Muruch

Butch Walker’s fourth album Sycamore Meadows is inspirationally upbeat considering it was written and recorded after a wildfire destroyed Walker’s home, possessions, and the masters of every recording he’d ever made. For this art born of tragedy, Walker abandoned the swaggering glam rock style of his previous album in favor of intimate acoustics and infectious pop-rock. The album features guest vocals by Pink.

I just wanna walk away from the ashes
& take the fact that I’ve been burned
& maybe let you know I’m still standing
& if you miss it again, miss it again
I’m around…

The opener “The Weight Of Her” (which I first posted in October) is a catchy guitar driven pop-rock song reminiscent of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. “Going Back/Going Home” strips down to the singer-songwriter sound of Letters, but the romantic optimism of youth has evolved into the seasoned, often jaded wisdom of experience. Walker recounts the decadence and downfalls of a rockstar lifestyle, which produced within him a new found appreciation for the simplicity of his hometown.

“Here Comes The…” is a pretty, soaring pop number, but seems a waste of guest Pink’s powerful voice. The big retro pop brass and handclaps of “Ponce de Leon Ave.” are far more interesting. “Ships in a Bottle” may appear to be a post-breakup wallower on the surface, but the lyrics were really inspired by the loss of Butch’s home and belongings. The stand out track is “The 3 Kids in Brooklyn”, which churns guitars flavored with a delicious dash of Southern Rock twang and culminates in a cacophonous choir of vocals.

Butch Walker – The Weight of Her (mp3 removed) *

*mp3 posted w/ permission of Original Signal Recordings

Butch Walker Official Site
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Butch’s Blog

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