A jazzy and inspired second album
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Chrissie Hynde is 68 and still rocking. The American singer-songwriter and musician has been a constant front woman in the rock band The Pretenders since the 1970s and has collaborated with numerous musicians such as Frank Sinatra, U2, Iggy Pop and Stevie Nicks. Coming five years after the release of her debut solo album Stockholm, Hynde has released her second solo album titled Valve Bone Woe. The alternative-rock/ jazz-influenced album is filled with a variety of cover songs. Over the course of the 14 tracks, Hynde musically constructs her take on tracks by Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys and The Kinks. “Jazz got sidelined by rock ‘n’ roll in the ‘60s, but now the demise of rock seems to be heralding in a newfound interest in it,” Hynde commented to ultimateclasicrock.com.
Hynde manipulates her musical maturity throughout each one of the cover tracks. By adapting to each track and its overall vibe, she is able to nonchalantly change her youthful tone on “Absent Minded Me” to a dub-step heavy version of “Caroline, No” by the Beach Boys. The LP opens with a luscious and vivacious take on “How Glad I Am,” by Nancy Wilson. Heavy with horns and trumpets, Hynde comes out the gates ready to create magic. With a gentle nod to the musical style of bossa nova, Hynde takes “Once I Loved” by The Kinks and kicks it up a bit and then does the same to “Hello Young Lovers” by Rodgers and Hammerstein.
Produced by Marius De Vries and Edad Guetta, Hynde takes Valve Bone Woe where many artists have tried and not succeeded. “You Don’t Know What Love Is,” a track created by Don Raye and Gene de Paul but covered by plenty of artists like Miles Davis and Billie Holiday, is what Valve Bone Woe is all about. By celebrating the ones flipped the music industry on its head, Hynde proves that she can not only adapt but triumph over genres than rock ‘n’ roll.
Leave a Comment