Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
The Raveonettes take their love of the Jesus and Mary Chain to new heights on their sophomore release, Pretty in Black. The Mary Chain's debut, Psychocandy, was a thrilling collision of extreme noise and sticky-sweet melodies; the Raveonettes' debut, Chain Gang of Love, followed a similar formula and came up with similarly thrilling results. The Jesus and Mary Chain's second album, Darklands, stripped away almost all the noise and gave the group's sound a by-the-numbers feel that was only saved by some great songs and the Reid brothers' personas. The Raveonettes plot the same course on Pretty in Black. None of the songs have the '50s rockabilly in a wind tunnel feel, nor do they sound remotely dangerous, exciting, or even fun. The album is subdued and overly polished, with a preponderance of thin drum sounds, stock guitar sounds, and uninspired singing from both Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo. That's not to say that they should have released Chain Gang, Pt. 2, but it would have been nice to have retained some of that record's sonic wildness and overall sense of fun and adventure. Plus, none of the songs here come within a mile of the thrilling moments from Chain Gang of Love like "That Great Love Sound," "Heartbreak Stroll," or "The Love Gang." The few songs that stir up some noise, like "Sleepwalking" or "Twilight," do so in a way that is very predictable, and the ballads are lightweight to the point of being completely forgettable. Only a couple of songs make a positive impression (the lilting "Here Comes Mary" and laid-back summer tune "Red Tan"), and even then they would have been the weakest songs on Chain Gang of Love. The biggest nail in the coffin is their flat cover of the Angels' "My Boyfriend's Back" (which was co-written by producer Richard Gottehrer back in the mid-'60s), but there are problems everywhere you look. They rope in Mo Tucker to play drums, Martin Rev to provide drum machines, and Ronnie Spector to warble some background vocals, and their contributions are pretty negligible -- it seems like they were brought on just to give the record some hipster cred. Spector's presence on the Phil Spector-esque "Ode to L.A." just points up the song's shortcomings, and making her sing the "whoah oh ohs" from "Be My Baby" is so obvious that it is almost embarrassing. (Besides, Eddie Money beat them to the punch by about 20 years.) Overall, the choices that Wagner and Gottherer make regarding the sound of the album strip away the very things that made the band worthwhile and, unlike on Darklands, the songs that remain are not strong enough to carry the weight. A major disappointment to say the least, Pretty in Black is such an indifferent and predictable record that it makes one reconsider the quality of the album that preceded it. Now that is the mark of a bad album.
© Tim Sendra /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From €13,50/month
Sune Rose Wagner, Vocal - Sune Rose Wagner, Composer - Sune Rose Wagner, Producer - Sune Rose Wagner, Lyricist - Sune Rose Wagner, Guitar - Sune Rose Wagner, Percussion - Sune Rose Wagner, Programmer - Sune Rose Wagner, Drums - Sune Rose Wagner, Bass - Richard Gottehrer, Producer - Matthew Gill, 2nd Engineer - The Raveonettes, Performer - Anders Christensen, Organ - Anders Christensen, Bass - Anders Christensen, Percussion - Joe Blaney, Recording Engineer - Manoj Ramdas, Guitar - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Matt Snedecor, 2nd Engineer - Moe Tucker, Percussion - Moe Tucker, Drums - Sharin Foo, Vocal - Sharin Foo, Percussion - Pablo Arraya, 2nd Engineer - Jakob Hoyer, Percussion - Jakob Hoyer, Drums
