THE PRETTY RECKLESS - OTHER WORLDS
Since forming in 2008, The Pretty Reckless have given rock and roll the jumpstart it needed for a new generation. As ones who don’t simply throw the rulebook out the window but rather set it on fire, following 2021’s Death By Rock and Roll, the four-piece introduced a bold vision unlike anything else this era had seen with frontwoman Taylor Momsen’s bluesy seductive howls collided with raucous rhythms and sweetly stoned melodies.
This boundlessness drives Other Worlds, an album full of acoustic recordings that find the band covering new territory once more and spinning their contemporary rock into a rock that’s softer, quieter and more exciting than ever.
The compilation, which is full of reimagined hits from the New York outfits past collection of records, sees the band bringing these rare acoustics to light for the very first time. Setting the tone for the record as well as closing it, renditions of ‘Got So High’ highlight Momsen’s vocal abilities. The acoustic opener, labelled as the remix, allows us to hear a softer side of the singer-songwriter’s voice, departing from her usual raspy style, as it’s accompanied by soothing drum beats and a beautiful piano melody while the record closer, labelled as the album version, features more instrumental components than the latter making it interesting in comparison.
Keeping its original badass beat, allowing Momsen to bring forth a killer level of empowerment as expected, ‘Death by Rock and Roll’ proves that despite being a guitar-heavy band, you can always find a way to tone it down and let the lyrics speak for themselves. Momsen’s unique blend of vocals shine brighter than ever due to the stripped-back nature of its recording and with its acoustic edge, bringing elements of drum and guitar riffs to softer instruments, embodies a Heartland rock vibe similar to those heard in ‘Harley Darling’.
Featuring more tracks from its predecessor, ‘25’ and ‘Only Love Can Save Me Now’ illuminate Momsen’s impeccable vocals further given that is possible. The energetic ‘25’, which is stunning in its simplicity, becomes a forceful, emotive ballad, worthy of a Bond theme tune status, as it houses a deeply dramatic enigma fueled by the simple yet commanding piano keys.
Following such simplicity, the melancholic ‘Only Love Can Save Me Now’ is reduced to the bare essentials with a stripped-back, garage band guitar, allowing Momsen’s gravelly vocals to take centre stage of the break-taking performance. Both tracks are excellently crafted and highlight how good The Pretty Reckless are at stripping back originally heavy arrangements and delivering them with a new spin to provide new perspectives.
By re-working fan favourites, as far as compilation records go, Other Worlds is hard to beat. While not releasing any new material, in offering acoustic, stripped-back tracks, The Pretty Reckless have succeeded in releasing an album, one that highlights each members individual talents perfectly, that unlocks another side of the band fans may not have seen before. It also goes without saying but you can never fault Taylor Momsen let alone her vocal abilities.
Shannon Garner
★★★★★