Now this may surprise you but there are album releases that are specially designed for me. Okay then, designed for people like me. You see I don’t possess a single Pretender recording which even I found hard to comprehend, and believe me I have searched high and low. So this double CD has fixed that little problem at a stroke: it includes 22 of the band’s best songs, in addition to - wait for it - the band’s latest album. Now how clever is that? Just imagine if every well-establshed, great band did exactly the same thing…

2008’s BREAK UP THE CONCRETE is the first Pretenders studio release since 2002, and it’s a beauty! The opening rockabilly track ‘Boots Of Chinese Leather’ gets the album off to a cracking start after Chrissie Hinds signals it with a ‘1-2-3-4′ before the song spins at breakneck speed. Truckloads of melody, venomous vocal and swaying backing vocals, with flashing guitar riffs complete a foot-stomping song. ‘The Nothing Maker’ couldn’t be more different. It’s a melancholy, slow-paced ballad with thoughtful vocal and sighing guitars. Lovely one Chrissie. ‘Don’t Lose Faith In Me’ is different again. It’s a bluesy rocker that crawls along at deathly pace with a fabulous, expressive Chrissie vocal and some head-swaying instrumental touches. Shit, this is good. Then it’s back to rockabilly with ‘Don’t Cut Your Hair’ with Chrissie spitting out lyrics against another fabulous driving instrumental backdrop.

‘Love’s A Mystery’ is a contemplative slice of delectable country pop where Chrissie’s subtle vocal is almost drowned by country guitar. ‘The Last Ride’ is a fast-riding, rhythmic country rocker where the wandering vocal is backed by snapping snares, with piano notes darting in and out.  ’Almost Perfect’ is a darker, moody piece with Chrissie’s seductive, sultry vocal given acres of space against the stripped-down instrumental arrangement. The vibe is very jazzy and adds to the diversity of sound on this record.

Then it’s back to country rock/pop with ‘You Didn’t Have To.’ It sounds like a singing conversation with wailing country guitars. It’s another winner. The remaining highlight is the title track ‘Break Up The Concrete’ that moves along at F1 pace with an unusal chorus that includes momentary silence before the onslaught restarts. It’s inventive, different and very good.

It’s worth noting that legendary drummer Jim Keltner (Booker T, John Lennon), guitarist James Walbourne (Pogues, Jerry Lee Lewis) and Eric Heywood (Son Volt)  on pedal steel make the most telling contributions. Chrissie Hind’s distinctive and capable voice has never sounded better. It’s really quite a package and one I recommend highly. Now I’m going to remind myself of past Pretender glories… How good is that?

4/5