Needle Time

  The Pretenders - Learning To Crawl [MFSL 1-339 USA 2012 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] There is a current trend online of 'MoFi bashing' over their variable quality control, I will try not to get too involved, however when you pay forty quid for a vinyl album, you rightly expect top notch quality. I am pleased to say that they got this one mostly right, however the lottery of the label's quality control needs to be addressed - especially when they open their new Fidelity Music pressing plant next year. The third Pretenders long-player followed a hiatus after the deaths of two band members from persistent drug use. Although it was less raw & rocking than their first & second, Learning To Crawl marked a shift towards a more adult pop/rock sound, it also produced some of the bands most famous singles. The album was preceded by 1982's Back On The Chain Gang and the massive Christmas 1983 single 2000 Miles . Middle Of The Road did better in the US as a single than the U...

  Pretenders - Pretenders [MSFL 1-372 USA 2016 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] Originally released in 1980 on Real Records (part of the Warners empire) the debut album by The Pretenders should always be revered as a new wave classic. Although the band were quickly to move through the genres into the households of millions as part of the mainstream, it was the tracks which were never singles which delivered the riffs and attitudes as the London scene moved on from punk. Just check out Chrissie Hyndes lyrics on the opening Precious . Delivering hit after hit starting with a cover of The Kink's  Stop Your Sobbing , then Kid (both from 1979), it was their Brass In Pocket which topped the UK charts. Tattooed Love Boys is a personal favourite for its energetic riffing however with its risqué subject matter it would never be a single, but it did find its way to the b-side of the Kid single.  The Pretenders will always be remembered for the hit singles, however when you listen deeper ...