Jef Fazekas 2008-12-26
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
When Chrissie Hynde made the comment a few years back that she might be ready to pack it in and retire from the rock scene, well, I was majorly bummed. As more and more of the artists that I've followed over the years seem to be taking longer between releases ~ if they're still recording at all! ~ the world of pop music has become increasingly alien to me.
On top of that, I really liked The Pretenders' last album, 2002's LOOSE SCREW...while I would never say Hynde was mellowing, the disc brilliantly balanced aging with traditional rock spirit and attitude.
Needless to say, I was thrilled earlier this year when Hynde announced that, in fact, she hadn't said everything she wanted to say, and was indeed ready to make another album. The result, the captivating BREAK UP THE CONCRETE, is a welcomed addition to an already sterling catalog. Full of trademark grooves and new, fresh sounds, Hynde dances between energetic rockers and thoughtful mid-tempo ballads. Yes, she's getting older, and she's doing it gracefully, but there's still a lot of fire left in her. But we'll discuss that more later...!
Things kick off with "Boots Of Chinese Plastic", a retro raver that transports us back to 1979. Hynde's vocal is sultry, yet strong, the arrangement whip-smart....I wasn't nuts about this track upon my first few listens, but it has really grown on me.
Much more of an instant hit for me was "The Nothing Maker." A hushed mid-tempo strummer, this beauty has it all...a gorgeous lead vocal, sublime instrumentation and great lyrics ("He doesn't make movies/To suit an audience's whim/He lives by a code/Known only to him/And he doesn't make money/To buy watches and cars/For there's no time and no place to go/For a man who has nothing to show"). One of Hynde's best compositions to date, this is a classic in the making, and would be a great single to boot!
There's a blues-drenched vibe to "Don't Lose Faith In Me" that's absolutely infectious. Channeling her inner Etta James, Hynde delivers a smokingly sexy lead vocal. The whole track has such a classic feel to it that, upon my first listen, I just assumed it was a cover of a lost R&B gem from the early-to-mid 60's. Another big winner!
Not so strong is "Don't Cut Your Hair", a noisy mess. Hynde just comes across as trying too hard on this post-punk rocker, like she's trying to recapture her lost youth/a bygone era, and that is SO not Chrissie Hynde! The country inflections also come across as silly, condescending and phony. The disc's only real dud.
Far better is "Love's A Mystery." Hynde's vocal just soars, wrapping around honest, straight forward lyrics ("Lovers of today/Aren't like lovers of the past/They used to find a way/To get a love affair to last/I saw him leaving/That's all I had to see"). Toss in Eric Heywood's lovely pedal steel guitar and you have a smooth slice of stunning pop perfection.
"The Last Ride" is also strong, anchored by a killer lead vocal, Jim Keltner's ace drumming (Martin Chambers is definitely missed, but you can't get much better than Keltner!) and lead guitarist James Walbourne's turn on piano. Weaving in and out, providing a sturdy, yet shimmering, foundation for the cut, Walbourne's playing is smart, strong, supple and sophisticated. Brilliant!
Another favorite track of mine is "Almost Perfect." With it's minimalist instrumentation and detached lead vocal, there's a sort of dissonance to the cut that just draws you in. The track totally stands out from everything else on the disc, creating it's own wonderful little world (And I REALLY like that little throat-clearing at the end...SO Hynde!).
"You Didn't Have To" is another example of everything perfectly coming together. Hynde's sweet lead vocal, skillful guitars (both electric and acoustic), Heywood's pedal steel and Walbourne's atmospheric accordion (this guy's a keeper!) all blend together to form a track that's equal parts pure and purcolating. Yet another of the disc's high points!
The same can't be said about "Rosalee"; if this were a movie, we would have to say Hynde was miscast. I could see Bonnie Raitt or Melissa Etheridge pulling this blues-rocker off, or maybe even someone as left field as Martha Davis, but it just seems calculated and insincere coming from Hynde. Even the playing feels slightly generic, resulting in one of the disc's few unauthentic moments.
Things rebound with the bouncy title track. Edgy percussion, staccato guitars, distorted backing vocals...they all come together to support Hynde's assured, slightly smirking lead vocal. Toss in some pointedly political lyrics and you have a rarity in pop music today...a song that's fun, but still has something to say!
The album ends on a strong note, with the poignant "One Thing Never Changed." Hynde's vocal is stunning, while the arrangement is understated and economical.
All in all, BREAK UP THE CONCRETE is one of 2008's best albums, and leaves me wanting more from the Pretenders. Here's hoping Chrissie Hynde has been revitalized, and we'll get at least a few more albums out of her before there's any more talk of retirement. Along with such other elder stateswomen of rock and pop as Bonnie Raitt, Carly Simon, Rosanne Cash, Stevie Nicks and Martha Davis, all of whom are currently doing some of the best work of their careers, this a voice that still needs to be heard! (As with all my reviews, I'm giving the disc an extra half a star for including the lyrics).
