Being compared to Sufjan Stevens and the late Elliot Smith, William Fitzsimmons’ words draw you like a lone wolf baring its soul. In appearance, the artist is heavily bearded and often captured with an astute, brooding expression. Hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, his parents introduced him to music at an early age and years later they divorced, the effect hitting their son hard. His own musical influences would later be the very bearers of his sorrow.  It was almost inevitable then, that after graduating in counselling and becoming a psychotherapist, the music he returned to was submerged in a pool of his own personal crises and inner demons.

In this release, as usual you will encounter soft folksy guitar, mellow beats, and hushed vocals, thankfully without the oft-whiny quality of Dashboard Confessional. Fitzsimmons lyrics could cast diverse images in the mind, depending on what you make of them. You could envision cold, desperate despair lying moribund or a beautifully healing soul bathed in pleasant warmth; ‘Winter From her Leaving’ is one that definitely does the latter.

For the most part, Fitzsimmons’ tone has made a positive shift from his past albums. A notable number is ‘Psychasthenia’, which is defined to be a psychological disorder characterized by phobias, obsessions, compulsions, or excessive anxiety. The track is beautiful in every aspect. The chorus repeated – both in the sweetest way and solemnest way possible – “Cut me open please”, is enriched by sweet female vocals that seems to share Fitzsimmons every breathy sentiment. In ‘Let You Break’ he is joined by Australian folk singer Julia Stone and her sugary, juvenile voice – the song stands out as a pretty and touching duet.

Fitzsimmons music has featured on the likes of One Tree Hill and Grey’s Anatomy. Very fitting, for his music is brimming with that emotion that completes the aftermath of a melodramatic scene in a programme like The OC.  Having said that, it has to be mentioned that ‘Tide Pulls from the Moon’, Fitzsimmons’ recent release, has a delightful likeness to Dios Malos’ ‘You Got Me All Wrong’ (which actually is in The OC). To conclude, it cannot be denied that Gold in the Shadow is rich in evoking empathy and pleasing to the ear.