REVIEW: Hot Mulligan's "Why Would I Watch" via Wax Bodega

Hi everyone, it’s me, it’s Claudia and it’s finally time to review this new Hot Mulligan record; Why Would I Watch. Hot Mulligan have had a great run in the 2020s so far with their last record, you’ll be fine, spawning a number of scene hits with its lead single “*Equip Sunglasses*” becoming an emo staple and BCKYRD even being pushed by Record Store Day. Since then it feels like the MI boys are everywhere in the emo scene, touring non stop, on the tip of everyone’s tongue and still being shouted out as a “hot new band.” I myself was bought in by you’ll be fine and have followed Hot Mulligan for these past few years now and have become pretty familiar with their entire catalog. That pre-existing context made this experience all the richer.

Tades Sanville has always written songs on his own struggles with his family, his exposure to addiction and of course his own interpersonal relationships and on Why Would I Watch a lot of those stories sort of come to a conclusion. In my notes-taking listen I recognized too many references to old songs to cover in a review, however Tades did do an interview with BrooklynVegan covering the topics of each track which I will link below as I think it adds a layer to the experience. The one that stands out especially to me is “Cock Party 2.” On this track Tades sings about a friend that he also wrote on in the 2021 track “Featuring Mark Hoppus.” This former friend is depicted as an artist that he has lost touch with and feels he isn’t good enough to reach out to now. I once wrote, in a review of the same genre, about an old friend of mine that I hold as important to my own past and I really resonate with this narrative especially now. Late last year I found out what they’re up to now, married, noble job, child on the way. It’s strange to look into who you used to joke around with in your adolescence and feel like even if you could talk to them you’d probably have nothing real to offer each other.

Even if you don’t know these past stories and references this band’s ability to hurt their listeners is unparalleled. The chorus on “No Shoes in the Coffee Shop” sounds like you are exiting your body and looking down on your own sadness from some higher plane and accepting it isn’t eternal. “John ‘The Rock’ Cena” is a track about body dysmorphia and to be honest, as a trans femme, I don’t even think other trans song writers have given me a body shamed anthem that hits like this. The narrative here is about shame brought on by religion, being embarrassed to show your body while swimming, sleeping with your clothes on and realizing that even as a kid you hid yourself. I’ve grown into some confidence but I still have a lot of shame about the way I look, even writing this I’m trying to distill anxiety about my unshaven face when no one outside the two people closest to me who I live with anyway will see me at all tonight. That and the interludes between certain songs of the boys hanging out and playing together make this concept ring, familiar or not, when you realize they’re bites from the recording of the Hot Mulligan debut only now seeing the light of day, it truly is a full circle moment for them but for us it's a self-contained monument to personal growth.

All the talking I could do about the themes fails to point out that Hot Mulligan are at their absolute apex in terms of songwriting on this project. They were always a good band, they’re a force now, I have not a single complaint in terms of sonics. If you want emo-tinged pop punk they have the catchy and technical guitar work, they have the big and heartfelt hooks and the vocal ability and emotion to sell all of it. Tades and co-vocalist Chris Freeman have never had this level of chemistry on any previous recording, which is apparent right away on both the first two songs of the record. On which the two play off of each other without ever missing a beat. I am also a sucker for a smooth transition and this record is full of them. “Shouldn’t Have a Log Hole” into “It’s a Family Movie” is a feat of songwriting, the transition is so seamless that it feels like one long song but when broken apart they both start and end with just as much sense. Finally, I know it’s cool to hate on “Betty” right now but it can’t be all pop punk all the time and this mellowed out acoustic cut about a late pet is a great genre break and hits hard. Like, haven’t you had an animal you were close to pass away?

It took me a while to review this one, as I said, but I did listen to it right on release in a local park. I walked over, a lot on my plate and let it play on a bench while I stared into the grass and sky. By the time it was over I was left in tears, I changed the entire way I even listened to music for this blog and it overwhelmed me so much I didn’t listen to it again for a few weeks. That is what this record does, it overwhelms me. It overwhelms the human spirit in me, reminds me of friends who’ve grown away, family I feel estranged from and the own inner depths of my own emotions. It also overwhelms me as a fan of music. I only started rating albums recently and before that I’ve certainly felt strongly about reviews, but you can count Why Would I Watch as AsterTracks’ first perfect score.

Our rating - 10/10

1. Shouldn't Have a Leg Hole but I Do
2. It's a Family Movie She Hates Her Dad
3. And I Smoke
4. This Song is Called it's Called What it's Called
5. No Shoes in the Coffee Shop (Or Socks)
6. Christ Alive My Toe Dammit Hurts
7. Betty
8. Cock Party 2 (Better Than the First)
9. Shhh! Golf is On
10. Gans Media Retro Games
11. Smahccked My Head Awf
12. John "The Rock" Cena, Can You Smell What the Undertaker

BrooklynVegan Interview

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