Dear God is the fifth studio album by the American rock band the Pretty Reckless, released on June 26, 2026, through Fearless Records. The album was produced by Jonathan Wyman, vocalist Taylor Momsen, and guitarist Ben Phillips. Two singles preceded the album: "For I Am Death" and "When I Wake Up". There were also two promotional singles released before the album: "Love Me" and "Dear God".
Contents
Background
The album's lead single, "For I Am Death", was the band's first song in four years. Two months later, the band announced a Christmas EP titled Taylor Momsen's Pretty Reckless Christmas. The EP had a release date of October 31 for digital, while its physical version released on November 14. Along with the announcement, the band released a reimagining of "Where Are You Christmas?". The song was originally performed by Momsen as Cindy Lou Who in the 2000 film How The Grinch Stole Christmas. Dear God was described as the band's "most emotionally raw and uncompromising record to date." The album was produced by Taylor Momsen, Ben Phillips, and Jonathan Wyman.
Speaking about the album's title track, Taylor Momsen stated:
"Dear God is desperation set to music...When life gets that physical, that brutal, you leave your body and start begging something bigger than yourself to pull you out. That space between heaven and hell isn’t a metaphor. It’s somewhere you actually live."
Release and promotion
On August 22, 2025, the album's lead single, "For I Am Death", was released. "For I Am Death" became the band's eighth No. 1 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Airplay chart. The album's second single, "When I Wake Up", was released on March 13, 2026. The album was announced the same day and it set to be released on June 26, 2026. A music video for the song was released five days later. "When I Wake Up" reached No. 4 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Airplay chart. "Love Me" was released on April 17 and "Dear God" was released on May 22. A headline world tour in support of the album was announced, starting off North America and ending in Europe.
Composition and themes
Dear God was primarily described as hard rock post-grunge, and blues rock. The album also contains elements of punk, garage rock, blues, funk, acoustic, folk, country, and country rock. The album's themes include mortality, self-discovery, chaos, and redemption.
Critical reception
Anne Erickson of Blabbermouth.net wrote, "the album continues with the band's promise of dirty, authentic rock music with a touch of polish, just enough to fit on rock airwaves...and it adds another layer to the band's evolving sound." Laura Davies of Distorted Sound described it as their "best album to date" because of its "huge riffs [and] sensational songwriting, with honest raw emotion." Emily Wilkes of Kerrang! described the album as being darker than most of their earlier work, and wrote that the album "spins some of their best songs yet from it." KJ Draven of Wall of Sound complimented the story telling, guitar solos and Taylor Momsen's vocals, but wrote, "[the album] does suffer from excessive cliches and clunky lyrics though there is a raw sincerity that makes the band a must listen."
Personnel
Credits are adapted from Tidal.
The Pretty Reckless
Mark Damon – bass guitar (tracks 1–4, 6, 8–11)
Taylor Momsen – vocals, production
Jamie Perkins – drums (1–11, 13, 14), percussion (10)
Ben Phillips – guitar, production (all tracks); bass guitar (2, 4–10, 12–14), mandolin (5), percussion (12)
Additional contributors
Jonathan Wyman – production, engineering, mixing (all tracks); keyboards (6, 10, 12), drum programming (10, 11)
Jay Colangelo – additional engineering
Jeremy Delaney – engineering assistance
Sean Kelly – engineering assistance
Adam Ayan – mastering
Duncan Watt – keyboards (8, 11), organ (10), string arrangement (11)
Logan Nikolic – ukulele (10)