Reflection upon finding direction and purpose yields great rewards. That's the message conveyed on The Isle of View, the latest release from the Pretenders.
This acoustic, unplugged release was conceived by Chrissie Hynde independent of MTV, and recorded in front of a live audience in London last Spring. The solid 1994 Last of the Independents line-up of Hynde (vocals/guitar), Martin Chambers (drums), Adam Seymour (guitar) and Andy Hobson (bass) returns and is joined by the Duke Quartet (strings).
Isle is a brilliant showcase for Hynde's superior songwriting and the melodies which have been fundamental to the Pretenders' sound. The track selection here demonstrates that these elements have been constant, even when the band line-up was in a state of flux. The beauty of the combination is evident on the signature hits "Brass In Pocket" and "Back on the Chain Gang" as well as on overlooked gems like "Sense of Purpose" (from 1990's Packed) and "Chill Factor" (from 1987's Get Close). Tender emotion abounds on the release, and the Duke Quartet's strings allow Hynde to deliver "Kid" with a deeper maturity and sincerity than on the studio version.
In true Pretenders' style, Isle offers some surprises. The angry "I Hurt You" delivers an incredibly bitter sting and powerful punch with sinister strings. The punk-inspired "The Phone Call" from the debut album becomes an acoustic rock mercy mission with audible instructions. And, the near-acappella delivery of "Hymn to Her" proves without a doubt that Hynde has one of the best voices in rock.
The Isle of View captures the Pretenders looking back without regret. The band shakes off the ghosts, reflects without being nostalgic and finally comes to terms with its rocky history. It's evident on the recording, but even more so on the video and laser disc of the same name, that this was an enjoyable musical reflection. As a result, the Pretenders are older, wiser and better than ever.
TRACK LISTING: Sense of Purpose, Chill Factor, Private Life, Back on the Chain Gang, Kid, I Hurt You, Criminal, Brass in Pocket, 2000 Miles, Hymn to Her, Lovers of Today, The Phone Call, I Go To Sleep, Revolution.
There are now several information resources for the Pretenders. You can join the Pretenders listserver, Pretend-l run by Jen Croft (jiblet@his.com), by sending a message to: LISTPROC2@BGU.EDU with the message: SUB PRETEND-L your name. There is also a Pretenders Web site, run by Warner Bros. at: http://www.wbr.com/Pretenders and a fanzine called Mystery Achievement edited by Carrie Lindsey at NoisyGrrl@aol.com. For more information about the Pretenders, contact Joann D. Ball of Hyndesight Productions at jball@ucsd.edu.
