The Pretenders release their eagerly anticipated new studio album, Relentless, available today via Rhino Records on standard black vinyl, limited edition baby pink vinyl, CD, and digital download. Produced by multiple Grammy Award-nominee David Wrench (Courtney Barnett, David Byrne) at the famed Battery Studios in Willesden, North West London, Relentless marks the second consecutive full-length songwriting collaboration by founder Chrissie Hynde and Pretenders guitarist James Walbourne following 2020’s acclaimed Hate For Sale. The album – which marks the band’s return to Warner Music Group after more than two decades having first been signed to Sire Records in America by the legendary Seymour Stein – includes the energized opening track, “Losing My Sense Of Taste,” streaming now.
“That song was more a take on the whole lockdown experience,” says Chrissie Hynde. “It is called ‘Losing My Sense Of Taste,’ though, as a matter of fact, I never lost mine during the Covid period. But it did kick off the idea for the song – losing my sense of taste, my sense of smell, and sometimes the whole culture just seems tired. Not now of course, because there’s a new Pretenders album out.”
Relentless has quickly been met by critical praise around the world, with MOJO hailing its “persistently brilliant songwriting…surely how Chrissie Hynde always wanted The Pretenders to sound.” “The new prime of Chrissie Hynde,” declared Uncut while Record Collector affirmed the collection in a five-star rave as quite simply “the best Pretenders album in 20 years.” The Associated Press said, “The sparse arrangement on many of these tracks allows Hynde’s voice to fill the spaces, and she uses it to maximum effect.”
Relentless includes such recently released singles as “A Love,” joined by an official visualizer featuring exclusive footage of the legendary band’s recent live run at small UK clubs streaming via YouTube. Further highlights include “Let The Sun Come In“ and the beautiful closing track, “I Think About You Daily,” the latter featuring composer Jonny Greenwood (Radiohead, The Smile), who provides the string arrangement and conducted the 12 Ensemble for the recording. Hailed by Stereogum as a “grand…regretful ballad,” “I Think About You Daily” is joined by a deeply moving official video, streaming now at YouTube.
The Pretenders are celebrating Relentless with a wide-ranging international live schedule, including a sold-out US headline tour visiting intimate venues across the country and a just-wrapped North American stadium run supporting Guns N’ Roses. Upcoming dates include a trio of sold-out California club dates as well as a top-billed festival appearance as direct support to Foo Fighters at the upcoming Ohana Festival, curated by Eddie Vedder and set for October 1 at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point, CA. Additional dates will be announced. For complete details, please see thepretenders.com.
THE PRETENDERS – TOUR 2023
SEPTEMBER
17 – Leicester, UK – BBC Radio 2 In The Park † (SOLD OUT)
19 – Paris, FR – Maroquinerie (SOLD OUT)
20 – Paris, FR – Maroquinerie (SOLD OUT)
21 – Utrecht, NL – Tivoli Vredenburg
23 – Hamburg, DE – Reeperbahn Festival †
25 – Berlin, DE – Columbia Theatre
OCTOBER
1 – Dana Point, CA – OHANA Festival †
2 – Los Angeles, CA – The Regent Theater (SOLD OUT)
4 – Pioneertown, CA – Pappy’s and Harriet’s (SOLD OUT)
6 – San Francisco, CA – Bimbo’s 365 Club (SOLD OUT)
Photographer and Editor/Founder of AllMusicMagazine.com. My love of live music has taken me to incredible experiences with the top bands of all time in stadium shows to the smallest venues with equally inspiring musicians. Using the medium of photography and my publication, these memories will last forever.
