Customer Reviews

Nation of Heat Ep

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Like another reviewer, I hadn't heard of Joe Pug until I saw him open for Steve Earle. Right out of the gate, during his first song, I was determined to get a copy of his material. "Nation of Heat" and "Hymn #101" are two of the best songs I've heard all year. It absolutely sounds like early Bob Dylan, and Mr Pug may live and die by that comparison. But as far as I'm concerned, Bob Dylan hasn't been Bob Dylan in quite some time, and Joe Pug fills that role very well. This stuff is so good, you cannot simply write it off as imitation. Considering the fact that 98% of popular music sucks today, I challenge anyone to find flaws with this stuff.

Having listened to a sampler of Joe which consisted of Nation of Heat and Hymn 101, which can actually be gotten from his website www.nationofheat.com, I was certainly pleased to get a chance to see him play a small venue at a friend's house. I was even more enthralled by the music he played during his set which was the consisted of the rest of the songs from the Nation of Heat EP. The album as a whole is very well written and performed. Certainly a throwback to a time when musicians took a greater sense of pride in writing their own songs. Also, as a note to any potential or current fans, I have had the pleasure of meeting Joe and having done so I am certainly proud to say I am a fan of his.

I never heard of Joe Pug till I saw him last night at Berklee opening up for Steve Earle and I gotta say I was blown away ! Like the other reviewers said he reminded me of a young Dylan ( who can sing too !) I am definately going to buy his Cd/ep and can't wait for more songs to come from this guy who's singing feels like a "breath of fresh air" from all that "pop bubble-gum produced crap out there" ! Thank You Steve Earle for introducing Joe Pug !

This is a guy with guitor and harmonica and songs of imagination. I liked it. It made me smile and enjoy. I shared it with a 75 year old friend. He too enjoyed it as much as the singer/songwriters in the '70's. I look forward to listening to more from this talent.

Like the other reviewer said, if you like old Dylan you will love this guy (except Joe can actually sing :). EP sounds great, but you have to see this guy live. Plays small venues all over, especially Chicago.

Very strong EP. Can't wait for the full length album. If you like old Dylan, you'll love this EP!

I heard Joe Pug a year ago as he was on the card with the Bowerbirds at the Mill in Iowa City. Joe's singing, performing, and his wonderful songs sucked me into his world. His lyrics are wonderful and his articulation is great. He performs beautifully, but listening at home is also compelling. There is not a bad cut on this CD.

Piehole talks about the unavoidable comparisons to Dylan. Hence the title of my review, which comes from a story I read somewhere about an alto sax jazz player who was disparaged repeatedly for "playing like Charlie Parker." One night a heckler---plowing this familiar ground---got to this jazzman, so he stopped playing, went to the foot of the stage, extended his instrument toward the heckler and said, "OK, _you_ play like Charlie Parker." I agree with Piehole that Joe fills that "Dylan role" admirably, indeed. We should not let that inevitable comparison hamper our enjoyment. It has not done that for me one little bit.

I absolutely love this album. I played it and found it impossible to stop listening to. Hymn #101, Call it What you Will, Hymn #35, and I Do My Fathers Drugs are the standout songs, however all of them are top notch in their own way. Joe has a strong voice and sings with passion, I imagine he would be fun to see live in a small setting. The only complaint is I wish the album had more songs.

Listen closely to the lyrics as they are rich with content and great to sing along to. I hope he comes out with a full length album soon.

Great Album, one of the best I ever heard. I like every single song. Listening to it for over a year, just picked it up again.

Joe pug is unbelievable. He strikes me as someone who simply embodies many of the capabilities of Bob Dylan with out any attempt at emulation. He is even better live.