Song Premiere: "The Last Year" by Joe Pugsley

Whether through his own music projects, his writing and editing in several outlets (Big Takeover, Blood Makes Noise), or his eclectic recording collective Pyrrhic Victory Recordings, you’re never too many degrees separated from North Jersey’s Joe Pugsley. From his work with Inger Lorre in NYC in the 90s to his musings in The 65’s and the mass of art he’s made in between, the guy’s work speaks for itself. Something we admire about his benefactions is that, while, yes, Joe’s creative commons exist in the “punk” universe, he’s never pigeonholed himself to one specific sound, subgenre, hell, even one instrument. If you told him that, he’d probably thank you for finding a nice way to describe how he’s shot himself in the foot between sips of a Guinness Blonde (I happen to know it’s his favorite); just like him to downplay his proclivity for emotive songwriting and his innate ability to sonically serve songs which he hasn’t written. We’ve been gifted a treat from Joe today, a masterclass in the latter.

After battling a few years of what friends believe to be self-inflicted agoraphobia, Joe Pugsley resurfaces with a cover of the classic Stiv Bators track “The Last Year”, from the epic 1980 record Disconnected. The track features longtime friends and collaborators Ed Roessler (Miss Ohio, Summer Husbands) on bass and guitar and John Steele (Dark Brothers, Voice of Doom) on drums, with Joe on guitar and vocals. Engineer Kevin Lacatena blesses the song with some snappy snares, a rolling bass tone, and rich, crispy guitars to which Steele comments, “How great does that 57 jr sound through that JCM 800? Killer, bro.” And he’s right, it really does.

While we aren’t sure what this means for Joe’s next (and prior) endeavors, it seems long overdue to finally have a record with his name and face on it. When asked about the new release, Pugsley succinctly shares: “It’s the only song I felt like singing at the moment.” It’s a good thing, because we feel like hearing it. We can only hope that he is testing the power-pop waters, and we are looking forward to hearing, perhaps, some Pugsley-originals in this format. Enjoy this tasteful take on a true classic by one of New Jersey’s finest, exclusive here at Big Takeover until releasing on all digital platforms via Mint 400 Records June 21.

- Ryan Struck, Daily Grime Media

- Cover art by John Steinheimer

Mint 400 Records
Daily Grime Media
Pyrrhic Victory Recordings