And your ears shall hear…

Butch Walker is one of my favorite artists.  He can do no wrong in my eyes.  His production work with countless pop acts, confirms this.  Butch puts his stamp on everything he touches, and once you become a fan, you’ll notice his handiwork.  His catalog consists of  many great artists including Pete Yorn, Fall Out Boy, Katy Perry, Avril Lavigne, Weezer, and Dashboard Confessional, just to name a few.  I am always curious to see who he is working with and what the songs sound like when they are finished, because he has a very special insight into pop music.  That’s why when he pulls himself away from his production and puts out a record of his own, it’s a treat for us all.  I Liked It Better When You Had No Heart, picks up right where he left off on his last outing, Sycamore Meadows, with a sort of 70’s power pop.  Stringing together another album of great pop songs, that have that Butch stamp, but owe their existence to past influences.  You will hear some Queen on “Pretty Melody,” some Elvis Costello on “Don’t You Think Someone Should Drive You Home,” and “She Likes Hair Bands” might even owe some love to Kenny Rogers and Steve Miller.  Stick your hand into Butch’s Easter Basket of Sounds, and you really don’t know what type of egg you will pull out.  This dude is a master of perception, because for every original tune he writes, you cannot put your proverbial finger on just who it reminds you of.  That’s part of the fun, though, that comes with being a Butch Walker fan.  The greatest part is his personality and voice.  When you combine these things with his songwriting, you get some amazing hooks that stay stuck in your head for days.  Seeing Butch live, is an entirely different animal.  He is truly one of the last great performers left, and I mean that with all sincerity.  On the stage is where he really shines.  He is a singer, a rapper, and a multi-instrumentalist.  But above all, he is a fan of his fans.  Pouring his heart and soul out to us every time he comes through town.  No matter how much I write about this man, it must be seen to be believed.  So catch this guy if you have the chance, he will not disappoint.

“Pretty Melody”

“She Likes Hair Bands”