94. Heidi Moore Discusses Joe Pug, Messenger

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Economics and finance writer/editor Heidi Moore introduces Al to singer-songwriter Joe Pug and his 2010 album, Messenger. Heidi talks about other artists who are a part of Pug’s “cinematic universe,” why the songs of Messenger resonate with her and why she didn’t choose to discuss a Bastille album instead.

Heidi mentioned Pug’s weekly Sunday livestreams and his podcast, Working Songwriter. Find them via the following links…

Livestream: https://joepugmusic.com/livestream

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-working-songwriter/id1079001185

Al talked about how an essay he wrote for Bandcamp Daily earlier this year relates to some of themes covered on Messenger. You can read that essay here: https://daily.bandcamp.com/resonance/quasi-seal-the-deal-essay.

As Heidi mentioned, she has accounts on multiple social media platforms, but you are most likely to find her on Twitter. She is at @moorehn.

For the time being, Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.

The show is also now on Mastodon. @[email protected].

Al launched You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter earlier this year and has brought it back after a hiatus. You can subscribe for free to get Al’s monthly posts, but paid subscriptions give you access to weekly posts. Please consider trying a paid subscription as it also helps to support this podcast! https://youmealbum.substack.com/

1:00 Heidi joins the show

1:38 Why didn’t Heidi choose a Bastille album?

4:24 Al and Heidi talk about shows they’ve attended during the pandemic

6:23 Heidi explains why she chose Messenger for this episode

8:33 Heidi names some other artists she considered discussing

11:36 Heidi talks about the song that started her Joe Pug fandom

16:17 Pug was prescient about how society would change with social media

18:22 The lyrics of Messenger made a huge impression on Al

21:05 Al related to “How Good You Are” in particular

23:16 Heidi compares Pug to Joni Mitchell

29:01 Themes that Pug raises provide lessons that were relevant for the Trump era

39:56 “Disguised as Someone Else” is a meaningful track for both Heidi and Al

44:26 Al sees the opening and closing tracks as outliers on the album

47:01 Heidi explains why she can’t listen to “Unsophisticated Heart” often

52:54 Is songwriting magic?

54:08 Heidi and Al see contrasts between Messenger and Fiona Apple’s Tidal

57:53 Heidi and Al revisit a line from “Unsophisticated Heart” they like

1:00:06 Heidi talks about Pug’s training as a playwright

1:01:50 “The First Time I Saw You” is another of Heidi’s favorite tracks from the album

1:05:44 Heidi talks about a couple of albums she’s been listening to lately

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