The Great Despiser
Joe Pug · 2012
38 min · 11 tracks · traditional folk music
A reflective tapestry of folk melodies woven with poignant storytelling and sparse instrumentation.
Top tracks — play these first
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The Great Despiser — The title track encapsulates the album's central theme of grappling with disillusionment, featuring vivid imagery that contrasts personal struggles against broader societal issues.
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Those Thankless Years — This track stands out for its lyrical introspection, exploring the passage of time and the quiet regrets that accompany life’s choices, marked by a haunting melody.
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Silver Harps And Violins — With its intricate arrangement and emotive lyrics, this song highlights Pug's ability to blend traditional folk sounds with modern sensibilities, offering a rich listening experience.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong songwriting within a cohesive folk framework, though it doesn't significantly stand out in the genre.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of acoustic guitar and piano, with sparse arrangements that allow the vocals to take center stage.
- Each track typically follows a verse-chorus structure, with lyrics that reflect personal and introspective themes.
- Several songs incorporate subtle harmonies and layered instrumentation, particularly in the choruses, enhancing the emotional weight of the storytelling.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Hymn #76 3:37
- 2 Those Thankless Years 3:05
- 3 The Great Despiser 4:05
- 4 A Gentle Few 3:53
- 5 Ours 4:03
- 6 Silver Harps And Violins 4:13
- 7 Stronger Than The World 3:16
- 8 One Of Many 3:09
- 9 Neither Do I Need A Witness 3:26
- 10 The Servant's Ace 3:11
- 11 Deep Dark Wells 2:51
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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