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Since Packed! (at least), each new record from the Pretenders has been hailed as Chrissie Hynde's return to form (praise that was thrown at Learning to Crawl, by the way), and it's hard not to resist to say the same of Viva el Amor!, the seventh studio album from the Pretenders. So, we won't say that, even though it may be true. At the very least, Viva el Amor! is a very appealing, focused album from Hynde and Martin Chambers, their most consistent album in years. It's not just that the songs are uniformly good (Hynde's writing is sharp again, without seeming bitter or jaded), it's that the record sounds excellent -- a clean, uncluttered production that enhances the muscular performances. For the first time since Get Close, there is a minimum of sentiment -- the ballads are never saccharine, even when the melody is lovely -- and Hynde resists her temptation for exaggerated metaphors or embarrassing phrases (even if her continuing fascination with bikers is puzzling). Viva el Amor! never provides a knock-out punch, even on the level of "Night in My Veins," but it never lags in momentum, as many Pretenders records do. Hynde sounds committed and convincing on each song, turning the album into one of the group's strongest.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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David Johansen, Vocals - Louisa Fuller, Violin - John Metcalfe, String Arranger, Viola - Ivan McCready, Cello - Martin Chambers, Drums - Chrissie Hynde, Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, Harmonica - Pretenders, MainArtist - Stephen Hague, Producer, Keyboards - David Boucher, Engineer - Andy Duncan, Percussion, Programming - Chuck Norman, Percussion - Ian Cooper, MasteringEngineer - Adam Seymour, Guitar, Writer, Bass - Julie Gardner, Engineer - Mixed By Stephen Hague And Richard Norris, MixingEngineer, RemixingEngineer - Jules Shear, Backing Vocals - Andy Hobson, Bass - Doug Wynne, Engineer - Richard Koster, Violin - Richard T. Norris, Engineer
© 2004 Warner Records Inc. Manufactured and Marketed by Warner Strategic Marketing ℗ 1999 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Shelly Peiken, Writer - Mark McEntee, Writer - Louisa Fuller, Violin - John Metcalfe, String Arranger, Viola - Ivan McCready, Cello - Lindsay Edwards, RemixingEngineer - Martin Chambers, Drums - Chrissie Hynde, Guitar, Lead Vocals, Harmonica - Pretenders, MainArtist - Stephen Hague, Producer, Keyboards - Rob Dickins, ExecutiveProducer - David Boucher, Engineer - Andy Duncan, Percussion, Programming - Chuck Norman, Percussion - Ian Cooper, MasteringEngineer - Adam Seymour, Guitar, Bass - Julie Gardner, Engineer - Tin Tin Out for Empire Management, RemixingEngineer - Jules Shear, Backing Vocals - Andy Hobson, Bass - Darren Stokes, RemixingEngineer - Doug Wynne, Engineer - Richard Koster, Violin - Richard T. Norris, Engineer
© 2004 Warner Records Inc. Manufactured and Marketed by Warner Strategic Marketing ℗ 1999 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Louisa Fuller, Violin - John Metcalfe, String Arranger, Viola - Ivan McCready, Cello - Martin Chambers, Drums - Chrissie Hynde, Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, Harmonica - Pretenders, MainArtist - Billy Steinberg, Writer - TOM KELLY, Writer - Stephen Hague, Keyboards - STEPHEN STREET, Producer - David Boucher, Engineer - Andy Duncan, Percussion, Programming - Chuck Norman, Percussion - Ian Cooper, MasteringEngineer - Adam Seymour, Guitar, Bass - Julie Gardner, Engineer - Jules Shear, Backing Vocals - Andy Hobson, Bass - Doug Wynne, Engineer - Richard Koster, Violin - Richard T. Norris, Engineer
© 2004 Warner Records Inc. Manufactured and Marketed by Warner Strategic Marketing ℗ 1999 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Louisa Fuller, Violin - John Metcalfe, String Arranger, Viola - Ivan McCready, Cello - Martin Chambers, Drums - Chrissie Hynde, Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, Harmonica - Pretenders, MainArtist - BOB CLEARMOUNTAIN, MixingEngineer, RemixingEngineer - Billy Steinberg, Writer - TOM KELLY, Writer - Stephen Hague, Producer, Keyboards - David Boucher, Engineer - Andy Duncan, Percussion, Programming - Chuck Norman, Percussion - Ian Cooper, MasteringEngineer - Adam Seymour, Guitar, Bass - Julie Gardner, Engineer - Jules Shear, Backing Vocals - Andy Hobson, Bass - Doug Wynne, Engineer - Richard Koster, Violin - Richard T. Norris, Engineer
