Before the ‘Light Me Up’ release, the band debuted their very first EP titled ‘The Pretty Reckless’. The album was only sold physically in Hot Topic stores and at the Vans Warped Tour 2010 (when they played). All songs were written by Taylor Momsen, Kato Khandwala and Ben Phillips.

Critical reception:

Even though it was received with enthusiasm by the fans, Christian Hoard from Rolling Stone classified the music as “generic”.

TRACKS:

1. “Make Me Wanna Die”
2. “My Medicine”
3. “Goin’ Down”
4. “Zombie” (Physical CD bonus track)

‘Light Me Up’ is the first studio album by The Pretty Reckless released on August 27th, 2010 (in the UK). The album received commercial success with the singles “Make Me Wanna Die”, “Miss Nothing” and “Just Tonight”.

Critical reception:

The album received generally positive reviews from critics. Blare Magazine’s reviewer, Leah Beresford, gave it four of five stars and said, “Lyrically, Light Me Up seems to capture the highs and lows of one’s existence, as well as everything in between like being courageous and empowering and expressing pain”. Digital Spy gave the album 3 stars of five saying that “When [Momsen] inevitably stops worrying about trying to rock so damn hard, we might have a genuine popstar.”

Singles:

“Make Me Wanna Die” was released on March 30, 2010 in the USA and on May 13, 2010 in the UK. A promotional video was released which features live performances and backstage footage of the band. This video is widely recognized as a viral version and was released on May 13, 2010. Directed by the irish Meiert Avis, the official music video was postponed due to legal issues involving censorship, but premiered on September 15, 2010 on iTunes and VEVO.

“Miss Nothing” is the second single from ‘Light Me Up’. The music video was released in a UK tv programm and later on July 20th, 2010 has been added to VEVO. Was also directed by Meiert Avis.

“Just Tonight” was released as the third single. The music video came up on November 2nd, 2010 and once again directed by Meiert Avis.

The songs “You” and “My Medicine” were both simultaneously released as singles. The video for ‘You’ was directed by Meiert Avis and shows the actress Caitlin O’Connor playing a younger version of Taylor in some sex scenes with the actor Cesar De La Torre while Momsen herself appears crying, singing and playing guitar with some underwear. ‘My Medicine’ music video directed by Meiert Avis and Stefan Smith take us to an incredible party featuring ex-porn star and Taylor Momsen’s friend Jenna Haze as a “barwoman” doing the whole scenes showing her breasts. The video starres the other band members and Connor Paolo.

TRACKS:

1. “My Medicine”
2. “Since You’re Gone”
3. “Make Me Wanna Die”
4. “Light Me Up”
5. “Zombie”
6. “Just Tonight”
7. “Miss Nothing”
8. “Goin’ Down”
9. “Nothing Left to Lose”
10. “You”
11. “Factory Girl”

‘Hit Me Like A Man’ is the second EP released by The Pretty Reckless after their last album titled ‘Light Me Up’. Released on March 6th, 2012, the EP features three new songs called ‘Hit Me Like A Man’, ‘Under The Water’ and ‘Cold Blooded’ and also features live versions of the hit songs ‘Make Me Wanna Die’ and ‘Since You’re Gone’. The album is out for digital and physical purchase. Taylor Momsen, Kato Khandwala and Ben Phillips worked together on the writting process of the album.

Critical reception:

British entertainment DigitalSpy reviewed it saying: “”Hit me like a man, love me like a woman,” Taylor Momsen begs on the chorus of The Pretty Reckless’s latest effort. It’s a line that sums up everything we enjoyed about the band’s 2010 debut Light Me Up: downright filthy lyrics delivered by a raspy, badass rock chick who sounded like she was still in yesterday’s knickers and in the midst of a week-long booze binge.

The trailer for their second EP continues down a similar path, employing rowdy drums and mosh pit-ready riffs for a wildly addictive chorus – but there are still strong signs of growth here. ‘Under The Water’ is the Big Mac of emo-ballads topped off by an impressive rawk guitar solo and growly finale by Momsen, while ‘Cold Blooded’ sees her and guitarist Ben Phillips delving into Fiona Apple-like bluesiness to spectacular effect. The result is a collection of wonderfully salacious and unashamedly bare-faced songs that today’s charts are sorely lacking.”

TRACKS:

1. Make Me Wanna Die
2. Hit Me Like A Man
3. Under The Water
4. Since You’re Gone
5. Cold Blooded