Hungover: Wilt Review

Written by Robin Ervolina
Orlando quintet Hungover release their new CD Wilt on March 30, 2018 via Smartpunk Records. It's a breath of fresh air in a genre suffering from same-sound-different-name. If I can beg you to listen to anything today, I'm on my knees for Hungover.
The initial tune on Wilt, "Three's Company" introduces you to outrageously unique Marc Cortes. Once in a great while a singer comes around who will undoubtedly inspire future vocalists to emulate in earnest. In my perfect world it's going to be Cortes. His range, tone, and vibrato produce love at first listen. He's part crooner, part rocker, and deeply authentic. And though it's going to be difficult to pry you away from this revelation, look beyond this siren and focus on "Three's Company." You'll find a peppy tune (about a not-so-cheerful subject) sharing some stylistic choices with pop punk/emo pop. For fans of this genre looking for their next obsession, Hungover is a clear front runner. It's pop punk(ish) refurbished and repurposed for a new generation.
If you want your old school pop/alt rock, don't despair. "Girlfriend" has all the twisted lyrics you crave, a chaotic rhythm, and a choir of "oooohs" singing through the bridge and into the outro. "Fever," possibly my favorite song on Wilt, brings the angsts and holds all the feels. "I love you so much that it makes me sick," sung in that yearning Cortes way, makes me throw my arms out and spin wildly into the part of the universe where joy lives. After your dizzy spell subsides, make sure you stick around for "Around," the goosebump-inducing unplugged ballad that keeps Cortes in the forefront.

Second half, same as the first aka brilliant

The second half of the Wilt is just as good as the first. "Exit Stage Left" is classic Fall Out Boy. "Irish Goodbye" is an honest middle finger at an absent parent. The quirky "Falling Out," is followed by the soaring "Sleep Alone." Pro tip: if you're doing this right, that tune is followed by "Three's Company" because you are playing Wilt again. Please play Wilt again. It's hard not to get lost in Cortes' vocals, but you must keep spinning this disc until you lock into the gorgeous melodies and tight musicianship that defines Hungover.
As proof that the universe loves good music, Wilt started streaming today for free here. Give it a listen now. Buy it when it drops on Friday. Maybe pick up a copy at the release party in Orlando on Saturday. The band will be celebrating the release of Wilt with a hometown album release show at Soundbar in Orlando on Saturday, March 31st. Each person who purchases a ticket will receive a free copy of the EP - for more information, please visit: https://goo.gl/YwkN6g.

Hungover is Marc Cortes (vocals), Evan Colson (guitars, vocals), Sean Connors (guitar), Austin Barney (bass, vocals), and Gabriel Santiago (drums).

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