Stop Pretending (album) explained

Stop Pretending
Type:studio
Artist:The Pandoras
Cover:Stop Pretending (album).jpg
Released:June 15, 1986
Recorded:Spring–winter 1985
Genre:Garage punk
Length:01:02:14
Label:Rhino Records
Producer:Bill Inglot[1]
Prev Title:The Pandoras EP
Prev Year:1985
Next Title:Rock Hard EP
Next Year:1988

Stop Pretending is a studio album by the American garage punk band the Pandoras, released in 1986 by Rhino Records.[2] [3]

Critical reception

Trouser Press wrote: "While maintaining the ’60s fixation and playing up the brash-hussy stance, Stop Pretending features stronger playing and a harder-rocking edge (there’s no reason why 'In and Out of My Life (In a Day)' shouldn’t have been a hit), suggesting that the Pandoras aren’t as hopelessly mired in historical fetishism as one might assume."[4]

The Washington Post thought that "it's simply more interesting and even more modern when an all-female band adopts the aggressive punk stance and angry sound that was once the exclusive signature of male frustration and rebellion."[5] The Los Angeles Times wrote that "[Paula] Pierce's vocals are uneven and the songs are more duplication than inspiration, but Stop Pretending effectively plays tough with stereotypes about '60s bands and girl bands, putting Pierce and her cohorts on top-which seems to be the position they prefer."[6] The New York Times opined that "the musicianship is rough, and the album production ... suffers from its low budget like many independent label releases."[7]

Track listing

All songs written by Paula Pierce unless otherwise noted.

Side one

  1. "In and Out of My Life (In a Day)"
  2. "I Didn't Cry"
  3. "Anyone but You"
  4. "You're All Talk"
  5. "That's Your Way Out"
  6. "You Don't Satisfy"

Side two

  1. "Let's Do Right}"
  2. "I'm Your Girl "
  3. "That's The Way It's Going to Be"
  4. "Stop Pretending"
  5. "Ain’t Got No Soul" (Gary Fausz, Jim Geyer)
  6. "It Felt Alright"

2003 bonus tracks

  1. "The Hump" (Herb Gross)
  2. "I Want My Caveman"
  3. "You Burn Me Up and Down" (Demo Version)
  4. "Bad Seed" (Demo Version)
  5. "She's Ugly" (Demo Version)
  6. "Love Them, Leave Them" (Demo Version)
  7. "Something I Can't Have" (Demo Version)
  8. "You Don't Know" (Demo Version)
  9. "Never Get Enough" (Demo Version)
  10. "In and Out of My Life (In a Day)" (Demo Version)

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. Reviews . Billboard . Feb 1, 1986 . 98 . 5 . 80.
  2. Web site: The Pandoras | Biography & History. AllMusic.
  3. News: Quill . Greg . Pandoras purvey '60s trash rock . Toronto Star . 11 Apr 1986 . D14.
  4. Web site: Pandoras . Trouser Press . 28 August 2021.
  5. News: The Pandoras: Tough-Girl Punk . The Washington Post . 28 August 2021.
  6. News: Lee . Craig . PANDORAS' KNOCKS . Los Angeles Times . 16 Mar 1986 . Calendar . 65.
  7. News: Vare . Ethlie Ann . 'GIRL GROUPS' LEAVE BEHIND THE OLD STEREOTYPES . The New York Times . Mar 16, 1986 . A24.