Album Review by: DJ Fox

DJ Fox here, back at it again with another Album Review. This time, I'm taking a look at midwest emo-pop punk band Hot Mulligan's newest album, Why Would I Watch. I originally found Hot Mulligan via Spotify's recommendation system, since at the time I was on a midwest emo kick and was wanting more things to listen to. Hot Mulligan makes music that reminds me of older songs by Fall Out Boy and Panic! At the Disco. They became a instant hit with me, with the sort of yelling vocals being able to convey a lot of emotion, along with the fantastic guitar and solos all flowing really well. Why Would I Watch cover various themes, most prevalent being mental health and nostalgia.

In "Shouldn't Have a Leg Hole But I Do", the lead singer detailed that it's about him coming to terms with how his poor mental health is a permanent factor in his life. This really sticks out to me, because I both struggle with mental health, as well as I'm going into Psychology, and I love to see and hear other peoples takes on mental health. The song itself is pessimistic in nature, with lyrics like "I begin to understand every path, every variable made so it'll bring me back."  The instrumental track perfectly conveys this, while the song itself is upbeat and fast, the notes and chords played convey a more serious tone instead of being 'care-free.'

Another one of the songs off this album, "It's A Family Movie She hates Her Dad" is about a bandmember, Chris, and his childhood of being exposed to addiction and alcoholism, and wondering if he'll go down the same path. I enjoy songs tackling this concept, as it's not something that appears often. Alcoholism and addiction are genuine issues and anyone who grows up in a family of addiction, or their family has a history of it, will inevitably have similar thoughts to what this song is trying to convey.While this band might not be for everyone, especially with how they title their tracks, I definitely recommend giving at least this album a listen. It may not be the most "happy" or "inspiring" music, but they're still conveying proper messages and emotions.

-DJ Fox

Click HERE to listen to the album!