Afraid of Ghosts
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 3, 2015
RecordedPAX AM Studios, Los Angeles
GenreAlternative rock, pop rock, folk rock
Length39:01
LabelDangerbird Records (US), Lojinx (Europe)
ProducerRyan Adams
Butch Walker chronology
The Spade
(2011)
Afraid of Ghosts
(2015)
Stay Gold
(2016)

Afraid of Ghosts is the seventh full-length studio album from Butch Walker, and was released on Lojinx records in Europe on 2 February 2015[1] and Dangerbird Records in North America on February 3, 2015.[2] The album was announced on October 6, 2014, with the release of its first single, "Chrissie Hynde". The album's title track premiered on October 20, 2014.[3]

Walker spent a year writing this album, and recorded it in only four days, a year after the passing of his father. According to Walker, the album is a way of "coming to terms with the past and living for the future." It's about "coming to terms with your ghosts, taking what scares you the most. And turning it into something real."[4] The album was produced by singer/songwriter Ryan Adams at his PAX AM Studios, and features guest musicians such as Johnny Depp, Mike Viola, and Bob Mould.[5]

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic77/100[6]
Review scores
SourceRating
AbsolutePunk[7]
Allmusic[8]
American Songwriter[9]
The A.V. ClubB[10]
Music Connection[11]
Sputnikmusic[12]

Afraid of Ghosts received mostly positive reviews. Its Metacritic rating of 77 out of 100 indicates "generally favorable reviews."[6]

The album debuted on Billboard 200 at No. 104,[13] selling around 6,000 copies in the first week. It has sold 13,000 copies in the United States as of July 2016.[14]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Afraid of Ghosts"Butch Walker4:57
2."I Love You"Walker3:01
3."Chrissie Hynde"Walker4:09
4."Still Drunk"Walker4:05
5."How Are Things, Love?"Walker4:15
6."Bed On Fire"Walker3:58
7."21+"Walker3:45
8."Autumn Leaves"Walker3:31
9."Father's Day"Walker, Ryan Adams4:45
10."The Dark"Walker, Adams2:35

Musicians

  • Butch Walker – vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
  • Mike Viola – 12-string acoustic guitar, piano, electric guitar, baritone guitar, bass, vocals
  • Daniel Clarke – piano, pump organ, keys, vocals
  • Stephen Patt – accordion, acoustic guitar, pedal steel, dobro, vocals
  • Charlie Stavish – bass
  • Freddy Bakkenheuser – drums
  • The Section Quartet – strings
  • Ryan Adams – drums (track 6)
  • Johnny Depp – guitar solo (track 7)
  • Bob Mould – 12-string acoustic guitar, electric guitar, vocals (track 9)

Charts

Chart (2015) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[15] 104
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[16] 6
US Folk Albums (Billboard)[17] 4
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[18] 12
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[19] 21
US Vinyl Albums (Billboard)[20] 13

References

  1. "Butch Walker - Afraid of Ghosts (Lojinx)". 2 February 2015.
  2. "Afraid of Ghosts".
  3. "Butch Walker - Maybe It's Just Me... — New day, new song (If you missed the premiere". Archived from the original on 2014-10-31. Retrieved 2014-10-31.
  4. "Butch Walker - Maybe It's Just Me... — I'm thinking today is a day for new beginnings". Archived from the original on 2014-10-31. Retrieved 2014-10-31.
  5. "Butch Walker - Maybe It's Just Me... — heyoooooo". Archived from the original on 2014-10-31. Retrieved 2014-10-31.
  6. 1 2 "Afraid of Ghosts – Butch Walker". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
  7. Manning, Craig. "Butch Walker – Afraid of Ghosts". AbsolutePunk. SpinMedia. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
  8. Thomas Erlewine, Stephen. "Afraid of Ghosts – Butch Walker". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
  9. Horowitz, Hal (February 3, 2015). "Butch Walker: Afraid of Ghosts". American Songwriter. ForASong Media, LLC. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
  10. Zaleski, Annie (February 3, 2015). "Songwriter/producer Butch Walker confronts his ghosts with no fear". The A.V. Club. The Onion. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
  11. Kaufmann, Andy (January 27, 2015). "Album Review: Butch Walker – Afraid of Ghosts". Music Connection. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
  12. Jon (January 30, 2015). "Review: Butch Walker – Afraid of Ghosts". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
  13. "The Billboard 200". Billboard. February 21, 2015.
  14. "Upcoming Releases". Hits Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. Archived from the original on July 2, 2016.
  15. "Butch Walker Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  16. "Butch Walker Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard.
  17. "Butch Walker Chart History (Top Americana/Folk Albums)". Billboard.
  18. "Butch Walker Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard.
  19. "Butch Walker Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard.
  20. "Butch Walker Chart History (Vinyl Albums)". Billboard.
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