The Pretty Reckless Is Going To Hell

Four years ago, not everyone was convinced that Taylor Momsen could remake herself into a rock star despite a few riveting reviews of her debut. After she hit back, no one ever says that anymore. Now there are plenty of people who want to follow her down.

Despite its boring and unambiguous title, Going To Hell, and relatively explicit but not so erotic cover, The Pretty Reckless have put out a walloping new album for anyone who misses classic anthem rock. From the opening notes to the acoustic retreads that round the album up to 14 tracks, almost everything about this album feels like it could have been cast in the eighties. 

It's fully composed and throaty rock — the kind that many rock bands composed when they had "arrived" and could finally start turning out mature music. And Momsen, who has always come across as an old soul, clearly sees her 20s as the point where she has reached it in her music career. 

Going To Hell is wildly accessible rock, good but none too reckless. 

Although it feels like they've produced considerable more, Going To Hell is only a sophomore outing for The Pretty Reckless. Nonetheless, it will go down as an album fans love and critics question because it turns the burning recklessness of their early work into something much more polished and mainstream. 

Never mind the seriousness of grunge or heady confessionals of indie rock-pop, The Pretty Reckless are clearly aiming at a new generation of troubled teens in need of danceable rock stomps. If there is any other there, it's very clearly a Catholic guilt album that gives permission to give up and have fun. 

Follow Me Down is a heated sexual rebellion song that offers up a pretty blatant message. After nights and nights of putting off whatever was the source of her sexual tension, she gives in and finds out that all her trepidation was for naught. She's not only alive, but also finds sweetness in it. 

The track Going To Hell is equally blatant in its assessment. The riff-laden rocker has Momsen tell it straight. She accepts where she is going for everything she has done. And as it turns out, she is not the only one who thinks so. 

Heaven Knows is one of the best tracks on Going To Hell in that Momsen has never sounded better. She lays out the full range of her vocals with a blues-infused rocker that conveys a glimmer of sadness for everything that it going on in this album. 

Simply put, Heaven Knows is about those above already knowing we won't measure up. It makes them sad. But there is no way to stop it because they belong way down below anyway.

While those opening three are getting all the attention, it's the balladry of House On A Hill, melody of the sweetly short Dear Sister, and casual contemplation of Burn that really make this album. All three tracks demonstrate that Momsen is a serious talent who has only just begun to tap her depth. 

In contrast to some of those sleepers, Why'd You Bring A Shotgun To The Party and Fucked Up World really play to the epic level of commercialization Momsen needs to pay the bills. Those tracks are party rockers like the first three, along with Sweet Things, and will get plenty of play time. There is nothing wrong with that, except they tend to overshadow some of her more subtle contributions like  Waiting For A Friend. 

Going To Hell By The Pretty Reckless Smashes 6.3 On The Liquid Hip Richter Scale. 

Fans of The Pretty Reckless will no doubt grow tired of reviews that don't give the same props Momsen received for her debut. There is no way around it. Going To Hell comes off over commercialized because it plays to the audience of popularity despite evidence that Momsen doesn't have to. 

Like most review sites, fans are driving up the ratings on music outlets. Going To Hell by The Pretty Reckless is entrenched with 4.5 stars on iTunes. On Amazon, Going to Hell - Deluxe Edition has received 5 stars. The Pretty Reckless can also be ordered as a CD on Barnes & Noble. See the band's  Facebook page for tour dates.

Taylor Momsen Says Hit Me Like A Man

When Taylor Momsen remade herself to front The Pretty Reckless, some people were taken aback. I wasn't one of them. Make Me Wanna Die was a powerful introduction for the (then) 16-year-old Gossip Girl actress on the Kick-Ass soundtrack.

For anyone still unconvinced that she was the real deal, the band's self-titled three-track EP won a few more over. My Medicine and Going Down rightly earned some anticipation for the album, Light Me Up.

On the whole, however, and despite its popularity, the album wasn't as great as the EP suggested. Momsen and company had straddled the fence between pop and rock, producing a half great album. But that isn't the case for their new EP, Hit Me Like A Man. The Pretty Reckless seem settled to keep things hot and heavy.

Hit Me Like A Man adds three ferociously good heavies.  

Never mind two of the five tracks are live recasts of Light Me Up. Both Make Me Wanna Die (complete with audio chanting and added guitar finesse) and Since You're Gone fit in with this EP.

The real magic happens with the newest material. Hit Me Like A Man, Under The Water, and Cold Blooded all represent the kinds of the songs that some hoped to hear more of on the first album. There is no pop-rock fence straddling here. The Pretty Reckless know their hearts belong to rock and roll.

Hit Me Like A Man pulls out all the stops, carrying over some familiar arrangements from the best of Light Me Up, but with a freshness that capitalizes on Momson's remarkable genre-bending range. The song carries her smoky, brooding blues through the verse, teases her acoustically pleasant pop voice in a pre-chorus, and then powers the rock growls for the chorus. The song is remarkably composed and the delivery unfettered. It's one of the most interesting songs I've heard for some time.