(P) 2005 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Sune Rose Wagner, Vocal - Sune Rose Wagner, Composer - Sune Rose Wagner, Producer - Sune Rose Wagner, Lyricist - Sune Rose Wagner, Guitar - Sune Rose Wagner, Percussion - Sune Rose Wagner, Programmer - Sune Rose Wagner, Drums - Sune Rose Wagner, Bass - Richard Gottehrer, Producer - Matthew Gill, 2nd Engineer - The Raveonettes, Performer - Anders Christensen, Organ - Anders Christensen, Percussion - Anders Christensen, Bass - Joe Blaney, Recording Engineer - Manoj Ramdas, Guitar - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Matt Snedecor, 2nd Engineer - Sharin Foo, Vocal - Sharin Foo, Percussion - Pablo Arraya, 2nd Engineer - Jakob Hoyer, Percussion - Jakob Hoyer, Drums
(P) 2005 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Sune Rose Wagner, Composer - Sune Rose Wagner, Producer - Sune Rose Wagner, Vocal - Sune Rose Wagner, Lyricist - Sune Rose Wagner, Guitar - Sune Rose Wagner, Programmer - Sune Rose Wagner, Percussion - Sune Rose Wagner, Drums - Sune Rose Wagner, Bass - Richard Gottehrer, Producer - Matthew Gill, 2nd Engineer - The Raveonettes, Performer - Anders Christensen, Organ - Anders Christensen, Percussion - Anders Christensen, Bass - Joe Blaney, Recording Engineer - Manoj Ramdas, Guitar - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Matt Snedecor, 2nd Engineer - Sharin Foo, Vocal - Sharin Foo, Percussion - Pablo Arraya, 2nd Engineer - Jakob Hoyer, Percussion - Jakob Hoyer, Drums
(P) 2005 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Sune Rose Wagner, Vocal - Sune Rose Wagner, Composer - Sune Rose Wagner, Producer - Sune Rose Wagner, Lyricist - Sune Rose Wagner, Guitar - Sune Rose Wagner, Percussion - Sune Rose Wagner, Programmer - Sune Rose Wagner, Drums - Sune Rose Wagner, Bass - Richard Gottehrer, Producer - Matthew Gill, 2nd Engineer - The Raveonettes, Performer - Anders Christensen, Organ - Anders Christensen, Percussion - Anders Christensen, Bass - Joe Blaney, Recording Engineer - Manoj Ramdas, Guitar - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Matt Snedecor, 2nd Engineer - Sharin Foo, Vocal - Sharin Foo, Percussion - Pablo Arraya, 2nd Engineer - Jakob Hoyer, Percussion - Jakob Hoyer, Drums
(P) 2005 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Sune Rose Wagner, Vocal - Sune Rose Wagner, Composer - Sune Rose Wagner, Producer - Sune Rose Wagner, Lyricist - Sune Rose Wagner, Guitar - Sune Rose Wagner, Percussion - Sune Rose Wagner, Programmer - Sune Rose Wagner, Drums - Sune Rose Wagner, Bass - Richard Gottehrer, Producer - Matthew Gill, 2nd Engineer - The Raveonettes, Performer - Anders Christensen, Organ - Anders Christensen, Percussion - Anders Christensen, Bass - Joe Blaney, Recording Engineer - Manoj Ramdas, Guitar - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Matt Snedecor, 2nd Engineer - Sharin Foo, Vocal - Sharin Foo, Percussion - Pablo Arraya, 2nd Engineer - Jakob Hoyer, Percussion - Jakob Hoyer, Drums
(P) 2005 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Sune Rose Wagner, Vocal - Sune Rose Wagner, Producer - Sune Rose Wagner, Guitar - Sune Rose Wagner, Percussion - Sune Rose Wagner, Programmer - Sune Rose Wagner, Drums - Sune Rose Wagner, Bass - Richard Gottehrer, Producer - Richard Gottehrer, Composer - Richard Gottehrer, Lyricist - Matthew Gill, 2nd Engineer - BOB FELDMAN, Composer - BOB FELDMAN, Lyricist - Stella Psaroudakis, Speaker - The Raveonettes, Performer - JERRY GOLDSTEIN, Lyricist - JERRY GOLDSTEIN, Composer - Anders Christensen, Organ - Anders Christensen, Bass - Anders Christensen, Percussion - Joe Blaney, Recording Engineer - Manoj Ramdas, Guitar - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Matt Snedecor, 2nd Engineer - Sharin Foo, Vocal - Sharin Foo, Percussion - Pablo Arraya, 2nd Engineer - Jakob Hoyer, Percussion - Jakob Hoyer, Drums
(P) 2005 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Sune Rose Wagner, Vocal - Sune Rose Wagner, Composer - Sune Rose Wagner, Producer - Sune Rose Wagner, Lyricist - Sune Rose Wagner, Guitar - Sune Rose Wagner, Percussion - Sune Rose Wagner, Programmer - Sune Rose Wagner, Drums - Sune Rose Wagner, Bass - Richard Gottehrer, Producer - Matthew Gill, 2nd Engineer - The Raveonettes, Performer - Anders Christensen, Organ - Anders Christensen, Percussion - Anders Christensen, Bass - Joe Blaney, Recording Engineer - Manoj Ramdas, Guitar - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Matt Snedecor, 2nd Engineer - Sharin Foo, Vocal - Sharin Foo, Percussion - Pablo Arraya, 2nd Engineer - Jakob Hoyer, Percussion - Jakob Hoyer, Drums
