On this day June 26, 2026 we finally have a new album from The Pretty Reckless. Since doing their first review, I’ve really become a fan of this band. It’s been a good while since I’ve sat down and listened to their albums so let’s take a look…..
The Pretty Reckless- so (un)officially this is their debut EP. It’s basically a 4 song EP which was released as a way to get people excited for the debut album. If you are a cd collector and completist then you’d want to add this to your collection but otherwise just go with the debut album. I’ll give it 9/10
Standouts: Goin’ Down, Make Me Wanna Die
Light Me Up- the one that started it all. The fact that Taylor Momsen was 15 when this was released is pretty damn impressive. This is the album that gave us their (if you want to call them that) classics such as “Make Me Wanna Die” and “Miss Nothing.” Definitely a great start.
Previous Score: 9/10
New Score: 9/10
Standouts: Since You’re Gone, Goin’ Down, Light Me Up
Hit Me Like A Man- this is their second EP which they then went on tour with Marilyn Manson. It contains a couple live songs as well as three brand new songs. It’s kind of more of the same and the live tracks are great. Since they haven’t released any sort of live album, I’d say that this is the closest you’ll get to having a live album. Overall not bad and I’m giving it 8/10.
Standouts: Hit Me Like A Man, Make Me Wanna Die (Live), Cold Blooded
Going To Hell- this feels like one of those albums where they’re finding their sound. It definitely feels a bit more mature, dialed in, as well as having kind of a grunge sound. You absolutely can tell that they were influenced by bands like Soundgarden because aside from the grunge sound, it has more of a heavier, faster sound. Interestingly, their recording equipment as well as the original songs were lost in a flood caused by Hurricane Sandy forcing them to re-record the album.
Previous Score: 9.5/10
New Score: 9.5/10
Standouts: Going To Hell, Sweet Things, Fucked Up World
Who Are You Selling For- going back and listening to this a second time, I forgot how good this album is. I also forgot that this one is relatively slower compared to the other albums thus far. Again, much like the previous record this one is them finding their sound and dialing it in further however this one didn’t really hit me the same way. It’s good, but it does tend to drag in some parts. I will say that this one has more of a classic rock sound, and I also feel like this one tends to get overlooked. When it came to making this record, Taylor Momsen said “We had so much we wanted to say, it was like shaking a can of soda on tour, and then when we started writing we cracked the seal”, Momsen said. “The touring life is very isolating. You look at the world through a bus or airplane window. But music is the healing factor. It’s the one thing that is grounding and a true companion through the forest. It saved us—again.”
Previous Score: 10/10
New Score: 8/10
Standouts: Oh My God, Back To The River, Wild City
Death By Rock And Roll- this is one of those albums where you get a little bit of everything. It’s definitely them firing on all cylinders, and this was actually the first album that I heard from them and became an instant fan. There’s also a bit of anger and sadness on this record. It’s their first album following the death of their longtime producer Kato Khandwala (he died in a motorcycle accident) and they were on tour with Soundgarden the night that Chris Cornell killed himself. The album name was a phrase Khandwala would often say. Taylor Momsen says about the name “It was like a code that we lived our life by, and that I still live my life by,” Momsen said of the title. “It’s very much a battle cry for life: live life your own way.” Definitely the quintessential Pretty Reckless album.
Previous Score: 10/10
New Score: 10/10
Standouts: And So It Went, Only Love Can Save Me Now, Rock And Roll Heaven
Dear God- well here it is…..the latest album from The Pretty Reckless. Compared to the last album, this one is very midtempo which is not a bad thing. It’s just if you’re expecting a continuation from the previous record you’re going to be in for a disappointment. Personally, I think that had they not gone through the tragedies surrounding Death By Rock And Roll, that record might have sounded a lot like this one. When comes to the title track, Taylor has been quoted as saying “Dear God is desperation set to music…When life gets that physical, that brutal, you leave your body and start begging something bigger than yourself to pull you out. That space between heaven and hell isn’t a metaphor. It’s somewhere you actually live.” I had to listen to this album a couple of more times before it really grew on me and at the end of the day it’s just a great solid rock record. Therefore I’m giving this 8/10.
Standouts: Dear God, Love Me, Dark Days
At the end of the day, this is a great solid, hard rock band. At the time of writing this review, I still have yet to see them from what I’ve seen online, they sound amazing and I am honestly looking forward to seeing them. To anybody that says rock music is dead, I would say that is an unequivocal lie, and this band is a perfect example of how it’s very much alive and thriving. And for those that don’t take this band seriously (I was one of those people) because of Taylor’s previous acting career I would say get over that and give this band and listen to their albums!!
Final Grade: A
Previous Album Rankings:
- Death By Rock And Roll
- Who You Selling For
- Going To Hell
- Light Me Up
New Album Rankings:
- Death By Rock And Roll
- Going To Hell
- Light Me Up
- Dear God
- Hit Me Like A Man
- Who Are You Selling For
- The Pretty Reckless EP
Sinister Reviews 