BUTCH WALKER AND THE BLACK WIDOWSBUTCH WALKER AND THE BLACK WIDOWS

The Spade

[Dangerbird]

Butch Walker has been putting out catchy pop-punk records for years, yet he’s probably more famous as a producer and songwriter (his credits include Weezer, Pink and Avril Lavigne) than as a performer. The Spade is his most infectious effort yet, so if it fails to turn him into a breakout star you can blame it on the sorry fact that few artists suddenly make it on the radio after 40. Just how skilled a craftsman is Walker (who’s 41, by the way)? He can do the Stones on the cocky, strutting “Sweethearts” and sound completely different than he does on his imitation of the Stones-worshiping Black Crowes (“Closest Thing to You I’m Gonna Find”). Trouble is, Walker’s 2004 album Letters proved he could grab people with his introspective lyrics and not just his melodies—but here he’s stuck singing about bar fights and reminiscing about Bryan Adams. Walker can dig deeper than that. –David Styburski

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