Joe Pug, "Messenger"

Joe Pug first caught my ear during our Lollapalooza previews from last year. I loved his debut EP, Nation of Heat, with its simplicity and powerful lyrics. But then after Pug's live performance at Lolla ended up being different than I expected for me, he kind of slipped out of my mind. He was backed by a full band and the set was more country than folk.

But with Pug's release of his first full-length album, Messenger, he has returned to my listening rotation. He does have some songs with a full band -- it works well in "The Door Was Always Open," complete with banjo and backing vocals -- but he also sticks with what worked on Nation of Heat: solo folk songs with great lyrics. The two that have caught my attention right away are "How Good You Are" and "Bury Me Far (From My Uniform)." Really digging these tunes. He also included an electric version of "Speak Plainly, Diana," a song from his EP, but I can't decide which version I like better.

I have to be in the right mood to listen to Joe Pug, but when I'm in that mood his music really works for me.

Messenger - Joe Pug