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

Various Artists

Louder Than You Think: A Lo-Fi History of Gary Young & Pavement (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Independent (2026)

Gary Young wasn’t just a drummer; he was a beautiful, unpredictable glitch poking a hole in the sky where other lovable misfits could enter and leave this universe they’d grace with their presence. While Hendrix kissed the sky, Young merely bit a hole right through it. While Pavement was busy inventing the 1990s slacker blueprint for the masses, Gary was … Read more

Mrs. Magician

High Resolution b/w Dead Alive
Swami (2026)

Mrs. Magician is back! For those unfamiliar, Mrs. Magician is a garage punk band based in San Diego, CA. They formed in 2010 and between then and 2016, they managed to release 6 singles, 2 albums and 1 B-sides collection. Both of their full lengths were released on Swami Records, the label helmed by legendary San Diego guitar slasher/voice crasher, … Read more

Amy Beth And Thee Creeps

Shitheel EP
Chaputa! Records (2026)

Sometimes I like to come into a record as a blank slate. Amy Beth And Thee Creeps sent me a short email with their latest EP, Shitheel. It's a 4-song garage-punk ripper that's easily under 10 minutes. I just checked: it's five and a half minutes. With no bio, the music speaks for itself and this is rhythmic, pulsing garage … Read more