The John Butler Trio - Home (2018) Hi-Res

“Songs have always been my friends. No matter what I’m going through, they help me convey the things my heart feels but my brain is too afraid to say,” said a reflective John Butler about his most recent ordeals. The result of such experiences is titled Home - Butler’s seventh effort, the record looks to explore some of the singer’s past, as well as his insecurities.

Home opens with ‘Tahitian Blue’, a cosy, homely track that digs deep to try and set the tone for the rest of the LP. While the album fluctuates throughout, tracks like the opener attempt to ground it to the arid, scorching aura acting as a foundation. This is helpful early on too, as the track which follows, ‘Wade In The Water’, opts for a bluesy, stoner-esque approach doused in southern style.

Looking at Butler’s own take on recent events, he said, “Grappling with this herd in this state would prove uniquely tricky. As things turned out, that journey would actually be critical in helping me deal with my shit.” The idea of that ’journey’ is so far cemented into Home that a piece of the man himself is certainly embedded inside. With ‘Wade In The Water’ acting as the cornerstone for this notion, it’s obvious how the trudging rhythm mirrors a personal struggle, as well as the lyrics pursuing the desire on the edge of Butler’s fingertips: “I’m looking for something,” and then, “It’s on the tip of my tongue, it keeps slipping away - I don’t wanna live here all alone”.

The third track, ‘Just Call’ possesses an air of longing about it. It does distract somewhat from the comfortable feel of the LP, but it’s probably the most textbook country rock number on the album. Its typical lyrics aren’t particularly inventive, but they’re rescued by warm production and moving basslines. It’s apparent at this point that imagery is rife, both in lyricism and in instrumentals, painting a vivid, deserted landscape - like country fusion taken to the heart of Australia.

By far the crowning achievement is the title track. A very modern, sharp touch on rock, ‘Home’ genuinely pushes boundaries, taking all the great aspects of contemporary pop and R&B and blurring it into a very convincing, cool as you like tribute to Butler’s hometown, no doubt one that is drenched in nostalgia. ‘Home’ seems so naturally apt for dozens of situations, from a jaded rockstar walking into the dressing room to a lonesome rover looking for a place to stay, helped by the fact that the song is a great example where the verses are better than the choruses.