The Undertones - Hypnotised

Hypnotised expands upon The Undertones’ masterful 1980 sophomore release. It adds a robust selection of rare studio tracks and live broadcast performances to the original 15-song tracklist. Alongside the definitive studio cut of the iconic hit "My Perfect Cousin", listeners get alternative takes and non-album treasures like "Hard Luck (Again)" and "Told You So". These additions offer a fascinating peek into the band's creative workflow at the absolute height of their power.
This definitive package is anchored by three raw, energetic recordings taken directly from an Eden Studio Session for John Peel on 16 November 1980. These tracks beautifully capture the band's authentic live synergy and signature Derry charm. Complemented by a beautifully designed, comprehensive 20-page booklet housed inside a sleek slipcase box, this specific Union Square Music / Salvo reissue serves as both an essential archive for die-hard fans and a perfect point of entry for newcomers exploring classic pop-punk history.

Hypnotised, the second studio album by Northern Irish pop-punk pioneers The Undertones, stands as a masterclass in dodging the sophomore slump. Released in 1980, the record manages a difficult balancing act: it preserves the raw, adolescent exuberance of their self-titled debut while introducing a distinctly sharper, more sophisticated edge to their songwriting. Driven by the O’Neill brothers’ serrated guitar hooks and Feargal Sharkey’s instantly recognisable vocal quiver, the album remains a definitive document of late-70s and early-80s new wave.

Musically, the album thrives on a breathless, high-tempo momentum that feels both tightly rehearsed and dangerously chaotic. The band leans heavily into their signature formula of brief, punchy songs that rarely overstay their welcome, packed to the brim with melodic hooks. However, beneath the blistering wall of guitars lies an evolved rhythmic tight-knit precision. Tracks like the title cut and "Wednesday Week" showcase a growing maturity in arrangement, trading the sheer garage-rock noise of their earlier days for a more polished, radio-friendly sheen that never sacrifices the band's inherent grit.

Lyrically, the album is a brilliant time capsule of small-town teenage angst, biting wit, and suburban boredom. The Undertones masterfully pivot away from the heavy political turmoil of their native Derry, choosing instead to focus on the universal, relatable agonies of youth. This is best exemplified by their career-defining hit "My Perfect Cousin", a hilariously sharp satire aimed at a flawless family rival. Elsewhere, tracks like "More Songs About Chocolate and Girls" lean into self-aware, deadpan humour, capturing a perfect snapshot of adolescent priorities and the pressures of sudden musical fame.

Decades after its release, Hypnotised remains an influential landmark that bridged the gap between classic first-wave punk rock and the melodic future of power-pop. It proves that music rooted in teenage frustration can be both fiercely energetic and enduringly clever. For anyone looking to understand the DNA of modern alternative rock, this album stands as an essential, timeless listen that still packs the same punch today as it did in the spring of 1980.

Ripped to MP3

1. More Songs About Chocolate and Girls

2. There Goes Norman

3. Hypnotised

4. See That Girl

5. Whizz Kids

6. Under the Boardwalk

7. The Way Girls Talk

8. Hard Luck

9. My Perfect Cousin

10. Boys Will Be Boys

11. Tearproof

12. Wednesday Week

13. Nine Times Out of Ten

14. Girls That Don't Talk

15. What's with Terry?

16. You've Got My Number (Why Don't You Use It!)

17. Hard Luck (Again)

18. Let's Talk About Girls (Chocolate Watchband cover)

19. I Told You So

20. I Don't Wanna See (You Again)