Butch Walker has announced his highly anticipated seventh full-length album Afraid Of Ghosts, out February 3 via Lojinx in Europe (on Dangerbird in the US). With his remarkably diverse resume that includes everything from guitar god to GRAMMY and CMA nominated producer, Walker’s new LP shows both skill and tenderness. The production was helmed by Ryan Adams at his PAX AM Studios in LA along with friends & special guests Johnny Depp and Bob Mould. With gritty hints of folk, pop and rock, Afraid Of Ghosts weaves a journey through life, love, death and everything in between.
The album opens with title track “Afraid of Ghosts” which finds Walker attempting to come to terms with his demons over spare acoustic guitar notes and accordion chords, while the gentle du-wop of “How Are Things Love” brings both the artist and the listener back in time. “Bed On Fire” takes things back up a notch as haunting strings and electric guitar build to a chill-inducing distorted crescendo.
First album single “Chrissie Hynde” wistfully recounts the legendary Pretenders front-woman’s voice coming through the speakers, over a combination of acoustic and electric guitar, piano and a solitary drumbeat, captivating as always with Walker’s effortlessly unique vocals.
On “21+” he unleashes another wistful taste from his sublime record, building from acoustic guitar and gentle “ooh’s” to a smoldering guitar solo by actor Johnny Depp. As Butch tells it, “so I wrote a song called “21+”…. and no, it’s not a Florida Georgia line song about trying to get into a bar with a fake ID, cooler full of cold beer, pickup truck, girl, babe, angel, tight jeans yada yada yada… sorry. It’s actually just a sad song with a total bummer of a lyric…. for your sad days. But I like it. So here it is.”
Throughout his career, Butch Walker has always inspired with his infectious yet never over-bearing sense of melody. He joins his friend Ryan Adams on the road in the US this autumn for a nationwide tour. Together he & Adams will be one thing: undeniable.
Afraid of Ghosts Track Listing:
- Afraid of Ghosts
- I Love You
- Chrissie Hynde
- Still Drunk
- How Are Things, Love
- Bed On Fire
- 21+
- Autumn Leaves
- Father’s Day
- The Dark
