Hot Mulligan – Pop Shuvit (Hall Of Meat, Duh) | Single Review

Hot Mulligan have always been a delicious contradiction. Their music is equal parts catchy singalong pop-punk and hyper-technical emo. Their song titles are goofy in-jokes or intentionally obscure pop culture references, yet the lyrics contained within are as earnest as the scribbles in your pre-teen diary. The band appeals equally to the DIY twitter crowd as they do indieheads and prestigious publications (depending on how you view a 6.7). Despite the constant shit-posting, the Urban Dictionary-like name, and the absurd song titles, Hot Mulligan have emerged as a prominent act in the scene for one very simple reason: the songs are undeniable. The band can be silly and over-the-top because they know the music is that good.

While Hot Mulligan may have started with burp jokes and bitter sentiments, the message underneath has always come from the same heartfelt place. Over time, their sound has evolved from finely-crafted pop-punk to explosive, boundary-breaking emo in the form of one of the best records of 2020. Even though the group hasn’t been able to tour on you’ll be fine, that doesn’t mean they’ve spent the last year slacking off. Guitarist Chris Freeman has been dropping a steady stream of solo tracks; meanwhile, the band has sustained itself on drop after drop of absolutely killer merch. And now, on 4/20, the holiest of days for weed-hazed emo fans, Hot Mulligan have unveiled their next release, i won't reach out to you, along with a steadfast lead single to soundtrack all your cotton-mouthed antics.

Bearing an expectedly goofy title, “Pop Shuvit (Hall Of Meat, Duh)” begins with a mid-tempo electronic beat that immediately evokes some of the band’s previous hits like “How Do You Know It's Not Armadillo Shells?” and “SPS.” Before too long, the full band emerges, guitar, drums, and bass all synching up to the beat, accompanied by a subtle but radiant synth. 

This track is an interesting development of the group’s sound, leaning further into the “pop” side of the pop-punk spectrum. The instrumental is snappy, the chorus is earwormy, and the verses weave together pity-filled self-flagellations that sound as if they could appear underneath any one of your emo friend’s over-sharing finsta posts.

My only ding against the track is how straightforward its structure is. The verse, chorus, verse deployed here regrettably doesn’t leave much room for range in the vocal deliveries or instrumentation. Whether tracks on you’ll be fine were exploding to life or burrowing deep into their own sadness, they always felt like they had somewhere to go. By contrast, “Pop Shuvit” feels like a slightly toned-down version of things the band has done before. There are no high-pitched yelps, zero hardcore breakdowns, and not a trace of jittery instrumentation. 

Truthfully, I can’t be mad about the prospect of new Hot Mulligan songs because the band has never missed once in their seven-year history. “Pop Shuvit” sounds like it could have fit in just fine on 2018’s Pilot, which will either be a disappointing or exciting prospect depending on who you ask. For me, the frenetic, spontaneous nature of you’ll be fine was the best version of the band, but who among us has not grown less impulsive over the past year? Either way, I’m excited to scream along with “Pop Shuvit” as soon as it’s safe to do so, and I can’t wait to hear i won't reach out to you when it drops on May 28th.