Kulick Impresses Again With His New Album, ‘Everyone I Know Will Die’

Courtesy: ENCI Records

Independent singer-songwriter Kulick (a.k.a Jacob Kulick) released his latest studio recording, Everyone I Know Will Die this week.  The seven-song record came Friday, less than two years after the release of his latest album, Yelling in a Quiet Neighborhood and less than a year after the release of its companion EP, Sitting in a Quiet Coffeehouse.  AS with those records, his latest studio recording was released through ENCI Records.  The 20-minute record offers more of what audiences have come to expect from Kulick musically and lyrically.  The album’s latest single/title track is just one of the songs that makes that clear.  It will be discussed shortly.  ‘The People I Know,’ another of the album’s singles, is another example of how the record offers plenty of familiarity from Kulick.  It will be discussed a little later.  ‘For Once in My Life’ is yet another example of what audiences have to look forward to from Kulick in his latest outing and will also be discussed later.  All three noted songs are key in their own way to the whole of the record’s presentation.  When they are considered along with the rest of the album’s entries, the whole makes Everyone I Know Will Die another engaging and interesting offering from Kulick.

Everyone I Know Will Die, is another interesting offering from Kulick.  His third studio recording in as many years, it is certain to appeal to his established audiences and even more casual listeners through its musical and lyrical content even being shorter than most albums in terms of content.  This is proven in part through its latest single, which is also the album’s title track. 

The song’s musical arrangement is a catchy alt-rock composition.  The simple, staccato approach of the guitar riff in the verses and almost percussive nature of Kulick’s vocal delivery therein combines elements of pop punk with the most subtle 80s pop influence for a work in whole that holds its own identity separate from the record’s other compositions.  The choruses, which are more energetic, present a sound that is oddly comparable to the choruses in so many pop punk opuses.  What is interesting about the song’s overall musical arrangement is that the mood that it will create in listeners’ minds is so positive, despite the fact that the song’s lyrical theme is so heavy.

The song’s lyrical theme is heavy in that is tackles the topic of acceptance of our mortality.  Nobody likes to think about their mortality, but it is a reality, and Kulick has done an impressive job of tackling the rarely handled matter.  He reminded audiences, in talking about the item, that the point of the song is to make the most of their lives while they are here. 

“We are here until we aren’t, and that’s okay,” he said. It has to be. Make it worth your time. Spread love. Have gratitude. You are loved and you are strong, even in moments you may not feel it.”

That comment in itself would explain the positive nature of the song’s musical arrangement.  It serves to help translate the positive mindset in the overall song despite its heavy nature.  He even goes so far as to write in the song’s second verse (after noting of all the negatives in the world), “I can’t go on complaining about everything/I’m gonna keep my pace/Forward ‘till my permanent sleep.”  That short statement speaks volumes.  It is a direct contrast to everything else in the song’s lyrical content and clearly translates the positive mindset that Kulick discussed.  Everybody has those moments of existentialism every now and then in life.  To that end, the positive approach that Kulick takes here is certain to help any listener get through those moments.  It makes this song just one example of what makes Everyone I Know Will Die successful.

Another notable addition to the album is ‘The People I Know,’ which comes early in the album’s run.  This is another song that, lyrically, will connect with so many listeners.  This will be discussed shortly.  The song’s musical arrangement serves as its foundation.  Where the musical arrangement in the album’s title track was more alt-rock in its sound and stylistic approach, this song is much more defined in its pop punk approach.  Audiences can hear influence from the likes of Jimmy Eat World here.  That is due to the harmonies in the song’s instrumentation and in the vocals.  The song barely tops the two-and-a-half minute mark, but in that time, it will leave audiences feeling fulfilled.  When that sense of fulfillment is paired with the sense of determination in the song’s lyrical content, the whole makes the song even more powerful.

“This is a song about not fitting in with who you’re around and being very aware of it,” said Kulick about the song’s lyrical theme. That message comes through clearly in the song’s lyrical delivery, too.  He openly attacks those other people right from the song’s outset, singing, “Your mother’s basement/Your father’s paycheck/You feel complacent/I know/You play your sad songs/And your video games/It’s no wonder we’ll never get along/That’s why I had to go.”  This is a clear indictment of those lazy, self-loathing people who would rather wallow in that negative mindset than do something with their lives.  The message continues in the song’s second verse, in which he sings, “You’re so damn negative/And there’s no one to blame for it/If you hate who you are/Then change it/But you won’t/You don’t/You’re in the same bar/On a different day/With the same friends/Out drinking again/It’s no wonder we’ll never get along/I’d rather be alone.”  Looking at all of this and everything in the song’s lead verse, what audiences get here is not a song of self-loathing, bur rather one of taking pride in one’s self for not fitting in with those who prefer to do the self loathing, the partying, and who have the sense of self righteousness.  That realization makes the song’s musical arrangement all the more infectious and enjoyable.  The two items together make clear why this song is another example of how much Kulick’s new album has to offer. 

‘For Once In My Life’ is yet another example of what makes Everyone I Know Will Die a success.  The song stands out in part because of its musical arrangement.  The arrangement boasts its own identity from its counterparts in this record because it while Kulick’s familiar alt-rock leanings are present once again, there are other influences at work alongside that element.  The verses’ guitar line pair with Kulick’s vocal delivery style to give the arrangement a subtle late 80s/early 90s pop rock sort of sound and stylistic approach.  The choruses meanwhile are more modern.  They are more comparable to works from the likes of Maroon 5.  That contrast is sharp to say the least at first consideration, but it works, thanks to the production that went into the song.  The two sides are so well-balanced that they ensure audiences’ maintained engagement and entertainment.

As much as the song’s arrangement does to make it stand out, the lyrical content that accompanies that musical content makes for its own interest.  The lyrical theme featured in this song comes across as a sort of contemplation within one’s self.  At the same time that contemplation comes apparently from a relationship issue of sorts.  This is inferred as Kulick sings in the song’s chorus, “Stuck between who I am and who you want to see/Maybe you grew out of you and I grew out of me/I’m all fight or all flight/It’s all black or all white/But I bleed blue.”  From there Kulick eventually goes on to ask himself, “Can I get it right for once in my life?”  This points even more, to the seeming theme of dealing with that inner battle of self-doubt.  What’s more, maybe the relationship in question is not that, but even more of the subject talking to himself, questioning whether he grew out of himself.  If in fact this is the case, then it further makes the song’s lyrical theme accessible to audiences across the board.  When it is considered along with the mood set by the song’s musical arrangement, the two elements join to make the song in whole yet another clear example of what makes Everyone I Know Will Die another successful offering from Kulick.  When it and the other songs examined here are considered along with the rest of the album’s entries, the whole will convince audiences that this album, while brief, still a successful new offering from Kulick.

Everyone I Know Will Die is another engaging and entertaining offering from independent singer-songwriter Jacob Kulick.  The record’s success is proven through its musical and lyrical content alike.  The songs examined here do well to make that clear.  When they are considered along with the rest of the album’s works, the whole makes this presentation another largely successful new offering from Kulick that his established audiences and casual listeners alike will enjoy. 

Everyone I Know Will Die is available now through ENCI Records. More information on Kulick’s new album is available along with of all his latest news at:

Website: https://kulickofficial.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kulickofficial

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kulickofficial

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews, go online to https://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.