Butch Walker stars on his own

Pink, Avril Lavigne and Katy Perry are mainstream music artists most people can recognize and talk about. But what about the people that help them behind the scenes?

Well, Butch Walker has been around the music scene for quite some time, playing in numerous rock bands in the ’80s and ’90s.

He has written, produced and sang with some of today’s biggest mainstream artists, including those mentioned above. Walker has also released four solo albums since 2002, including his newest, Sycamore Meadows.

Butch Walker has once again created an album full of easy-listening music. The lyrics are simple and talk about issues that address everything from guys wearing girl’s jeans to leaving a strained relationship behind.

The topics covered here are ones that everyone gone through, that we talk about and notice in everyday life. Anyone can listen to this and completely relate.

Although the lyrics are easy to understand, the album has a very relaxed, coffee-shop aspect that wouldn’t necessarily appeal to a large chunk of the mainstream audiences who are used to the sugar-coated pop of the major artists he has worked with.

Sycamore Meadows isn’t one of Walker’s most upbeat, moving collections of songs and melodies. At points it drags and loses the momentum that was building about halfway through. The songs on the latter half of the record are more simple and lack the different instrumentals on the first half.

Butch Walker may not be a mainstream artist on his own, but he does have his own style and way to present music.

Sycamore Meadows has many good qualities, but the weak moments help show that his real talent lies with producing and writing for the mainstream music industry and working with stars much bigger than him.