There are many things the Midwest is known for, and Hot Mulligan is making damn sure emo music stays at the top of that list. Their new album, Why Would I Watch, can be categorized as Midwest emo, post-emo, pop-punk, or all the above—one thing that’s certain is it’s emotionally charged. If you’re skeptical of a band with a silly name and even sillier song titles, give this record a chance to cure your skepticism. Why Would I Watch is gut-wrenching and painstakingly honest when you really pay attention to the lyrics, but in true emo form, it’s also a beautifully raw record that you’re likely to keep coming back to.
The opener track “Shouldn’t Have a Leg Hole but I Do” sets the visceral stage for the entire album with not-so-subtle lyrics like “I’m not meant to live that long”; Hot Mulligan has put all their cards on the table—enter at your own risk, and prepare yourself for emotional spillage. Not that they really give you a chance to digest this as “It’s a Family Movie She Hates Her Dad” fades in. The complexity of this song really hits me on two levels—musically it flows and is incredibly well-timed and lyrically it tells a whole, complex story. There’s something eerily raw about the sporadically short lyrics, like a spoken word but Hot Mulligan made it punk. “And I Smoke” alludes to anxiety, but the chorus itself becomes a sort of anti-affirmation affirmation “Regulate my breath / relax my jaw / and say my affirmations”. Lead vocalist Nathan “Tades” Sanville’s raw screams sound desperate, pleading almost, truly pushing the song beyond its boundaries.
Standout track “This Song Is Called It’s Called What’s It Called” is perfectly placed on the record and gives off Turnover vibes with a sonically, beautiful ending. The layered vocals make it feel like we’re in their heads, reliving memories in real-time through racing thoughts. I could really get used to the softer side of Hot Mulligan. Luckily they continue on the mellower path with “No Shoes in the Coffee Shop (or Socks)”, a song about begging for sleep—fellow over-thinkers and insomniacs, this one is for you. “Christ Alive My Toe Dammit Hurts” starts off as a classic Hot Mulligan song, but halfway through is when things get really interesting. The track starts to slow down and build up all at once and Sanville’s infamous, pleading scream takes over. There’s something magical about feeling a vocalist lose their shit on a song that allows music to almost break into another dimension. And then to follow that with “Betty”, a heartfelt song about losing a pet—goddamn Hot Mulligan, give our hearts a break.
And with a song title like “Cock Party 2 (Better Than the First)”, you would think they were. Yet somehow the cringiest song title on the whole record manages to give off the storytelling vibes of The Menzingers and the emotional depth of Taking Back Sunday—an emo dream mashup. “Gans Media Retro Games” is heavy on self-loathing, but overall a solidly catchy song so there are no complaints here. In true Hot Mulligan fashion, “Smahccked My Head Awf” tells a complicated story in only a few short, concise lines: “I’ve written all these songs, all meant for you /But I’ll turn into a stranger before too soon”.
Closing track “John “the Rock” Cena, Can You Smell What the Undertaker” ends the way you’d expect the album to, deeply personal. The confessional lyrics in the song delve into religious trauma, which feels like a topic not covered nearly enough in music. Overall, Why Would I Watch is an emotionally dark album, but it also feels beautifully cathartic. The juxtaposition of the silly song titles and the intensely personal lyrics musically melt together to embody Hot Mulligan. It would be easy to overlook this record on the surface, but it’s definitely one that requires more of a deep dive to fully enjoy. As someone that was still replaying their beloved You’ll Be Fine (2020) album, Why Would I Watch has set a new standard for the band, and musically, maybe even a new dimension for them.
