Enduring a devastating fire that claimed his home and all of his recording masters, turning forty and witnessing the birth of his first child, SoCal in-demand songwriter and producer Butch Walker has pretty much had his share of life-changing events in the past couple of years. So when it came to laying down tracks for his new February 23 album I Liked You Better When You Had No Heart, Walker decided to keep things simple and direct. Feeling his creative batteries charged touring with his backing band The Black Widows, he decided to keep things rolling. "We literally went into the studio the day after our tour ended," says Walker. "So the wheels were greased."

New project keeps the odd musical dichotomy at the heart of Walker's music gloriously intact: an intriguing genre mashup that touches 70's glam rock and English pop of ELO to T-Rex as well as the sweet twang and dusty kick of honest, roadhouse alt-country music by artists such as Kris Kristofferson and Gram Parsons. Alongside writing partner Michael Trent, Walker crafts songs that have that timeless quality that spans generations of influences and styles, a specialty that has placed him as a go-to songwriting clutch hitter in collaborations with artists as diverse as Pink, Avril Lavigne, Weezer, Pete Yorn and Fall Out Boy. Update: Walker's version of Taylor Swift's "You Belong To Me" has become a viral sensation (and Grammy performance standout with Stevie Nicks) and will be available as a free download with the purchase of the new album. Video after the jump. Recommended.

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Butch Walker - "Trash Day" (from I Like It Better When You Had No Heart)

Butch Walker - "You Belong With Me" (Taylor Swift cover)