THE PRETTY RECKLESS, the band that apparently still exists, has graced us with a new ear-splitting symphony of despair, “For I Am Death”. This sonic masterpiece (if you’re into that sort of thing) supposedly marks the dawn of a new era for the band, filled with groundbreaking artistic choices. Prepare yourselves for a wild, unpredictable ride… straight into the abyss of mediocrity! 🤘
The ever-so-humble Taylor Momsen, frontwoman of THE PRETTY RECKLESS, had this to say about the song: “With ‘For I Am Death’, I want the music to speak for itself, allowing the listener to decide what it means to them.” Translation: “I have no idea what this song is about, so you figure it out.” 🤷♀️ She continued, “The interpretation of the song might align with my own, or it might come from the heart of the audience. Either way, I’m excited to see what people take away from it and what it means to them.” AKA, “Please validate my existence.” Oh, and let’s not forget the profound statement: “Oh, and rock and roll will never die.” Groundbreaking stuff, really. 🙄
The music video, directed by some dude named Lewis Cater, accompanies the single, featuring Taylor‘s stunning transformation into a malevolent and haunting figure. Because, you know, that’s *totally* unexpected. 👻 Surrounded by sinister forces (probably her bandmates), she embodies the personification of death. Method acting at its finest! 💀
This musical offering comes hot on the heels of THE PRETTY RECKLESS‘s stint as an opening act for AC/DC‘s geriatric “Power Up” stadium tour across North America and Europe. They played for over three million people in fancy venues like the Rose Bowl and Wembley Stadium. One can only imagine the confused looks on the faces of the AC/DC fans as they were subjected to THE PRETTY RECKLESS. 😂
During a May 2024 appearance on SiriusXM‘s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk” (a show I’m sure everyone listens to religiously), Momsen spilled the beans on the band’s fifth album: “I don’t have [release] dates for you, but we booked — we’ve locked up the studio for eight months.” Eight months? To record what, exactly? 😴 She elaborated: “It takes us a while to make a record.” Clearly. “But it was going amazingly [before we paused the sessions in order to hit the road].” Translation: “We wrote, like, one verse.” “Hopefully when we pick back up in September [2024], it’ll be the same kind of flow and everything will just jell.” As if. “But a lot of it’s written.” Sure, Jan. “I’m sure that more will be written when these experiences happen and then new songs [arise] out of them.” Inspirational! ✨ “So I’m sure that there’ll be some more songs coming. But I don’t have dates. But it was going great, and we had *just* started; we really haven’t started at all, but there’s written stuff. So that’s a start, I guess. But as far as recording, we hadn’t really gotten into it yet.” In other words, don’t hold your breath, folks. 💨
Back in January 2024, THE PRETTY RECKLESS shared a photo of Taylor with Jonathan Wyman, who co-produced their last “masterpiece,” “Death By Rock And Roll”. So, yeah, he’s back. Prepare for more of the same! 🙄
In a May 2023 interview with Ronni Hunter of 99.7 The Blitz (another must-listen radio station), Momsen revealed that they had “commenced work” on the new album. “We’re in a great headspace,” she claimed. “We’re just having fun with it, and wrapping up the tour cycle of ‘Death By Rock And Roll’. And then new record — and it’s next chapter. We’ve already kind of started it… We’ve gotten into a studio; we’ve stepped foot into a studio. So that’s saying something for us.” Stepped foot into a studio? Groundbreaking! 🤯
Remember “Other Worlds”? No? Well, THE PRETTY RECKLESS released it in November 2022. It featured their first “proper acoustic recordings,” “unexpected covers,” and “other reimaginings.” Translation: stuff nobody asked for. 🤷♂️
“Death By Rock And Roll” came out in February 2021 and apparently topped some charts. Who knew? 🤔 It also spawned three No. 1 singles. The band has seven No. 1 singles in total. Impressive… I guess? 🤷
“Death By Rock And Roll” was the first album made without longtime producer Kato Khandwala, who tragically died in a motorcycle accident. A moment of silence, please. 😔
THE PRETTY RECKLESS formed in 2009 and consists of Momsen, guitarist Ben Phillips, bassist Mark Damon, and drummer Jamie Perkins. You know, the usual suspects. 👥
In 2021, Momsen, who played Jenny Humphrey on “Gossip Girl,” described “Death By Rock And Roll” as a “battle cry for life and for hope.” So deep. 😔 “I think that that’s something that we can all use a little bit more of, especially right now,” she pontificated. “We could always use a little more hope, and we could always use a little more rock and roll.” Or maybe just a good therapist. 🤷♀️
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
