[10] The album's lyrical themes were largely influenced by Amos Pitsch's observations, musings, and experiences as he traversed America in the summer of 2012, playing drums for a reunion tour of 1970s power pop group, The Nerves.

The song lyrics and accompanying album art draw on prominent motifs of Americana in an effort to reflect the darker aspects of America and its political and social climates.

[11] Iggy Pop played three songs from Predatory Headlights on the March 4th, 2016 episode of his BBC radio show and proclaimed, "Hats off Tenement, You got big balls.

[15][16] In Episode 4, Season 2 of Netflix series 13 Reasons Why , a poster depicting the cover artwork for Predatory Headlights is seen hanging on protagonist Clay Jensen 's bedroom wall.

"[17] Upon release of Predatory Headlights, Tenement toured the United States several times both on their own and with peers such as Indiana hardcore punk band Big Zit, soul singer Charles Bradley, Philadelphia rock group Sheer Mag, Direct Hit!, Dusk, Florida's Golden Pelicans, and Black Thumb.

"[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] The New York Times: "Mr. Pitsch will write half of a song that could have been a modern-rock radio hit 20 years ago, then break through the three-minute barrier and move the ABA form toward C, D, and E sections, minimalism, drones and process music.

"[2] Shortly after release, The Washington Post ranked Predatory Headlights #1 on their Month's Best Music list, stating "Here's a rock album that's instantly pleasurable, but demands commitment.

[27] In a 2015 profile piece on Tenement for ESPN's Grantland, Steven Hyden maintained that perhaps Big Star's Third was a more fitting influence for Predatory Headlights than The New York Times' comparisons to The Rolling Stones' Exile On Main Street, Husker Du's Zen Arcade, and The Minutemen's Double Nickels On The Dime.

"[30] In Cretins Of Distortion 's multi-page review of Predatory Headlights, Tenement is painted as a band which defies the prioritization of commercial appeal in pop music in favor of free expression.

They note that "it's a record that from the second you peel back the shrink wrap, confusion begins" and claim that "Tenement's most admirable feat is not accepting a crowd's taste as their sound; not writing songs to propel their career as musicians".