Minneapolis’ Jack Pfeffer does it again. In the sing-along goody “There You Are” the singer/songwriter strums his way into listeners’ hearts with an infectious tune. Dripping with rich guitar strums and melodic vocals, “There You Are” is a follow-up to “All Alone Without You”.
One of the lines in the song, now I’m forced to go and bottle up my tears, made me think of the pain from unrequited love. And there you are, goes the chorus. His melodic voice is coy. My interpretation of the song is a guy that is just head-over-heels in love with a girl and she keeps toying with his emotions. He can’t shake her because she’s always there, both in his thoughts and physically. While the song’s vibe is not sad, on the contrary, the guitar is bright and Pfeffer’s vocal range is stuck on the positive note. Something about his voice and his demeaner feels so loving and so friendly. Maybe that’s the problem, he’s always the friend and never the lover. Yes, Pfeffer is stuck in the friend zone.
All kidding aside, Pfeffer has a reassuring tone to his voice. He’s calm, cool and collected. Much like Brandon Flowers (The Killers), Pfeffer can croon his voice into many corners of the mind and soul. What makes “There You Are” such a delightful track, too, is the music bed. It’s quirky and modern. It’s not outlandish and it’s a tight sound. The guitar can be crunchy at times and I loved the crispness of the sound. His percussion is solid but never daunting or disruptive. It fills the spaces, and Pfeffer’s voice hovers all like a well-balanced tight-rope walker. I think he could explore some of the sounds a bit more, but I do like the way he relies on his confident vocals. The song is a great pop rock song.
After a few listens I can hear influences of The Beach Boys, MGMT and Foster The People. I think Pfeffer’s imaginative riffs and cultivated percussion could run wild in a different world, but in “There You Are” his self-editing is on point. Fans of MGMT will find “There You Are” more stripped down than what they are used to, but the charisma and artistry is definitely present. Again, he does have the leeway to really jump into other avenues, but after a few listens, his editing is appreciated.
Compared to “All Alone Without You” I’m thinking at the moment I like “There You Are” just a bit more. Ask me tomorrow or next week. They both have great sounds and are unique to Pfeffer’s range and wheelhouse.
Overall, “There You Are” by Jack Pfeffer is a keeper. This song is easy to like and very worthy of adding to your pop rock, Americana or singer/songwriter playlists. No extra bells and whistles are needed for Pfeffer, he puts forth a great song and a fun tune. I anticipate great sounds and even more sonic explorations from this young talent. Good things to come, no doubt.
Garth Thomas