Butch Walker: Afraid Of Ghosts

Haunted valley choruses.

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Anyone who names a song Chrissie Hynde has to be worth investigation, and former SouthGang/Floyds/ Marvelous 3 singer-guitarist Butch turns in a nice ballad in tribute on his seventh solo album since 2002.

This kind of introspective, almost easy listening slowie vibe dominates on tracks such as the Santo & Johnny-recalling How Are Things, Love, although he’ll throw in a line about shagging on a brick wall in Still Drunk and hits a grittier stride on Bed On Fire.

Produced by Ryan Adams, the set includes guest appearances from Johnny Depp on 07 21+ and Bob Mould on the poignant Father’s Day, inspired by his recently departed dad and explaining this subtly insidious album’s overall reflective mood./o:p

Kris Needs

Kris Needs is a British journalist and author, known for writings on music from the 1970s onwards. Previously secretary of the Mott The Hoople fan club, he became editor of ZigZag in 1977 and has written biographies of stars including Primal Scream, Joe Strummer and Keith Richards. He's also written for MOJO, Record Collector, Classic Rock, Prog, Electronic Sound, Vive Le Rock and Shindig!