Butch Walker - Sycamore Meadows (Original Signal)

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Butch Walker truly stands out as an original in today's world of disposable pop heroes. Although his biggest paydays come from his role as a producer behind artists like Pink, Katy Perry and Hot Hot Heat, that doesn't hinder the man from making some of the absolute best power pop on the planet.

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His excellent 2006 record The Rise and Fall Of Butch Walker and The Let's Go Out Tonites was soaked to the bone in glorious T-Rex inspired glam-rock. But after losing his home and all his possessions to the wildfires that devastated California last year, Sycamore Meadows tends to highlight the more subdued side of his work as last heard on 2004's Letters.

The record starts off deceivingly upbeat with The Weight Of Her before passing into a light-hearted four-minute walk through Walker's career to date in Going Back/Going Home with other poppy highlights including Ponce De Leon Ave and Vessels. Now to be completely truthful with you, Walker's ballads haven't consistently held my attention but Ships In A Bottle, Passed Your Place Saw Your Car Thought Of You and the minimalist ATL are some of the best ballads Walker has written to date.

Butch Walker is a musician who can completely get away with reinventing himself each and every time he makes a new record. Dive in and check out Sycamore Meadows for yourself; I suspect that anthems such as these and Walker himself won't be a well-kept secret much longer.