"I've spent more time in Akron recently than I have since moving away over 30 years ago," says Chrissie Hynde. "It's given my music a rootsy sound that's been germinating in my head." On Break Up the Concrete — cut in L.A. with a killer band, including ace drummer Jim Keltner — Hynde delves into country rock ("Don't Lose Faith in Me") and classic Pretenders rave-ups ("Boots of Chinese Plastic"). The Bo Diddley-ish title track takes on the physical and moral decay of America: "On our last tour I looked out a bus window and all I saw was concrete. For months, all I thought was 'Break up the fucking concrete.'"

Behind-the-scenes video of the Pretenders making the video for "Boots of Chinese Plastic."

Click here to listen to "Boots of Chinese Plastic" in full

Check out all of the albums in the 2008 Fall Music Preview