Proving that
the Pretenders' unexpected 2008 revival wasn’t limited to the studio and the excellent
Break Up the Concrete, the 2010 CD/DVD set
Live in London finds
Chrissie Hynde’s band lean and vital, running through classics and new tunes with equal vigor. While this is founded on the former -- “Back on the Chain Gang,” “Brass in Pocket,” “Middle of the Road,” and “I’ll Stand by You” all make appearances -- the newer songs gain strength in this setting, and
the Pretenders slip in some nice surprises, chief among them an airing of “Cuban Slide” toward the end of the set. What’s best about this set is that it’s not a grand reunion, or an attempt to recapture past glories: it’s a testament to the power and pleasure of a working band. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine