The Pretty Reckless find brilliant new life on Death By Rock And Roll

The Pretty Reckless's Death By Rock And Roll is proof that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger

By Henry Yates
( Classic Rock )
published
The Pretty Reckless: Death By Rock And Roll
(Image: © Fearless Records)

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New Yorkers The Pretty Reckless’s charmed first decade made stardom seem like their destiny. Until Chris Cornell’s death nixed a support tour with Soundgarden and producer Kato Khandwala died in a bike crash. 

Death By Rock And Roll is their first attempt to claw back what they had. Fortunately it’s brilliant. 

Taylor Momsen’s crew kick off on familiar turf, with the title track’s mainstream sleaze, but the album soon forks left. The glowering Only Love Can Save Me Now bolsters its grunge vibe with cameos from Soundgarden’s Matt Cameron and Kim Thayil.

And So It Went softens into a country strum, then goes wiggy courtesy of Tom Morello. 25 is a Bond theme with a mosher holding a knife to John Barry’s throat, Got So High is a truly lovely comedown strummer, and if someone told you Harley Darling had fallen off Neil Young’s Harvest sessions you’d believe it. 

Resurrection complete.

Henry Yates
Henry Yates

Henry Yates has been a freelance journalist since 2002 and written about music for titles including The Guardian, The Telegraph, NME, Classic Rock, Guitarist, Total Guitar and Metal Hammer. He is the author of Walter Trout's official biography, Rescued From Reality, a music pundit on Times Radio and BBC TV, and an interviewer who has spoken to Brian May, Jimmy Page, Ozzy Osbourne, Ronnie Wood, Dave Grohl, Marilyn Manson, Kiefer Sutherland and many more.