Los Angeles isn’t shining in the weather department, but residents are walking with their noses even higher in the air thanks to the LA Kings Stanley Cup Victory. However, this girl could care less about the “home pride” when it comes to sports, I care more about the music a city has to offer. Culprit is one of 4934934343412 musical acts in LA (okay, so I might be over exaggerating by one or two), but they’ve hit my radar, so that’s what matters. They’re a young rock band that doesn’t fit into that pop punk niche that’s resurfaced, and while that genre is kicking ass and taking names…Bands like Culprit show that you don’t always have to play the same game as everyone else.
Their new single, “Knock on the Sky,” will make its debut on Alternative Press on June 17th, but before everyone gets their ears on it, it sits cradled in my iPod in between new Motion City Soundtrack and a leaked Justin Bieber (don’t hate). Culprit’s new track makes me kind of sad though and let me tell you why. The vocals sound like a polished Bert McCracken, so it gives “Knock on the Sky” a sound that might’ve been what The Used would’ve sounded like if they had refined their sound after they decided screams weren’t their thing anymore because who knows what’s been going on the last three records with those Utah boys.
Back to Culprit as a whole…They know the key to making a song that racks up countless plays on ones iTunes; begin with the chorus. From that point on you know the hook and are waiting for it again and again. The lead in is similar to The Higher’s “Diaries” except when “Knock on the Sky” kicks in, it’s a full force band and not a pop induced rock band. Each part of the song acts as a stepping stone, the end result is a rock track that has you asking for another.
Remember “Knock on the Sky” can be heard on Alternative Press on June 17th and if you dig their fellow LA natives’ Currents and Back Pocket Memory, then check this track out and wait diligently for more from Culprit.
Leave a Reply