After listening to “Tell Me Secrets” a couple of times, one thing becomes clear: Jacob Jeffries Band has a lot to say about love.
The group’s fourth studio album harnesses a sound that would excel commercially but is slightly inhibited by a repetitive theme. The album gives a good first impression with the first song “Worth the Wait.” The vocal harmonies at the beginning of the song are very reminiscent of “Because” by The Beatles. The song then jumps into high-energy rock mode, creating positive vibes that resonate throughout the rest of the album.
The traditional ensemble of keyboards, guitar, bass and drums serve as a wonderful complement to Jacob Jeffries’ singing voice, a charming boyish tenor that rings as bright as his piano playing.
The guitar gives a slight country twang while the keys drive the musical genre into the direction of bluesy rock. The overall composition is refreshing and would be something suitable to listen to while driving down a highway on a road trip.
Many of the up-tempo songs on this album blend together, making them difficult to differentiate from one another. However, there are a few notable gems that stand out and will send listeners on a vivid journey.
“Crazy Under the Moon” is an extremely well designed song because of its climactic build. Additionally, Jeffries is more creative and poetic in this song than in others, with lyrics like “my mind rages like animals in cages locked up in a zoo.” The intensity of this song, both musically and lyrically, is what makes it memorable.
Another remarkable song off the album is “Suffocate My Heart.” Although another love song may seem exhausting toward the end of the album, the subject is taken with an interesting approach. He refers to “love collecting dust under the bed” and “parades marching in (his) head.” Also, there is a spectacular saxophone break in the middle of the song, which can be extremely gratifying in moderation.
In addition to the saxophone solo, there are other eccentric quirks laced throughout the album. In “Believer,” Jacob Jeffries unleashes his scatting skills over a gritty blues track, a solo that did not disappoint.
The problem with several songs on the album is that their lyrics are too simple and generic, which makes it difficult to remember among the abundance of love songs on the album.
For instance, the songs “I Don’t Know” and “Coming Home” are both guitar-heavy and discuss the trials and tribulations of being in love. It is difficult to recall any difference between the two other than their titles.
There is a peculiar intermission track that consists of a ukulele being played over the sound of a woman repeating a French phrase that translates to the title “Music and Lyrics Inspired by Critiques.” This seemed to suggest that the musical style of the album’s latter half would somehow differ from the first.
Regardless of whether or not the songs were inspired by critiques, there are significant differences between the two parts of the album. The genre of the latter half embodies a style of pop music and is much more mellow than the first half. This is evident through the use of certain instruments. In “Struggle,” the band uses both a xylophone and a banjo, two instruments that enhance the fun and easy-going nature of the song.
At first, this album could easily be shrugged off as commercial music that’s uplifting and catchy but lacking substance because of some instances of repetition. But play the album a few times to discover that this album is the product of fine musicianship and has moments that are both lyrically poetic and meaningful.
Email Schmitto at cschmitto@media.ucla.edu.