Messenger is Joe Pug's first full-length album. In contrast to Pug's first EP, Nation of Heat, a full backing band supplements Pug's guitar, vocals and harmonica, a change featured most notably on an electric version of Nation of Heat'''s "Speak Plainly, Diana." Reviewers, like Steve Kolowich at the Washington City Paper, noted that, with Messenger, in contrast to Nation of Heat'', Pug turns from declarative and extroverted to reflective and introspective: The album met critical acclaim, with Paste Magazine rating it 9.1/10, adding: “unless your surname is Dylan, Waits, Ritter or Prine, you could face-palm yourself to death trying to pen songs half as inspired as the 10 tracks on Joe Pug’s debut full-length.” Track listing "Messenger" – 4:23 "How Good You Are" – 4:19 "Not So Sure" – 4:35 "The Sharpest Crown" – 3:58 "The Door Was Always Open" – 2:49 "The First Time I Saw You" – 3:34 "Unsophisticated Heart" – 3:06 "Disguised as Someone Else" – 3:34 "Bury Me Far (From My Uniform)" – 4:07 "Speak Plainly, Diana" – 3:17 Personnel Joe Pug - Guitar, Vocals Tim Bennett - Drums, Percussion Curtis Evans - Vocal Harmony Julia Klee - Vocal Harmony Rocco Labriola - Banjo, Pedal Steel Guitar Jeremy Miller - Vocal Harmony Matt Scheussler - Guitar (Bass) Darren Spitzer - Vocal Harmony Ian Tsan - Drums, Vocal Harmony References 2010 albums Joe Pug albums Lightning Rod Records albums