Jesse Lacey had it right with the lyrics “I know that you’re a sucker for anything acoustic.” But we’re not talking about Brand New. This is William Fitzsimmons. This is the man famous for delicious, acoustic-y folk music and one amazing beard. His fifth full-length album Gold in the Shadow will soon be gracing your ears, and believe me. It’s great.
Fitzsimmons had me at “Please Don’t Go” many years ago, and he still has me enraptured now. It was back in the days of the tv drama “ER” when I first heard him. It was such an intense song at the end of an episode and I made it my mission to find out who it was. I frantically typed bits and pieces of lyrics into my phone, saved them as a drafted text message, and Googled until the name William Fitzsimmons came up, and I had found a Youtube video of the song. I probably watched it ten times in a row and may or may not have shed a few tears. Maybe that sounds a little ridiculous. But that song really struck a chord deep within me. So much passion. It made me feel something that I can only describe as a hopeful sort of melancholy, and I was in love with it.
I pressed play on Gold in the Shadow with nervous fingers. Can you ever go wrong with a soft, crooning voice and delicate acoustic guitars? And then I breathed a sigh of relief. Because it’s William Fitzsimmons. There’s no way this would be a flop. And I couldn’t have been more right.
The album starts out with “The Tide Pulls From the Moon,” a perfect intro to a solid album. It’s catchy and it pulls you, but doesn’t overdo it. My favorite on the album would have to be “The Winter from Her Leaving” and lucky listeners, it’s the third song! I like instant gratification and there’s nothing better than finding the gem just three songs in. The fifth song, “Psychasthenia” immediately brings up thoughts of The Postal Service, to which I was very pleased. There’s a tinge of electronic noise throughout and it’s moody and desperate with the repeated line “cut me open please.” I may have an interest in psychology, but by no means is it my forte. So I had to consult my handy dictionary for the precise definition of psychasthenia. Here’s what I found: a psychological disorder characterized by phobias, obsessions, compulsions, or excessive anxiety — which makes a lot of sense. Fitzsimmons has a master’s degree in counseling and worked as a mental health therapist for many years. it was at this time when he began recording music. It certainly makes for great song material. His lyrics are personal and that’s what makes his music so compelling. He speaks to you. He speaks right to your soul.
“Let You Break” is a nice change of pace, as we get some female vocals from Julia Stone, of Angus and Julia Stone. I’ve never been a huge fan of her voice. It’s a little too whiny for my taste. But in this situtaion, it works. And it’s been steadily growing on me, so much that I find myself humming her melodies instead of his.
“Wounded Head,” “Tied To Me,” and “What Hold” round out the album and give it a solid finish. It’s hard to keep a steady flow when you’re ten songs deep on your fifth major album. But Fitzsimmons finishes strong. My only qualm? The last song ends so abruptly and leaves me with a “that’s it?” feeling. But then again, maybe that’s the point. Because I find myself going back to the very beginning and starting all over.
Track Listing:
1 The Tide Pulls From the Moon
2 Beautiful Girl
3 The Winter from Her Leaving
4 Fade and then Return
5 Psychasthenia
6 Bird of Winter Prey
7 Let You Break (feat. Julia Stone)
8 Wounded Head
9 Tied to Me
10 What Hold
Spring tour starts soon, so be sure and check out dates here and pick up a copy of Gold in the Shadow. Just $7.99 on iTunes plus 2 bonus tracks.