(P) 2005 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Sune Rose Wagner, Vocal - Sune Rose Wagner, Composer - Sune Rose Wagner, Producer - Sune Rose Wagner, Lyricist - Sune Rose Wagner, Guitar - Sune Rose Wagner, Percussion - Sune Rose Wagner, Programmer - Sune Rose Wagner, Drums - Sune Rose Wagner, Bass - Richard Gottehrer, Producer - Matthew Gill, 2nd Engineer - The Raveonettes, Performer - Anders Christensen, Percussion - Anders Christensen, Organ - Anders Christensen, Bass - Joe Blaney, Recording Engineer - Manoj Ramdas, Guitar - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Matt Snedecor, 2nd Engineer - Moe Tucker, Percussion - Moe Tucker, Drums - Sharin Foo, Vocal - Sharin Foo, Percussion - Pablo Arraya, 2nd Engineer - Jakob Hoyer, Percussion - Jakob Hoyer, Drums
(P) 2005 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Sune Rose Wagner, Vocal - Sune Rose Wagner, Composer - Sune Rose Wagner, Producer - Sune Rose Wagner, Lyricist - Sune Rose Wagner, Guitar - Sune Rose Wagner, Percussion - Sune Rose Wagner, Programmer - Sune Rose Wagner, Drums - Sune Rose Wagner, Bass - Richard Gottehrer, Producer - Matthew Gill, 2nd Engineer - The Raveonettes, Performer - Anders Christensen, Organ - Anders Christensen, Percussion - Anders Christensen, Bass - Joe Blaney, Recording Engineer - Manoj Ramdas, Guitar - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Matt Snedecor, 2nd Engineer - Sharin Foo, Vocal - Sharin Foo, Percussion - Pablo Arraya, 2nd Engineer - Jakob Hoyer, Percussion - Jakob Hoyer, Drums
(P) 2005 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Sune Rose Wagner, Vocal - Sune Rose Wagner, Composer - Sune Rose Wagner, Producer - Sune Rose Wagner, Lyricist - Sune Rose Wagner, Guitar - Sune Rose Wagner, Percussion - Sune Rose Wagner, Programmer - Sune Rose Wagner, Drums - Sune Rose Wagner, Bass - Richard Gottehrer, Producer - Matthew Gill, 2nd Engineer - The Raveonettes, Performer - Anders Christensen, Organ - Anders Christensen, Percussion - Anders Christensen, Bass - Joe Blaney, Recording Engineer - Manoj Ramdas, Guitar - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Matt Snedecor, 2nd Engineer - Sharin Foo, Vocal - Sharin Foo, Percussion - Pablo Arraya, 2nd Engineer - Jakob Hoyer, Percussion - Jakob Hoyer, Drums
(P) 2005 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Sune Rose Wagner, Vocal - Sune Rose Wagner, Composer - Sune Rose Wagner, Producer - Sune Rose Wagner, Lyricist - Sune Rose Wagner, Guitar - Sune Rose Wagner, Percussion - Sune Rose Wagner, Programmer - Sune Rose Wagner, Drums - Sune Rose Wagner, Bass - Richard Gottehrer, Producer - Matthew Gill, 2nd Engineer - The Raveonettes, Performer - Anders Christensen, Organ - Anders Christensen, Bass - Anders Christensen, Percussion - Joe Blaney, Recording Engineer - Manoj Ramdas, Guitar - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Matt Snedecor, 2nd Engineer - Moe Tucker, Percussion - Moe Tucker, Bass - Sharin Foo, Vocal - Sharin Foo, Percussion - Pablo Arraya, 2nd Engineer - Jakob Hoyer, Percussion - Jakob Hoyer, Drums
(P) 2005 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Sune Rose Wagner, Composer - Sune Rose Wagner, Producer - Sune Rose Wagner, Vocal - Sune Rose Wagner, Lyricist - Sune Rose Wagner, Guitar - Sune Rose Wagner, Percussion - Sune Rose Wagner, Programmer - Sune Rose Wagner, Drums - Sune Rose Wagner, Bass - Richard Gottehrer, Producer - Matthew Gill, 2nd Engineer - The Raveonettes, Performer - Ronnie Spector, Vocal - Anders Christensen, Organ - Anders Christensen, Bass - Anders Christensen, Percussion - Joe Blaney, Recording Engineer - Manoj Ramdas, Guitar - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Matt Snedecor, 2nd Engineer - Moe Tucker, Percussion - Moe Tucker, Drums - Sharin Foo, Vocal - Sharin Foo, Percussion - Pablo Arraya, 2nd Engineer - Jakob Hoyer, Percussion - Jakob Hoyer, Drums
