Afraid of Ghosts

{{Infobox album

| name = Afraid of Ghosts

| type = studio

| artist = Butch Walker

| cover = Afraid of Ghosts.jpg

| alt =

| released = February 3, 2015

| recorded = PAX AM Studios, Los Angeles

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Alternative rock, pop rock, folk rock

| length = 39:01

| label = Dangerbird Records (US), Lojinx (Europe)

| producer = Ryan Adams

| prev_title = The Spade

| prev_year = 2011

| next_title = Stay Gold

| next_year = 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{{Cite web|url=https://www.lojinx.com/releases/butch-walker/afraid-of-ghosts|title = Butch Walker - Afraid of Ghosts (Lojinx)|date = 2 February 2015}} and Dangerbird Records in North America on February 3, 2015.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dangerbirdrecords.com/releases/butch-walker/afraid-of-ghosts|title = Afraid of Ghosts}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://butchwalker.com/post/100605685029/new-day-new-song-if-you-missed-the-premiere#notes |title=Butch Walker - Maybe It's Just Me... — New day, new song (If you missed the premiere |accessdate=2014-10-31 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031212536/http://butchwalker.com/post/100605685029/new-day-new-song-if-you-missed-the-premiere |archivedate=2014-10-31 }}

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."{{cite web|url=http://butchwalker.com/post/99324283774/im-thinking-today-is-a-day-for-new-beginnings |title=Butch Walker - Maybe It's Just Me... — I'm thinking today is a day for new beginnings |accessdate=2014-10-31 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031212058/http://butchwalker.com/post/99324283774/im-thinking-today-is-a-day-for-new-beginnings |archivedate=2014-10-31 }} 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.{{cite web|url=http://butchwalker.com/post/100516061439/heyoooooo |title=Butch Walker - Maybe It's Just Me... — heyoooooo |accessdate=2014-10-31 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031212538/http://butchwalker.com/post/100516061439/heyoooooo |archivedate=2014-10-31 }}

Reception

{{Music ratings

|MC=77/100{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/afraid-of-ghosts/butch-walker|title=Afraid of Ghosts – Butch Walker|publisher=Metacritic. CBS Interactive|accessdate=February 14, 2015}}

|rev1=AbsolutePunk

|rev1Score={{rating|10|10}}{{cite web|last=Manning|first=Craig|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=3717264|title=Butch Walker – Afraid of Ghosts|publisher=AbsolutePunk. SpinMedia|accessdate=February 14, 2015}}

|rev2=Allmusic

|rev2Score={{rating|3|5}}{{cite web|author=Thomas Erlewine, Stephen|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/afraid-of-ghosts-mw0002763005|title=Afraid of Ghosts – Butch Walker|publisher=Allmusic. Rovi Corporation|accessdate=February 14, 2015}}

|rev3=American Songwriter

|rev3Score={{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Horowitz |first=Hal|date=February 3, 2015|url=http://www.americansongwriter.com/2015/02/butch-walker-afraid-ghosts/|title=Butch Walker: Afraid of Ghosts|work=American Songwriter|publisher= ForASong Media, LLC|accessdate=February 14, 2015}}

|rev4=The A.V. Club

|rev4Score=B{{cite web|last=Zaleski |first=Annie|date=February 3, 2015|url=http://www.avclub.com/review/songwriterproducer-butch-walker-confronts-his-ghos-214326|title=Songwriter/producer Butch Walker confronts his ghosts with no fear|work=The A.V. Club|publisher=The Onion|accessdate=February 14, 2015}}

|rev5=Music Connection

|rev5Score={{rating|7|10}}{{cite web|last=Kaufmann|first=Andy|date=January 27, 2015|url=http://musicconnection.com/album-review-butch-walker-afraid-ghosts/|title=Album Review: Butch Walker – Afraid of Ghosts|work=Music Connection|accessdate=February 14, 2015}}

|rev6=Sputnikmusic

|rev6Score={{rating|4|5|score=4.2/5 stars}}{{cite web|author=Jon|date=January 30, 2015|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/65840/Butch-Walker-Afraid-of-Ghosts/|title=Review: Butch Walker – Afraid of Ghosts|publisher=Sputnikmusic|accessdate=February 14, 2015}}

}}

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

The album debuted on Billboard 200 at No. 104,{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/2015-02-21 |title= The Billboard 200 |magazine=Billboard |date=February 21, 2015}} selling around 6,000 copies in the first week. It has sold 13,000 copies in the United States as of July 2016.{{cite web |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20160702201349/http://hitsdailydouble.com/new_album_releases |archivedate= July 2, 2016 |url=http://hitsdailydouble.com/new_album_releases |title=Upcoming Releases |website=Hits Daily Double |publisher=HITS Digital Ventures }}

Track listing

{{track listing

| title1 = Afraid of Ghosts

| writer1 = Butch Walker

| length1 = 4:57

| title2 = I Love You

| writer2 = Walker

| length2 = 3:01

| title3 = Chrissie Hynde

| writer3 = Walker

| length3 = 4:09

| title4 = Still Drunk

| writer4 = Walker

| length4 = 4:05

| title5 = How Are Things, Love?

| writer5 = Walker

| length5 = 4:15

| title6 = Bed On Fire

| writer6 = Walker

| length6 = 3:58

| title7 = 21+

| writer7 = Walker

| length7 = 3:45

| title8 = Autumn Leaves

| writer8 = Walker

| length8 = 3:31

| title9 = Father's Day

| writer9 = Walker, Ryan Adams

| length9 = 4:45

| title10 = The Dark

| writer10 = Walker, Adams

| length10 = 2:35

}}

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
class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
{{album chart\|Billboard200\|104\|artist=Butch Walker\|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart\|BillboardIndependent\|6\|artist=Butch Walker\|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart\|BillboardFolk\|4\|artist=Butch Walker\|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart\|BillboardRock\|12\|artist=Butch Walker\|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart\|BillboardTastemaker\|21\|artist=Butch Walker\|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart\|BillboardVinyl\|13\|artist=Butch Walker\|rowheader=true}}

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20141112104536/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/afraid-of-ghosts/id925820020 "iTunes - Music - Afraid of Ghosts by Butch Walker".] 2014-11-12. Retrieved 2023-11-08

Category:2015 albums

Category:Butch Walker albums

Category:Albums produced by Butch Walker

Category:Dangerbird Records albums

Category:Lojinx albums

Category:PAX AM albums