© 2004 Warner Records Inc. Manufactured and Marketed by Warner Strategic Marketing ℗ 1999 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Louisa Fuller, Violin - John Metcalfe, String Arranger, Viola - Ivan McCready, Cello - Martin Chambers, Drums - Chrissie Hynde, Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, Harmonica - Pretenders, MainArtist - Stephen Hague, Keyboards - David Boucher, Engineer - Andy Duncan, Percussion, Programming - Chuck Norman, Percussion - Ian Cooper, MasteringEngineer - Adam Seymour, Guitar, Bass - Julie Gardner, Engineer - Mixed By Stephen Hague And Richard Norris, MixingEngineer, RemixingEngineer - Produced By Stephen Hague, Producer - Jules Shear, Backing Vocals - Andy Hobson, Bass - Doug Wynne, Engineer - Richard Koster, Violin - Richard T. Norris, Engineer
© 2004 Warner Records Inc. Manufactured and Marketed by Warner Strategic Marketing ℗ 1999 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Louisa Fuller, Violin - John Metcalfe, String Arranger, Viola - Ivan McCready, Cello - Martin Chambers, Drums - Chrissie Hynde, Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, Harmonica - Pretenders, MainArtist - BOB CLEARMOUNTAIN, MixingEngineer, RemixingEngineer - Stephen Hague, Keyboards - STEPHEN STREET, Producer - David Boucher, Engineer - Andy Duncan, Percussion, Programming - Chuck Norman, Percussion - Ian Cooper, MasteringEngineer - Adam Seymour, Guitar, Bass - Julie Gardner, Engineer - Jules Shear, Backing Vocals - Andy Hobson, Bass - Doug Wynne, Engineer - Richard Koster, Violin - Richard T. Norris, Engineer
© 2004 Warner Records Inc. Manufactured and Marketed by Warner Strategic Marketing ℗ 1999 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Louisa Fuller, Violin - John Metcalfe, String Arranger, Viola - Ivan McCready, Cello - Martin Chambers, Drums - Chrissie Hynde, Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, Harmonica - Pretenders, MainArtist - Billy Steinberg, Writer - TOM KELLY, Writer - Stephen Hague, Keyboards - STEPHEN STREET, Producer - David Boucher, Engineer - Andy Duncan, Percussion, Programming - Chuck Norman, Percussion - Ian Cooper, MasteringEngineer - Adam Seymour, Guitar, Bass - Julie Gardner, Engineer - Jules Shear, Backing Vocals - Andy Hobson, Bass - Doug Wynne, Engineer - Richard Koster, Violin - Richard T. Norris, Engineer
© 2004 Warner Records Inc. Manufactured and Marketed by Warner Strategic Marketing ℗ 1999 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Louisa Fuller, Violin - John Metcalfe, String Arranger, Viola - Ivan McCready, Cello - Martin Chambers, Drums - Chrissie Hynde, Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, Harmonica - Pretenders, MainArtist - BOB CLEARMOUNTAIN, MixingEngineer, RemixingEngineer - Stephen Hague, Keyboards - David Boucher, Engineer - Andy Duncan, Percussion, Programming - Chuck Norman, Percussion - Ian Cooper, MasteringEngineer - Adam Seymour, Guitar, Bass - Julie Gardner, Engineer - Produced By Stephen Hague, Producer - Jules Shear, Backing Vocals - Andy Hobson, Bass - Doug Wynne, Engineer - Richard Koster, Violin - Richard T. Norris, Engineer
© 2004 Warner Records Inc. Manufactured and Marketed by Warner Strategic Marketing ℗ 1999 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Louisa Fuller, Violin - John Metcalfe, String Arranger, Viola - Ivan McCready, Cello - Martin Chambers, Drums - Chrissie Hynde, Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, Harmonica - Pretenders, MainArtist - BOB CLEARMOUNTAIN, MixingEngineer - Jeff Beck, Guitar - Stephen Hague, Producer, Keyboards - David Boucher, Engineer - Andy Duncan, Percussion, Programming - Chuck Norman, Percussion - Ian Cooper, MasteringEngineer - Adam Seymour, Guitar, Bass - Julie Gardner, Engineer - Jules Shear, Backing Vocals - Andy Hobson, Bass - Doug Wynne, Engineer - Richard Koster, Violin - Richard T. Norris, Engineer