(P) 2005 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Sune Rose Wagner, Vocal - Sune Rose Wagner, Composer - Sune Rose Wagner, Producer - Sune Rose Wagner, Lyricist - Sune Rose Wagner, Guitar - Sune Rose Wagner, Percussion - Sune Rose Wagner, Programmer - Sune Rose Wagner, Drums - Sune Rose Wagner, Bass - Richard Gottehrer, Producer - Matthew Gill, 2nd Engineer - The Raveonettes, Performer - Anders Christensen, Organ - Anders Christensen, Percussion - Anders Christensen, Bass - Joe Blaney, Recording Engineer - Manoj Ramdas, Guitar - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer - Matt Snedecor, 2nd Engineer - Sharin Foo, Vocal - Sharin Foo, Percussion - Pablo Arraya, 2nd Engineer - Jakob Hoyer, Percussion - Jakob Hoyer, Drums
(P) 2005 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Album review
The Raveonettes take their love of the Jesus and Mary Chain to new heights on their sophomore release, Pretty in Black. The Mary Chain's debut, Psychocandy, was a thrilling collision of extreme noise and sticky-sweet melodies; the Raveonettes' debut, Chain Gang of Love, followed a similar formula and came up with similarly thrilling results. The Jesus and Mary Chain's second album, Darklands, stripped away almost all the noise and gave the group's sound a by-the-numbers feel that was only saved by some great songs and the Reid brothers' personas. The Raveonettes plot the same course on Pretty in Black. None of the songs have the '50s rockabilly in a wind tunnel feel, nor do they sound remotely dangerous, exciting, or even fun. The album is subdued and overly polished, with a preponderance of thin drum sounds, stock guitar sounds, and uninspired singing from both Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo. That's not to say that they should have released Chain Gang, Pt. 2, but it would have been nice to have retained some of that record's sonic wildness and overall sense of fun and adventure. Plus, none of the songs here come within a mile of the thrilling moments from Chain Gang of Love like "That Great Love Sound," "Heartbreak Stroll," or "The Love Gang." The few songs that stir up some noise, like "Sleepwalking" or "Twilight," do so in a way that is very predictable, and the ballads are lightweight to the point of being completely forgettable. Only a couple of songs make a positive impression (the lilting "Here Comes Mary" and laid-back summer tune "Red Tan"), and even then they would have been the weakest songs on Chain Gang of Love. The biggest nail in the coffin is their flat cover of the Angels' "My Boyfriend's Back" (which was co-written by producer Richard Gottehrer back in the mid-'60s), but there are problems everywhere you look. They rope in Mo Tucker to play drums, Martin Rev to provide drum machines, and Ronnie Spector to warble some background vocals, and their contributions are pretty negligible -- it seems like they were brought on just to give the record some hipster cred. Spector's presence on the Phil Spector-esque "Ode to L.A." just points up the song's shortcomings, and making her sing the "whoah oh ohs" from "Be My Baby" is so obvious that it is almost embarrassing. (Besides, Eddie Money beat them to the punch by about 20 years.) Overall, the choices that Wagner and Gottherer make regarding the sound of the album strip away the very things that made the band worthwhile and, unlike on Darklands, the songs that remain are not strong enough to carry the weight. A major disappointment to say the least, Pretty in Black is such an indifferent and predictable record that it makes one reconsider the quality of the album that preceded it. Now that is the mark of a bad album.
© Tim Sendra /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 13 track(s)
- Total length: 00:44:26
- Main artists: The Raveonettes
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Columbia
- Genre: Pop/Rock
(P) 2005 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.