Kulick
Yelling in a Quiet Neighborhood

Kulick - Yelling in a Quiet Neighborhood

Fresh off the success of his debut EP, Hydroplane that featured a hit single called “Ghost,” Kulick has released his proper full-length record called Yelling in a Quiet Neighborhood. The 28-year old singer songwriter from West Penn, Pennsylvania is poised for some breakout success with this collection of deeply personal songs. In regards to the material translating to the live setting, Kulick mentioned in a recent interview that, “I am ready to tour as soon as it is safe to. I miss my friends and everyone who shares these songs with me. I miss their energy. When we’re able to tour again, look forward to hearing the first record that is truly a Kulick record. I look forward to sharing it with everyone.” It’s easy to share the optimism that he has in respect to his debut album, as he has crafted a unique brand of songs filled with personality.

The set kicks off with the darker-toned “Crawling” that finds Kulick describing a relationship that appears to be creating a ton of conflict in his life. His way of pouring every ounce of emotion into his songs is equally empowering as it is heartbreaking. “Rope” follows the solid introductory track as Kulick continues to bare his soul through his lyrics and music. Kulick sings passionately on the melodic chorus, “Running out of time but I can’t look back / I can’t look back, I can’t look back / You don’t have to cut me off / But I need some slack / Need some slack / I need some space again.” It’s apparent that the conflict within him is leading to some tough choices in his life.

The piano-based song “Waiting for You” showcases Kulick’s impressive vocal range and he has good command as he goes into his higher register on the chorus. The beats surrounding the music do a nice job of complementing Kulick’s vocals, and he makes a sound that feels filled with purpose.

”Monster” is a song built around an acoustic guitar and thunderous piano strokes and Kulick self-describes himself as the “monster in your bed” and its a pretty haunting track that will get the listener to feel something. The song itself teeters on the edge of singer-songwriter vibes mixed with pop sensibilities that make for an enjoyable listening experience. Kulick continues to experiment with this stylized approach on other songs such as “Fun,” where he sings cautiously over a programmed beat lamenting over the drawbacks of growing up. The song is reminiscent of artists such as The Fray with a little bit of Set It Off styles thrown into the mix.

”The Way I Am” ended up being my favorite song in the set, as Kulick summarizes all of the emotions that he brought forth in the record into a concise statement of his headspace at this moment in time. The song explodes into newfound heights as he sings passionately on the chorus over a pulsating drum beat.

The record ends with the tender one-two punch of “Lonely” and “Talking to the Ceiling” that find Kulick at his most vulnerable. On the latter track, he appears to be taking his struggles all in stride as he sings, “I’m still here,” as a way of saying that he is going to get through all this shit one way or another. His steadfast approach to using his music as an outlet of self-discovery and reflection only speaks to his ability as an artist to convey a wide range of emotions. Kulick has made a great debut album that feels unique, empowering, and authentic all at the same time.