Product Description

Sycamore Meadows, the street where acclaimed musician Butch Walker lived and worked in Malibu, CA has drastically changed as a result of the massive wildfires that destroyed much of the area last November. And like many other Southern California residents, Walker lost his entire house and all his personal possessions in those fires, including his studio and every master recording he s ever made. But inspiration sometimes comes from tragedy and so it became that this event incited Butch Walker to create music unlike anything he had ever done before. The result is his fourth album entitled Sycamore Meadows.


Always known to change up his musical styles, Butch Walker trades in his smart-glam, David Bowie-Marc Bolan sound heard on the previous solo album - The Rise and Fall of Butch Walker and the Let s Go Out Tonites (July 2006/Epic) - for a classic and introspective sound highlighting his poignant lyrics and unforgettable melodies. Walker wrote and produced the entire album, which ranges from the uptempo, anthemic jam that launches the album (first single The Weight of Her), to the deeply personal ballad Ships in a Bottle.

Track Listing

1. Weight of Her
2. Going Back/Going Home
3. Here Comes the...
4. Ponce de Leon Ave.
5. Ships in a Bottle
6. Vessels
7. Passed Your Place, Saw Your Car, Thought of You
8. 3 Kids in Brooklyn
9. Summer Scarves
10. Song for the Metalheads
11. Closer to the Truth and Farther from the Sky
12. ATL

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18408 in Music
• Brand: Walker
• Released on: 2008-11-11
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .12 pounds

Customer Reviews

Butch is back!
Prepare to be blown away! This is Butch's best album yet. The lyrics are phenomenal and definitely some of the most heart-felt he has ever done. This album absolutely oozes acoustic emotion and if it doesn't touch you in some way, you haven't been living life in this world. He also proves he hasn't lost his rock edge either...

HIGHLIGHTS:
"The Weight of Her" (if you don't think of Tom Petty when you hear this track, I don't know what rock you've been hiding under) -- brilliant track.

"Going Back / Going Home" -- love Butch's "rap" near the end...

"Ships In A Bottle" -- my personal fav

"Here Comes The...", "Passed Your Place...", "Summer Scarves", "ATL", "Untitled" -- hauntingly beautiful ballads and slower songs from the heart and soul that IS Butch Walker...


The whole album is exceptional, personal, and very well done. Great job, Butch!

~~Brandon "SPYKE"

New Approach, Same Result: Awesome
If there is one thing I can expect from a Butch Walker record, is to be blown away. Sycamore Meadows is far more acoustic-based and intimate then anything we've heard before from his solo career besides a few songs in Letters. The majority of the songs do have a slower pace, which takes a few listens to fully appreciate the melodies, but you can not deny his talent at song arrangements. Well written, not over/under produced, and never dull. Some of the highlights for me are ATL, Here Comes The... and Summer Scarves. I've always been a big fan of his more rock-out numbers but there is no question he is extremely gifted at ballads. It's incredible that he can write songs so well at both ends of the spectrum. But that's Butch, so I shouldn't be surprised.

Outside the ballads, I have been listening to Ponce de Leon Ave. and Vessels constantly the past day and I am thoroughly impressed with how Butch setup these pop-rock songs. Musically, they have a cutting-edge sound to them with great big choruses and interesting musical instruments. The bells in Vessels give the song a very dramatic vibe to it. As for Ponce..., it's the party song of the CD. I love the beat during the bridge. Am I the only one who feels 10x cooler when I listen to a Butch CD?

Thanks, Butch for giving us another phenomenal record.

He does it again.
After I fell in love w/ LOSC, it took a bit of adjustment on my part to appreciate "Letters". Since then, it's become one of my favorites of his. Now, he's back, better than ever, (with a couple CDs in between) with Sycamore Meadows. My take? Better than them all. His sincerity and honestly comes out in every song. Be sure to check the hidden track about 4 minutes in after "ATL".

If you heard the rough cuts he released last year you'll be amazed at how they've evolved. Adding P!nk to the vocals on "Here Comes The..." was a wise choice. Harmonies are fantastic.

If I could give this CD more stars, I would. It's THAT amazing.