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The Best Of / Break Up the Concrete
Rock · 2009

The Best Of / Break Up the Concrete

Pretenders

A dual-sided journey through sharp-edged new wave hits and a gritty, roots-rock late-career resurgence defined by twangy guitars and defiant vocals.

June 1, 2009 · Warner Music UK Ltd.

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This package is a fascinating study in contrast, pairing the glossy, chart-topping perfection of the Pretenders' legendary singles with the raw, unvarnished grit of their 2008 studio effort. It feels like walking out of a high-end neon-lit club and straight into a smoke-filled roadside tavern. The 'Best Of' disc provides the essential DNA of new wave: melodic, tough, and impeccably produced; while 'Break Up the Concrete' strips away the artifice in favor of rockabilly shuffles and Americana-tinged balladry.

Moments Worth Listening For
The sudden shift from the polished 80s sheen of 'Don't Get Me Wrong' to the raw, shuffling rockabilly beat of 'Break Up the Concrete'.
The way the pedal steel on 'Love's a Mystery' creates a haunting, country-inflected space for Hynde's most vulnerable vocal performance.
The propulsive, train-track drumming of Jim Keltner on 'Boots of Chinese Plastic' that feels like it might fly off the rails.
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AllMusic
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Where This Album DepartsEach spoke is a trait. The orange shape shows where this album pulls away from — or holds to — the rest of the artist’s catalogue. Tap for more.

How does The Best Of / Break Up the Concrete sound next to the rest of Pretenders's catalogue?

Road Trip+1.9σ

Road Trip saturates this record notably more than the artist's norm.

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