It was a little over two years ago when I first wrote about Christopher Peifer as a solo artist. His debut album Suicide Mission was an unexpected delight that left me publicly hoping for more. And as it turned out, I got what I wished for. Peifer's newest effort Sacred & Profane is his third album in as many years, and it brings into completion his remarkable COVID years trilogy. While still active in several bands (Joy Buzzer, Steve Shiffman & the Land of No, Todd Giudice's Pig Iron), he has established himself as one of the most dependable solo artists in today's power pop scene. He has quickly honed a signature sound built on tuneful melodies, sincere vocals, and relatable lyrics. The essential influences (Elvis Costello, The Replacements, Big Star, etc.) have remained constant, yet Peifer has achieved a wonderful progression across these three releases. In trying times, these albums have been like comfort food for the soul. They've traced our collective journey into the darkness and ultimately back into the light.
In Peifer's own words, Sacred & Profane explores themes of "love, loss, isolation, reconciliation, reunion, and forward motion." It was written in New York City, Indiana, and the Berkshire mountains of western Massachusetts and recorded in the Hudson Valley with Peifer's frequent collaborator Todd Giudice. Sticking to a winning formula, Peifer has again crafted a quintessential melodic guitar rock album. He's not trying to reinvent the wheel, but he's just so good at writing hooky rock songs that come from the heart. Like the previous two albums in this series, Sacred & Profane is full of autobiographical sketches and personal reflections. Song topics cover everything from unrequited love to the emotional ups and downs of living through unprecedented times to the yearning to return to a simpler life. I have to admit that I got a little choked-up listening to "Best Around," which is a sequel to Peifer's song "The Social Distance." In celebrating that experience of reuniting with loved ones, it reminds me of how far we've come in two years. Elsewhere, "Nowhere Fast" humorously details the frustrations of job hunting in a post-pandemic world. A couple of these tunes feature some of Peifer's finest lyrics to date: "The Long Goodbye" is an eloquent love letter to the city of New York, while "Ruthless Charm" finds its protagonist cleverly ruminating on an ages-ago crush from high school Spanish class. "Wide Receiver," which reflects on the joy of kicking back with an adult beverage and listening to records, makes me wish I did more of that sort of thing. It seems like I'm always listening to music while doing something else (driving, working, shaving, folding laundry, writing). Life is too short to not make time to just listen to music.
In a way, it seems like only yesterday that I first became aware of Chris Peifer's solo career. But in another way, it seems like a lifetime ago that Suicide Mission greeted my ears for the very first time. How has COVID come and (almost) gone in a flash yet managed to age us all ten years? Closing out with the lines "Dream of now and forever good," Sacred & Profane leaves us with the sense that we've finally turned a corner. Peifer has plans to finally tour in support of his three solo albums next year. He's also teasing some new singles due out in 2023. Sacred & Profane, like its two predecessors, is a reminder that even in an ever-changing world of music, well-crafted pop-rock will never go out of style. Now excuse me while I pour myself a tasty ale and savor these songs.
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