While the sample clip doesn't showcase it in entirety, it does provide some semblance of what to expect from the EP, courtesy of Interscope Records. The track carries the first 1:30 of the 4:43 song.



The next new track, Under The Water, is a classic rock ballad with an acoustic open. The open first creates the illusion that the song will drift into safer pop waters, but it thankfully never does. Instead, Momsen adds more richness with every refrain. Also of note, Ben Phillips adds a memorable guitar solo into the song. The only thing that wasn't needed, in my opinion, was a vocal echo overlay.

Cold Blooded also carries some experimental arrangements, including an organ open that establishes and helps to maintain a bluesy, soulful rock groove throughout. Not only does it include another memorable guitar solo, but Phillips lends his voice to transform the song into an unexpected duet while Mark Damon (bass) and Jamie Perkins (drums) hold down the beat.

It's a great reminder that although Momson gets more attention, The Pretty Reckless is an incredibly accomplished band. Everyone on the inside knows it and it's great more people outside will too.

It's not a surprise to anyone who has seen them live. The other members are finding themselves in the spotlight more often, especially Phillips who has always been instrumental in assisting Momson with the songwriting (along with Kato Khandwala) and in reaching her potential. Here is a clip of Momson and Phillips on the MTV special, with Phillips providing backing vocals for an acoustic Zombie.



This live acoustic version really relights up Zombie in interesting and unexpected ways. And although it is not included on the EP, it does demonstrate the diversity of both Momsen and Phillips (easily said about Damon and Perkins too). So with this little bit of trivia and the fact that Momsen gave up on acting to pursue music full time, you can expect The Pretty Reckless will only get better.

The Pretty Reckless' Hit Me Like A Man Hits Hard At 9.6 On The Liquid Hip Richter Scale.

When I reviewed The Pretty Reckless the first time, there wasn't nearly the same level of excitement from people as there is with this new release. The credit belongs to everyone involved. The EP has some experimental arrangements that will be felt for a long time to come. And their live shows rock.

Hit Me Like A Man by The Pretty Reckless is up on iTunes. You can also pick up the Hit Me Like A Man EP for a few pennies less on Amazon. Barnes & Noble carries the EP as a CD. The band is currently on tour, playing Seattle on St. Patrick's Day before heading to Canada and the Midwest. Look for them on the East Coast in early April.

The Pretty Reckless Remakes Momsen

One night several years ago, Taylor Momsen’s father took her to a White Stripes show.

“Before that, the only concert I’d been to was Britney Spears,” says the singer, songwriter, and guitarist. “But once I saw Jack White onstage, that was it. I grew up as a dancer and I thought you had to dance to be a girl in the music industry. Then I saw the White Stripes and I was like, ‘No, you don’t. I can do that.’”

And so opens the bio on The Pretty Reckless Website, where 16-year-old Momsen now fronts (and plays rhythm guitar) for a powerhouse influenced by the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Pink Floyd, Audioslave, and Nirvana. "Make Me Wanna Die," released in March earlier this year as part of the the Kick-Ass soundtrack, is the band's debut single that soared to number one in the United Kingdom and broke the top 20 in the United States.

But no matter where the song ends up, The Pretty Reckless are pretty smart. Almost immediately after the song was released, the band debuted a promotional video on YouTube featuring the live performances and backstage footage of the band. As people get to know them, connect, and help them charge forward, The Pretty Reckless is here to say. Some of their videos are just shy of one million views.


Naturally, Momsen isn't just a fresh face. She has some buzz value from "Gossip Girl." However, that's not why Liquid [Hip] accepted my pitch to post about them. All Momsen's songs — "Make Me Wanna Die," "My Medicine," and "Goin' Down" make you quickly forget those ties.

Helping Momsen break the image that some boring critics still cling to (yawn) is Ben Phillips (guitar), Mark Damon (bass), and Jamie Perkins (drums). Since they write their own music, the band has a fresh sound that hits the spot in 2010. You'll see it listed as anything and everything from post-grunge to power pop, but only by those who never understood alternative rock.

“I’m not just writing something because I think people might like it,” Momsen says. “I hope they do, but I’m writing it because I have something to say."

The real test for success has really taken place across the pond. The Gossip Girls stigma seems to have less impact. Sure, it originally was the reason that crowds turned out, but after even one song that is not why they will tune in. This isn't a child star turned rocker in the off-shot season. It was the real deal in the United Kingdom.

While most of the attention seems to be centered on one single, the punchy blues sound that accompanies "My Medicine" will be the next to be noticed. "Going Down" has a more mainstream sound, but fits well enough with the mix on the album. It's the alto that brings it all together.

The Pretty Reckless Debut Earns A 9.8 On The Liquid Hip Richter Scale.

The Pretty Reckless first appeared on iTunes on June 21. Customer reviewers there all claim to have been waiting for the day that the first hit single arrived. Based on the abundance of 5-star ratings, the three-song line up there is easily well-received.

There doesn't seem to be as much excitement on Amazon, but you can still find the three-song taste there as a digital download. It could be the compression rate; you never know. The Pretty Reckless EP pre-teases the LP.