BUTCH WALKER AND THE BLACK WIDOWS

The Spade

2011-11-04

FCC Warnings: Track 3, 10 Butch Walker, a punked up LA musician, is a one man guitar anthem replicator. Walker is a daunting success as producer for a cornucopia of acts like Avril Lavigne, Sevendust, The Donnas, Weezer, and Dashboard Confessional. Absorbing everything he's heard, and some he's too young for, Walker cranks out guitar rock that is not just Bon Jovi, Poison, and Motley Crue but also Led Zeppelin, Faces, Thin Lizzy, and The Black Crowes. Somehow, even with all the references, influences and shout-outs, the music comes through as fresh rather than derivative. Walker could be the lyric poet laureate for the slacker generation. Check out anthems like “The Closest Thing to You I'm Gonna Find” and “Bullet belt.” “Day Druck,” “Sweethhearts” and “Everysinglebodyelse” are funky fun. And . . . someone is channeling Sneaky Pete Kleinow on “Dublin Crow.” Reviewed by Todd Townsend.

Quick Links:

• Butch's MySpace