Pi Jacobs
Album: Urbanicana
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 6
Website: http://www.pijacobs.com

As Americana becomes more and more a generic term to incorporate a range of folk and country styles, I guess it would become almost inevitable that the term would also diversify out at the other end to start to define where it crosses over into other genres.

Pi Jacobs album title, "Urbanicana", pretty much gives the genre that she's playing a real definition, not that she's created a new style, there are elements of other generations of artists that you can sense in the sound, Aimie Mann, Alana Morrisette and going back even further bands like The Motels, more that she's created a new reference point for it.

Jacobs brings a new wave sound and attitude and welds it to a folk country chassis, that creates a hybrid utility vehicle that seems almost custom built for pre-game, car park barbeque. There's even a few touches of gospel, particularly on "Whatever" to provide the chrome detailing.

This is music for the boulevards and streets, rather than freeways and wide open spaces. "Mrs O'Neill" is good honest bar band stuff, with US style folk references, trailer trash not being good enough for an uptown boy's mother, hard edged wrong side of the tracks stuff.

I've been playing "Urbanicana" quite a bit, it seems to feel at home in so many different places with or without company. Like all good mini albums, it leaves you wanting more, so roll on a full length album, in the meantime, enjoy.

Neil King