At the height of the mid-2010s, a Lansig, Michigan-based band began to take the Midwest music scene by storm.
The band, labeling themselves as post-midwest emo, found themselves at the forefront of fan’s hearts and also at the forefront of a musical movement, growing in popularity.
That band was none other than Hot Mulligan, and today sees the release of their fourth full-length studio album The Sound A Body Makes When It’s Still (Wax Bodega).
With this next sonic endeavor, we find the band exploring familiar territory, but with new enthusiasm and a rise in both energy AND diversity.
The album opens up with “Moving To Bed Bug Island;” at first a somber and chilling acoustic number that quickly traverses into the twinkly-guitar laden territory that long-time fans have grown close with—its lyrics an open book.
Going next into the lyrics of the first single from the LP: “And A Big Load.” “Is it time to take a bow/waking up in the worst of company/is there anyone around?/no, all alone, it’s just these thoughts and me,” cries lead singer Nathan “Tades” Sanville, before eventually switching into a call-and-response with rhythm guitarist, vocalist Chris Freeman, another staple of the band’s distinctive sound.
Much of the album moving forward is done in the band’s typical fashion, with a refreshing air of growth lingering around each track—the noodling midwestern emo guitars, the cathartic and open hearted lyricism, pounding drums and shared vocals all present.
“This Makes Me Yummy” is an intriguing instrumental, incorporating a lo-fi almost chilled-out electronica vibe as it leads the way into “Monica Lewinskibidi,” an interesting, but all-the-while fitting transition between tracks, not at all out-of-place.
“Milam Minute” finds the band slowing down the pace yet again for a heartache-inducing acoustic track with vocalist Chris Freeman holding down the forefront; a fun and short (albeit, much slower) moment on the LP.
One thing very notable on this LP is that Tades’ screams have been sharpened, fine tuned and accentuated; something growing noticeably with each and every release prior.
Another incredible and unique entry for this LP is “This Makes me Yucky,” which brings with it a beautiful and wavy acoustic guitar track, ambient and yearning. Atop it lays upon the listener a story; however muffled and hard to hear without focus, it is both moving and nostalgic. It induces a strange emotion—a feeling of being present for both living through the tale and being there for its re-telling.
“Let’s See Your Mounts” is a great showcase of the bands middle ground. With great call-and-response and some incredible (however, short) yell and scream vocals from Tades, balanced by the calmness of Chris Freeman.
“Monster Burger And A $5 Beer” opens with one of the most fun riffs on the entire album, showcasing the true split in vocality between Freeman and Sanville and how important the dynamic is between the two.
Track 15, “Slumdog Scungillionaire,” lends to us what is, in my opinion, the perfect track. Opening slow and soft with gentle keys backing Sanville’s opening vocals, leading us into another twinkly and slow moving riff with drums to match. As the track begins to unfold, we find ourselves in the back half with the most intense vocal delivery from both Freeman AND Sanville to date.
The song’s gut wrenching hollers growing in intensity, the lyrics hard hitting and the music backing beautifully; nearing hardcore, while still bordering on post-emo, but not without falling back into the gentle sound the band still manages to maintain after nearly a decade as a unit.
The LP wraps up with what I believe is one of the band’s greatest acoustic tracks yet: “My Dad Told Me to Write a Nice One for Nana So This is It.” It is short and sweet. It is somber, but all the while hopeful and heartfelt. It’s a perfect closing track to a very well-rounded album by a band who has proved nothing but consistency and growth.
With The Sound a Body Makes When It’s Still, we get to see a band that is comfortable in its exploration while also maintaining comfort inside of its boundaries. It’s the right amount of growth, and concurrently the right amount of staying true to a sound well built.
All in all, I find this album to be the best, most cohesive and honest body of work by the ever-growing band since 2020’s You’ll Be Fine.
Rating
3.9/5
Favorite Tracks
“It Smells Like Fudge Axe in Here”
“Slumdog Scungillinaire”
Tracklist
1. Moving to Bed Bug Island
2. And A Big Load
3. It Smells Like Fudge Axe in Here
4. Island in the Sun (feat. Corey Castro of Free Throw)
5. Bon Jonah
6. This Makes Me Yummy
7. Monica Lewinskibidi
8. Milam Minute
9. Cream of Wheat of Feet New Cream of (feat)
10. Mix Master Wade On The Beat
11. Carbon Monoxide Hotel
12. This Makes Me Yucky
13. Let Me See Your Mounts
14. Monster Burger and a $5 Beer
15. Slumdog Scungillionaire
16. My Dad Told Me To Write a Nice One For Nana So This Is It
Get Album
https://waxbodega.com/products/hot-mulligan
Tour Dates
https://hotmulligan.band/pages/tour
Connect with Hot Mulligan
https://www.instagram.com/hotmulligan/
https://m.youtube.com/@HotMulligan
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