Album of the Year!
If the year is 2008…
Butch Walker’s “Sycamore Meadows” was originally recorded in 2008 but has only just been released in Australia through StockExchange/Sony this year, so technically it qualifies for my Album of the Year.
How did I manage to miss this record???
If you want the whole Butch walker story, I recommend you check out his Wikipedia entry. It reads like the most interesting music career you’ve almost never heard of. Frankly, I would be writing about him for his involvement with the best single of last year (Weezer’s “If You’re Wondering If I Want You, I want You To…” which he co-wrote and produced) alone, but after hearing “Sycamore…” a few thousand times, I am convinced that not only do I love the record, I would also like to change places with him.
Whilst I am in a confessional mood, I would like to say that I do not listen to lyrics. Ever. I don’t care what singers have got to say, which let’s admit it, is usually “I love you, you don’t love me…” and variations thereof. In fact, I am still discovering what the lyrics are to Jane’s Addiction’s “Nothing Shocking” album, which came out in 1989. But I put on “Sycamore…” and I actually want to know what he’s saying. The lyrics are clever, personal and, often, hilarious.
If only every artist could write lyrics like him… I might start listening to them more.
Did I mention he also produced Pink’s last two albums, Katie Perry’s album and has been writing with Taylor Swift? He’s really very good.
