, 2005 12:35 am

Billzebub Wrote:

That was "The Wait" from their first album, which is really quite good, easily their best. Pretenders II, is decent but not as great, and "Learning To Crawl" had a couple great songs and the rest was so-so.

Totally agree, and I thought Back On The Chain Gang rocked. They had some great EPs- wish I still had the tt operational.

fp

ayah · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 12:03 pm **Posts:** 6402

nobody Wrote:

I don't know man...I'm betting you could even take a few chicks in their 40s.

you wanna piece of me?

Natural Mike · **Posted:** Sat May 07, 2005 1:05 am

Charli Wrote:

Natural Mike Wrote:

At least one Pretenders song will play any time I turn on Chicago's own WXRT.

The Pretenders are to XRT what Phil Collins is to any lite rock station.

Really? I thought that was the Talking Heads. XRT seems to cream their pants over them daily.

Oops...fogot about Talking Heads. They get very heavy rotation, too.

Billzebub · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 10:26 pm **Posts:** 6459

DunwoodyDude Wrote:

Did find it amusing how in one of the many Clash bios she talks about Mick Jones as if were just some kid who was just terribly naive and kinda pathetic.

Yeah, but Mick grew up to better than all of them.

i hate the pretenders.

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