© 2004 Warner Records Inc. Manufactured and Marketed by Warner Strategic Marketing ℗ 1999 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Louisa Fuller, Violin - John Metcalfe, String Arranger, Viola - Ivan McCready, Cello - Martin Chambers, Drums - Chrissie Hynde, Guitar, Vocals, Lead Vocals, Writer, Harmonica - Pretenders, MainArtist - BOB CLEARMOUNTAIN, MixingEngineer, RemixingEngineer - Stephen Hague, Keyboards - STEPHEN STREET, Producer - David Boucher, Engineer - Andy Duncan, Percussion, Programming - Chuck Norman, Percussion - Ian Cooper, MasteringEngineer - Adam Seymour, Guitar, Bass - Julie Gardner, Engineer - Jules Shear, Backing Vocals - Andy Hobson, Bass - Doug Wynne, Engineer - Richard Koster, Violin - Richard T. Norris, Engineer
© 2004 Warner Records Inc. Manufactured and Marketed by Warner Strategic Marketing ℗ 1999 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Louisa Fuller, Violin - John Metcalfe, String Arranger, Viola - Ivan McCready, Cello - Martin Chambers, Drums - Chrissie Hynde, Guitar, Lead Vocals, Harmonica - Pretenders, MainArtist - BOB CLEARMOUNTAIN, MixingEngineer, RemixingEngineer - Silvio Rodríguez, Writer - Stephen Hague, Producer, Keyboards - David Boucher, Engineer - Andy Duncan, Percussion, Programming - Chuck Norman, Percussion - Ian Cooper, MasteringEngineer - Adam Seymour, Guitar, Bass - Julie Gardner, Engineer - Jules Shear, Backing Vocals - Andy Hobson, Bass - Doug Wynne, Engineer - Richard Koster, Violin - Richard T. Norris, Engineer
© 2004 Warner Records Inc. Manufactured and Marketed by Warner Strategic Marketing ℗ 1999 Warner Music Ltd.
Louisa Fuller, Violin - John Metcalfe, String Arranger, Viola - Ivan McCready, Cello - Martin Chambers, Drums - Chrissie Hynde, Guitar, Lead Vocals, Writer, Harmonica - Pretenders, MainArtist - BOB CLEARMOUNTAIN, MixingEngineer, RemixingEngineer - Stephen Hague, Keyboards - STEPHEN STREET, Producer - David Boucher, Engineer - Andy Duncan, Percussion, Programming - Chuck Norman, Percussion - Ian Cooper, MasteringEngineer - Adam Seymour, Guitar, Bass - Julie Gardner, Engineer - Jules Shear, Backing Vocals - Andy Hobson, Bass - Doug Wynne, Engineer - Richard Koster, Violin - Richard T. Norris, Engineer
© 2004 Warner Records Inc. Manufactured and Marketed by Warner Strategic Marketing ℗ 1999 Warner Music UK Ltd.
Album review
Since Packed! (at least), each new record from the Pretenders has been hailed as Chrissie Hynde's return to form (praise that was thrown at Learning to Crawl, by the way), and it's hard not to resist to say the same of Viva el Amor!, the seventh studio album from the Pretenders. So, we won't say that, even though it may be true. At the very least, Viva el Amor! is a very appealing, focused album from Hynde and Martin Chambers, their most consistent album in years. It's not just that the songs are uniformly good (Hynde's writing is sharp again, without seeming bitter or jaded), it's that the record sounds excellent -- a clean, uncluttered production that enhances the muscular performances. For the first time since Get Close, there is a minimum of sentiment -- the ballads are never saccharine, even when the melody is lovely -- and Hynde resists her temptation for exaggerated metaphors or embarrassing phrases (even if her continuing fascination with bikers is puzzling). Viva el Amor! never provides a knock-out punch, even on the level of "Night in My Veins," but it never lags in momentum, as many Pretenders records do. Hynde sounds committed and convincing on each song, turning the album into one of the group's strongest.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 00:44:59
- Main artists: The Pretenders
- Label: Rhino - Warner Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 2004 Warner Records Inc. Manufactured and Marketed by Warner Strategic Marketing ℗ 2004 Warner Records Inc. Manufactured and Marketed by Warner Strategic Marketing
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