Hot Mulligan Has Finally Released Their Highly Anticipated Third Album 'Why Would I Watch"

Hot Mulligan Promo — Photo Credit: Kay Dargs

Hot Mulligan has successfully created the soundtrack of what I imagine it’s like to fight god during a California sunset in their newest album Why Would I Watch coming to headphones near you May 12th through Wax Bodega.

Affectionately known as the “Number 1 Hot New Band ” Hot Mulligan never fails to amaze listeners with the vocal combinations of Tades Sandville and Chris Freedman, operating in perfect juxtaposition with one another alongside twangy guitars that have become a Hot Mulligan staple. This is in connection with the gorgeous solos throughout the album that make it one for the books. Why Would I Watch is produced by band’s longtime collaborator and producer Brett Romnes. He also had a hand in the band’s 2020 sophmore album release You’ll Be Fine as well as other Hot Mulligan projects which lead me to believe this album would be successful from the start.

This album is synthy guitar-filled chaos with a heartbreaking pause in the middle for the acoustic “Betty” where if you wanted to sob that would be your opportunity.

Why Would I Watch is Hot Mulligan’s third full-length album and serves as a follow-up to their 2021 EP I Won’t Reach Out To You with which it shares similar stylistic elements. This album is also following their 2022 summer single “Drink Milk and Run” which did not find its home on their new album which I am personally incredibly offended by. But I suppose since “No Shoes in the Coffee Shop (Or Socks)” has had me hooked since I first heard it, it makes up for the disrespect towards my favorite summer single.

While I love the singles “Shhh Golf is On” and “Gans Media Retro Game”, their placement in the tracklist makes little sense to me especially back-to-back. “Am I the problem?” In this case perhaps. Considering they are easily two of the strongest songs on the LP nothing else could make sense for singles but I wish their strength was better distributed to the entire album instead of back-to-back. “No Shoes in the Coffee Shop (Or Socks)” has been teased via Instagram captions prior to the album’s release but it has not been officially released as a single. There is however a music video that will be premiered with the album on May 12th

This album is a continuation of the endless upward momentum they’ve seen as a band since their debut album Pilot. Now, to answer the question Why Would I Watch? If you’re not paying attention to Hot Mulligan these days this is the album to tap into. Staple elements ranging from Sandville’s sandpaper vocals that have been a signature since the Deluxe Capacitor days, to synthetic more electronic elements that also have found a prominent place in Chris Freedman’s other amazing project Extra Large Holiday Card can be seen in the work on this album make this album one for the books. The power that Hot Mulligan welds is one that has ensured their place as an ever-evolving staple in Pop Punk and this album only serves to challenge them for the next.

Catch Hot Mulligan this Summer headlining or with the rest of the Sad Summer Fest lineup!

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Post by Ceci Graham (Instagram)

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