There are a lot of diehard Pretenders boosters out there who'll warm to this unplugged hits set much faster than Last of the Independents. Hynde's singing has never been finer, and it was a brilliant stroke to incorporate a string quartet into the acoustic soundscape. Everything here is first-rate (notably the little-known "I Hurt You" and "Criminal"), but it's the ultra-fresh versions of "Brass in Pocket," "Private Life," and "2000 Miles" that will bring a lump to the throat of thirtysomething fans. --Jeff Bateman