This is my first album review for BetaOne. I hope you enjoy it.
Street date: November.
Album Description
Loose Screw is the first album from the Pretenders since 1999's Viva el Amor and the group's 8th studio effort overall. The band's line-up remains the same as it was for the recording of the Viva and Last of the Independents LPs.
Produced and mixed by Kevin Bacon and Jonathan Quarmby (Finley Quaye, Ziggy Marley, del Amitri), many of the songs on the album incorporate reggae-tinged rhythms, including the first single, "Complex Person". Hynde co-wrote all tracks on the album, except for the cover of "Walk Like A Panther" (a UK hit for DJ collective All Seeing I, co-written and originally sung by Pulp's Jarvis Cocker).
Well, that's what amazon says. What does tube say?
I was very bummed when I heard the first track "Lie To Me". It's about a 92% rip off of the Buffalo Springfield's "Mr.Soul". So let's skip that and get our little doggies along, shall we?
I've always wondered why Chrissy didn't just go solo after half the band died from too much 'Life Style'. But as Amazon states, this is the 3rd album with the same line up and it shows! 'The Pretenders ' are starting to get their groove on.
Though the music here is largely 'middle of the road Reggae/funky/groove stuff for white people' there is no denying the band is getting tight. And then there's Chrissy.
Her voice has never sounded better. Yes the youthful angst of the early years is gone but the glow of motherhood and the confidence in "Hey, my band *is* good" have taken her to a new level.
Unfortunately there are no songs that really stand out, otherwise this effort would recieve an 'A'. As it is, tube gives it a solid 'B'. It just FEELS good! I know I'll be spinning this platter 3~4 weeks from now and, probably more than that.
Pick Up On It!
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