The Flood In Color
Nation Of Heat, 2019
8/10
After a nearly half decade hiatus from recorded music, Joe Pug returns with a career highlight, where an organic process that was never forced allowed this back to basics approach to resonate with a cautious, timeless feel.
“Exit” starts the listen soft and agile, as Pug’s wise, warm vocals guide us through timeless folk sounds, and “The Flood In Color” follows with pristine harmonicas as the setting finds a sparse, emotive delivery.
Elsewhere, “The Letdown” and “Long Midnight” are full of vivid storytelling with a rustic quality, while “Blues Came Down” unfolds with a calm blues touch on an intimate, contemplative stand out.
Late in the disc, “Here Again” flows with bare beauty, and “The Stranger I’ve Been” recruits a playful approach with accordions. The album exits on “Empty Hands And Broad Shoulders”, where more grace and sublime songwriting helps solidity this as Pug’s best work to date.
Now a family man with plenty of hobbies outside of music, Pug seems like he’s in a great place in his life, and his music follows suit with stripped down reflection that’s easy to embrace.
Travels well with: M. Ward- Post-War; Justin Townes Earle- The Saint Of Lost Causes