SOLDIER ON is the tenth release from Californian singer-songwriter Pi Jacobs and represents an artist at the peak of their powers. The eleven track-forty minute effort often checks in to the bluesier side of the American roots spectrum. This eases immediately into the listeners's lap with some nifty guitar work hailing further catchy credentials wrapped in album opener 'Hallelujah'. This slips seamlessly into an harmonica blowing start to 'Too High Too Low' with Jacobs' gutsy vocals refining an ear worm piece adorned with the relatable lyric sounding like 'we share a few laughs, three chords and the truth'. Sage words in the title chorus also suggests a balanced approach to life. Coincidentally, her last album in 2020 was ironically titled TWO CHORDS AND A LIE.
'Coyote' picks the beat up a tad and comes across as an affable listen pitching itself to be savoured by many without ditching a roots undercurrent. This possesses one of many memorable melodies on the record. 'Something To Lose' brings a sedater presence to the proceedings with a voice, simple guitar and a bunch of heartfelt lyrics all that's needed to move the album along. The classy credentials of Pi Jacobs come to the fore in the poignant track 'Smoke Signals', dealt with a punchy beat while elaborately sung. 'Shoo Fly' represents the funky pivotal mark of the record with all the hallmarks of grammy producer Eric Corne being in charge of twiddling the knobs to bring the best out of Jacobs and her band.
Pi Jacobs has had a much travelled career criss crossing her homeland acquiring an amalgam of sounds and styles that embed a core of Americana. You sense being in the company of a distinguished musician highly capable of finding the listener's sweet spot.
'Mermaid' kicks off the album's second phase (or track #7 for the digital listening experience) and builds on the serene qualities displayed in the first half. Once again a mild dose of twang enhances the roots-tinge. For the first time, a slight edge in a contemporary country direction appears in the opening bars of 'My Last Day' and remains as the track rolls out to further develop a resolute album. Jacobs' dips into character writing for 'Charlene', which comes across as a personal song, almost in a lullaby style with added strings detected. The album title track appears in the penultimate slot with perhaps a kind of straightforward message emanating from the mid tempo 'Soldier On'. Maybe something all artists have to so at some stage of a lengthy career. The curtain comes down in the secure hands of 'I Don't Feel Lonely', a tribute to music itself and a fitting finale to an album stacked with sounds forming a pleasurable dive into the music of a consummate professional.
The undeniable class of Pi Jacobs consistently stands out throughout the duration of SOLDIER ON. While longstanding admirers will savour this effort, an open door is there for new arrivals. Good musicians don't dwell and reaching new parts can stimulate a career to greater heights.