I Liked It Better When You Had No Heart

Michael Trent receives co-writing credits for roughly half of these tracks, but I Liked It Better When You Had No Heart is a Butch Walker album through and through. It’s also one of his best, proof that Walker still can’t take a step without bumping into a usable hook.

The big hooks are fewer and further between, but the meat in the middle is where the real magic lies.

The vibe on the new album may be rootsier and more acoustic than Walker's usual fare, but it still emphasizes his knack for memorable wordplay and melodic know-how, which have earned him writing and producing gigs.

When all is said and done, it’s doubtful that I Liked You Better When You Had No Heart will go down as Walker’s definitive statement as an artist, nor will it significantly expand his loyal following. What it will do, however, is simply reaffirm to everyone that Butch Walker is still one of the most creative, consistent, and flat-out exciting artists working in the industry today, commercial prospects be damned.

Despite the minor grievances and sore-thumb songs, and the fact that it's unreasonable to compare this record to its near-flawless predecessor, I Liked It Better When You Have No Heart is a sterling addition to Butch Walker's celebrated discography.

His latest packs it all in: grand ballads, punchy power pop, a smutty song about a girl who "likes hair bands."