The Marvelous 3

IV

Marvelous 3

Dig if you will, a picture. What a wacky scene it would be…

What if Frank Zappa’s futuristic vision from ‘79 was spot-on? What if the Feds did in fact round up the music biz bigwigs and hauled ‘em in? Well, for starters, a HUGE detention center would be required to hold ‘em all. And be sure, The Marvelous 3 would own the joint, plain and simple. But such a facility probably would also have a special Club Med-type area for the “geniuses” — the truly brilliant multi-taskers — you know, the inmates who can do it all: the singer / songwriter / multi instrumentalist / producer / arranger / engineer cats.

In short order, Butch Walker would be transferred from general population, over to the resort-style facility. In a bona fide badass fashion, he’d stroll straight past security — smuggling in his own hand-made blade. And it would be a mighty sharp one too. Now, THAT’S a blade! As a result, one might imagine the pathetic impassioned pleas for mercy from the other inmates. What a hoot it would be to witness Dave Grohl cowering on his knees in an orange jumpsuit — “Please, Butch! Please don’t shank me, brother! I thought those were Reznor’s smokes!” Truth be told, everybody in such an élite cellblock would be shakin’ in their shoes on the day of Walker’s transfer — everyone except crazy-ass Brian Wilson. ‘Cuz ain’t nobody cuttin’ Brian Wilson — not even Butch Walker. But I digress.

Produced by the talented Mr. Walker, the latest from The Marvelous 3 reveals that the pop-rock hearts of this Georgia-birthed brigade haven’t skipped a beat since dropping their last record, ReadySexGo, back in 2000. Packing non-stop punch, crunch, and intoxicating sing-along lovability, IV is a vivid reminder of why these three marvelous men, Butch Walker (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Jayce Fincher (bass), and Slug (drums), stirred such a commotion with their 1998 sophomore set, Hey! Album and its ferocious, infectious breakout single, “Freak of the Week.”

A true triumph, the ten-track collection boasts an array of Walker’s most recently developed audio snapshots — unique and deeply personal Polaroids — all steeped in his signature wry wit and cranked up to 11.

With a snare-cracking intro that might force ya to “surrender,” the leadoff single, “My Old School Metal Heart,” is cover-to-cover textbook Butch Walker. The transparent modern-day confessions and painful Adam Curry-era recollections of a once-romantic couple are energized by super-charged riffs, magical melodies, and Cookie Monster-free, boy-next-door vocals. Consisting entirely of authentic camcorder footage of Walker, Fincher, and Slug from back in their late ’80s and early ’90s hair daze, the lo-fi video makes this record opener particularly appealing.

Owning a fresher-looking, more eye-catching animated video, the recently released follow-up single, “If We’re On Fire (Let It Burn)” ultimately finds mommy and daddy all alright and demands repeat spins and multiple YouTube plays.

While Walker’s uncompromised songsmith marksmanship is undeniable, it’s his gift for storytelling that places him in a rather desolate green room. Hey Bob! Quit bogarting the guacamole, dude! Through those stories, Walker always introduces us to people who we care about, a lot — posthaste. In that regard, “Jackie and Tina” is a rib-cracking, heart-breaking highlight.

Another of Walker’s oft-played trump cards (relax, it’s just a card game term) is the heartache / breakup ballad. And the delicate piano / acoustic guitar record closer, “Curtains,” resides among his finest to date.

Then, there’s the secret surprise buried within this binge-worthy box of Cracker Jack — a high-octane remake of “She Sheila,” the 1982 classic from that other Fab Four, the Atlanta-based power-pop prophets, The Producers.

Like the scene from that movie where Austin Powers is thawed out after being frozen for decades, IV shows Walker, Fincher, and Slug as they were and as they should be — still donning crushed velvet and shagging go-go girls, so to speak. And in a modern world that currently produces primarily pedestrian pop stars and sonic pabulum, that’s a lovely, wonderful, and marvelous thing, indeed. It wasn’t tails.

IV Track List

*All songs written by Butch Walker, except where noted.

1. My Old School Metal Heart – 3:34

1. Kill A Motherfucker That Breaks Your Heart – 3:45

1. Growing All My Hair Out – 2:39

1. If We’re On Fire (Let It Burn) – 3:28

1. PTSD (Post Touring Singer’s Depression) – 3:07

1. Jackie and Tina – 3:16

1. The Devil Made The World While God Was Sleeping – 2:57

1. Time To Let It Go – 3:06

1. She Sheila [Temple, Famous, Holmes, Henderson] – 4:40

1. Curtains – 3:54

https://www.butchwalker.com

Christopher Long