Back in 2002, Butch Walker made a record for Arista that placed him somewhere between '80s solo troubadours like Rick Springfield and the distortion crackle of fin de sičcle alterna-rock. Walker's a talented songwriter, so he largely pulled it off. Still, it did seem kinda forced, and the thing quickly disappeared. Walker's resurfaced in 2004 on Sony, and this time around things are much more comfy. From its handwritten liners to the obvious care with which its tracks were assembled in the studio, Letters feels like a direct communication from Butch's big Rundgren and Cheap Trick-lovin' brain. Like Pete Yorn, he draws ably on the mustache ock of his youth to make this music stand out in the present -- check the clever lyrics and subtle synth processing of "Mixtape" to hear what '70s pop sounds like in a 21st century light. "#1 Summer Jam"'s cheeky power pop has a definite (and welcome) ELO quality, and "Don't Move" figures out how to cross Radiohead with creepy old 10cc. He fits in some allads ("Best Thing You Never Had"), exuberantly cynical rockers (the anti-L.A. rant "Lights Out"), and gorgeous, vibe-toned dusk pop -- is that the ghost of a young Jackson Browne floating through "So at Last"? There's no theft here. Rather, Walker sounds like a music fan given a golden opportunity to make a private gatefold masterpiece. Sure, "Mixtape" and "Summer Jam" can and should be hits. But it's likely true that Walker doesn't care if they are. Letters' ending proves this. "Promise" is a syrupy, achy, even funny little love song done up in drippy reverb and plaintive acoustic strum, while "Thank You Note" is just Butch and a piano and a strikingly personal tribute to a fallen friend. These quieter songs ground the album's more colorful moments; they help create the cycle that's so often missing from records these days. Walker's made an album for all the mornings after.
I was front row center at the How I Wrote That Song thing that BMI had at the Key Club yesterday.Patrick Stump performed "This Ain't A Scene..." acoustic and it was so cute.However, I was not there for Patrick Stump, I was there for Butch Walker. The always-lovely, always-amazing Butch Walker, who made cutesquishyfaces at me from the moment he walked on stage.When Butch was getting ready to pl...
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When you act like nothing ever happened,I feel like I should feel bad,but I can't like someone who thoughtthey're the only one that mattered,I hope that you're flattered'cause you broke this down,the best thing that you never had.What a perfect song for you and I.
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I was front row center at the How I Wrote That Song thing that BMI had at the Key Club yesterday.Patrick Stump performed "This Ain't A Scene..." acoustic and it was so cute.However, I was not there for Patrick Stump, I was there for Butch Walker. The always-lovely, always-amazing Butch Walker, who made cutesquishyfaces at me from the moment he walked on stage.When Butch was getting ready to pl...
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When you act like nothing ever happened,I feel like I should feel bad,but I can't like someone who thoughtthey're the only one that mattered,I hope that you're flattered'cause you broke this down,the best thing that you never had.What a perfect song for you and I.
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I think there are few things more universal than music. That's obviously why mixtapes exist at all. When you can't find the right words to say something, but your favorite bands and favorite songs can. When you relate to a song so much it's like you wrote the words yourself. Wrote the words for her...But mixtapes exist in different capacities. It's not just the mix cd she gave to you, but it's ...
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Everyone is starting to make their top ten albums of 2008 already, and it's starting to make me mad. I never understood making that list in November. For one thing the year isn't over, and there could be an album that could surprise you, even if you don't know it's coming out. But also, I just like making that list around Christmas and New Years. Call it a Holiday tradition of sorts. But I'm a...
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This song is just so fucking heartbreaking, but its awesome because its just such a huge "fuck you" to an ex. Give it a spin!
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 "Letters")
