Butch Walker - Letters
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Free Music Notes for Letters
Free Music Review: Nowhere to go but DOWN
Hit: 2 Stars
Though I suppose this review will likely land me in the doghouse with Butch Walker loyalists everywhere, I cannot pretend that this album is great. In fact, it's rather bland. So much so that it's difficult to sit thru for the entire duration. What I can't understand is what prompted Butch to take this diluted vanilla Mayeresque direction in the first place.
Now mind you, I am all about artists taking chances & branching out over time but this is a HARD right turn from practically all of the fantastic qualities we've come to love in his writing.
This is mostly tepid predestrian "sensitive guy" acoustic material that would prob appeal more to fans of Jason Mraz, John Mayer or Gavin DeGraw than his own core following. Now had this been along the lines of Jason Falkner or David Mead, well...the gloominess would be lifted & there'd be a more tastefully balanced mix of power pop & singer/songwriter material.
Having said that, I lean towards "Maybe It's Just Me", "#1 Summer Jam", "Uncomfortably Numb" & "Race Cars and Goth Rock" for the sheer hookiness of the melody & compact arrangements. The rest, I'm afraid, isn't worthy of more than a spin for curiosity's sake. Gone are the instant hooks, swelling crescendos, charging guitars, pummeling rhythms & sardonic clever wordplay that have made Butch an A-list guy in the industry. "Letters" in retrospect may well be considered by many, to be his "sophomore slump" as a solo artist. Thank god I still have "Left of Self-Centered"!!!
Free Music Review: Where did Butch go!?
Hit: 2 Stars
What happened? I am a HUGE fan of Butch Walker, and have been ever since Marvelous 3's "Math and Other Things" album. I was disappointed when Marv3 broke up, but LOVED his first solo album, Left of Self-Centered. That whole album just rocks my world.
But what happened with this new album? I bought it, expecting to have my mind blown once again. All I found were maybe 3 decent songs, and then just a bunch of boring, slow, melodic, cheesy love songs. Sure, he has an amazing voice and is a musical genius, but when I want to shoot myself halfway through the CD, that's not a good sign.
I wanted to kick someone when I saw that he was on tour with Avril Lavigne -- but that was before I heard this CD, and now I know why he's on tour with her. His new music fits right in with all the rest of the generic pop crap on the radio these days.
Go buy Left Of Self-Centered, and all of the Marvelous 3 albums, but don't waste your time with this one.
Free Music Review: A Letdown From his last 3 CDs
Hit: 2 Stars
I really like Butch's last 3 CDs. Each one was progressively better in the number of killer songs per CD. I usually like more mellow stuff other than Butch. So why am I dissappointed overall by "Letters"? The lyrics are fine. Butch's voice is great. The production is solid. But the melodies are not as strong as in Butch's last 3 great CDs. Some parts of the upbeat melodies are bordering on cornball like some 70's TV music show.
"Mixtape" and "Jane" are excellent. "Maybe It's Just Me" is good. But the rest of the songs just don't measure up to the quality music that is classic Butch.
Maybe I need a few more spins, but "Left Of Self-Centered, "Ready Sex Go", and "Hey Album" have more quality songs and blow this decent effort away. The people that are giving the "Letters" CD 5 stars would probably give a glowing review to Butch farting into a microphone...Geeeez!...Come on Sheeple...Get Real!
Can you say, "Fanatic"?
Free Music Review: Letters? I give it one-an F
Hit: 1 Stars
truly unlistenable dreck.
Listening to the record I couldn't help but think, did this guy used to be in Savage Garden? What the hell???
Walker's previous band the Marvelous 3 put out a coupla great power pop albums a few years back, and his first solo effort really aint all that bad. But this attempt is simply shocking given the talented Walker's solid track record.
Forgettable hooks, and cringe inducing lyrics litter this turkey from start to finish.
Happy Thanksgiving indeed!
Slap an "S" on Walker's varsity jacket, because the only thing this poor soul currently letters in is Schmaltz.