Review / 200 Words Or Less
Useless Eaters
Hypertension

Jeffery Drag Records (2013) Nathan G. O'Brien

Useless Eaters – Hypertension cover artwork
Useless Eaters – Hypertension — Jeffery Drag Records, 2013

This is weirdo garage punk with some surf and new wave-y parts from Nashville, TN. Hard to tell if Useless Eaters are playing guitars that sound like fucked-up keyboards or if there is a keyboard that drowns out the fucked-up guitars. I honestly could care less because I happen to really like it. Sometimes just being a stupid music fan and not some musician is awesome because you don't have to over-analyze the shit out of how every little sound is made. Other times it's frustrating because you can't describe it to people without sounding like an asshole.

There are some easy comparisons to make here. “Life on a Grid” sounds like Digital Leather, “Black Night Ultraviolet” is very Wavves-ish, and the bass line in “Malfunction” recalls The Stranglers and Gang of Four. There are probably plenty of places to tuck in a Jay Reatard or Ty Segall reference here too. I don't make these comparisons to demean this band in any way, but rather as a few simple points of reference. The songs “Moody Bitch” and “Addicted to the Blade” could be the soundtrack to a Southern California surf blog. You know, those ones with lots of pictures of skinny dudes wearing striped tee shirts under jean vests, with sailor caps on and stuff. Maybe throw in a button or patch with a picture of an anchor on it and a wrist band that used to be the top of tube sock. Yeah, you get it.

Well anyway, if weirdo garage punk with surf and new wave-y parts and fucked-up guitars and/or possibly keyboards sounds like something you'd dig, like I do, then Hypertension is right up your alley.

Useless Eaters – Hypertension cover artwork
Useless Eaters – Hypertension — Jeffery Drag Records, 2013

Related news

New Useless Eaters

Posted in Records on September 21, 2014

Recently-posted album reviews

Spillings

Spillings
The Garotte (2026)

Spillings is a minimalist reconfiguration undertaken by two artists whose careers have been about genre deconstruction. The paths of Mathieu Ball and Liam Andrews have been running on parallel tracks, but both have been aiming for a similar endpoint. That is to strip down the heavy, experimental rock form, while at the same time retaining its destabilizing core. With Big … Read more

Pacifist

Five
Independent (2026)

There’s a reason five doesn’t feel like just another EP title. This isn’t a casual release or a stopgap between bigger moves but a line in the sand. On their latest five song statement, Bombay’s Pacifist sound fully aware of the lineage they’re working within, and just as aware of how much effort it takes to keep those ideals alive … Read more

Pure Intention

Pure Intention
Independent (2026)

Pure Intentions is a hard hitting punk band first emerging in the Chicago scene in 2020. Since its formation by Joe Asshole and Tommy Volume, they have since added Judson Jones in 2024 to become its current standing trio. During that time, these guys have spread their gritty sound by touring the United States while gaining a strong following along … Read more