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News
William Fitzsimmons Releases New Album April 7th
- Author:
- Review Date:
- 04/08/2009
WILLIAM FITZSIMMONS' SIGNS WITH MERCER STREET RECORDS
The Sparrow And The Crow to be released April 7
iTunes' #1 Folk Album of 2008
Indie troubadour William Fitzsimmons' first studio CD, 'The Sparrow And The Crow', will be released April 7th by leading independent label Downtown Records' newly launched imprint, Mercer Street.
Fitzsimmons has a haunting sound that evokes references to Iron & Wine, Bright Eyes and Elliott Smith. His forthright album tells the true story of two people who didn't make it: William conceived 'The Sparrow And The Crow' as an apology and a confessional to his former wife...and then set those words to music. The result is a hushed and heartbreaking collection of songs that charts a path from regret to reconciliation.
In a recent 'A-' review, BOSTON HERALD critic Kevin Convey described 'The Sparrow And The Crow' as "A Near Masterpiece": Powerfully heart-wrenching and yet so delicate you fear a breath might blow it right out of the CD player, singer-songwriter Fitzsimmons' chronicle of his divorce is a near-masterpiece. Recalling both the cornhusker folk-rock of early Joe Henry and the doomed intimacy of Nick Drake, "The Sparrow and the Crow" makes art and beauty out of tragedy without selling the tragedy short - as you'd expect from a licensed therapist. It's tough stuff, marred only by repetitiveness. But that does nothing to diminish Fitzsimmons' artistic achievement, which is a huge and lasting.
From an underground, digital-only release last Fall, 'The Sparrow And The Crow', debuted at Number Two on the iTunes Folk Chart. Rave coverage followed, as William toured in support of his indie gem, and by year's end, 'Sparrow' had become the #1 Folk Album of 2008 iTunes.
Fitzsimmons' story is unique: his initial home-studio albums were made while he was simultaneously finishing up a graduate program as a Mental health professional, and it was only upon securing his Maters degree and becoming a practicing therapist that William returned to his burgeoning music career. Paste Magazine (which presented William's recent tour) has lauded heavy praise on him, as has Billboard, and a wide variety of other press outlets. He's also found his songs in demand in Hollywood, with tracks appearing on Gray's Anatomy, Army Wives and more...
Raised in Pittsburgh by two blind parents, and now based in Illinois, William grew up listing to his father's orchestral records and to his mother's collection of James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan and Simon & Garfunkel. The influences of these seminal artists are left throughout 'The Sparrow And The Crow' Listen to a five-song streaming sample here: http://www.brickwallmgmt.com/williamfitzsimmons/
Check out the video for the first single off The Sparrow And The Crow "If You Would Come Back Home" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeCVNvYx2ek
WILLIAM FITZSIMMONS ON TOUR: 04/07 - The Marquee - Tulsa, OK 04/08 - The Bottleneck - Lawrence, KS 04/09 - Mojo's - Columbia, MO 04/11 - Schuba's - Chicago, IL 04/13 - Radio Radio - Indianapolis, IN 04/14 -The Parlour @ Southgate House - Newport, KY 04/15 - Garfield Artworks - Pittsburgh, PA 04/16 - Tin Angel - Philadelphia, PA 04/17 - Canal Room - The Tripwire Presents - New York, NY 04/18 - Vintage Vinyl - In Store Performance - Fords, NJ 04/18 - Nightcat (formerly Coffee East) - Easton, MD 04/19 - Towne Crier Café - Pawling, NY 04/20 - Jammin' Java - Vienna, VA 04/21 - The Square Room - Knoxville TN 04/22 - Smiths' Old Bar - Atlanta, GA 04/23 - WorkPlay Theatre - Birmingham, AL 04/24 - Tasty World - Athens, GA 04/27 - Proud Larry's - Oxford, MS 04/28 - Juanita's - Little Rock, AR 04/29 - Biliken Club - St. Louis, MO
Hear samples of the new CD here: http://www.brickwallmgmt.com/williamfitzsimmons
Indie troubadour William Fitzsimmons' first studio CD, 'The Sparrow And The Crow', will be released April 7th by leading independent label Downtown Records' newly launched imprint, Mercer Street.
Fitzsimmons has a haunting sound that evokes references to Iron & Wine, Bright Eyes and Elliott Smith. His forthright album tells the true story of two people who didn't make it: William conceived 'The Sparrow And The Crow' as an apology and a confessional to his former wife...and then set those words to music. The result is a hushed and heartbreaking collection of songs that charts a path from regret to reconciliation.
In a recent 'A-' review, BOSTON HERALD critic Kevin Convey described 'The Sparrow And The Crow' as "A Near Masterpiece": Powerfully heart-wrenching and yet so delicate you fear a breath might blow it right out of the CD player, singer-songwriter Fitzsimmons' chronicle of his divorce is a near-masterpiece. Recalling both the cornhusker folk-rock of early Joe Henry and the doomed intimacy of Nick Drake, "The Sparrow and the Crow" makes art and beauty out of tragedy without selling the tragedy short - as you'd expect from a licensed therapist. It's tough stuff, marred only by repetitiveness. But that does nothing to diminish Fitzsimmons' artistic achievement, which is a huge and lasting.
From an underground, digital-only release last Fall, 'The Sparrow And The Crow', debuted at Number Two on the iTunes Folk Chart. Rave coverage followed, as William toured in support of his indie gem, and by year's end, 'Sparrow' had become the #1 Folk Album of 2008 iTunes.
Fitzsimmons' story is unique: his initial home-studio albums were made while he was simultaneously finishing up a graduate program as a Mental health professional, and it was only upon securing his Maters degree and becoming a practicing therapist that William returned to his burgeoning music career. Paste Magazine (which presented William's recent tour) has lauded heavy praise on him, as has Billboard, and a wide variety of other press outlets. He's also found his songs in demand in Hollywood, with tracks appearing on Gray's Anatomy, Army Wives and more...
Raised in Pittsburgh by two blind parents, and now based in Illinois, William grew up listing to his father's orchestral records and to his mother's collection of James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan and Simon & Garfunkel. The influences of these seminal artists are left throughout 'The Sparrow And The Crow' Listen to a five-song streaming sample here: http://www.brickwallmgmt.com/williamfitzsimmons/
Check out the video for the first single off The Sparrow And The Crow "If You Would Come Back Home" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeCVNvYx2ek
WILLIAM FITZSIMMONS ON TOUR: 04/07 - The Marquee - Tulsa, OK 04/08 - The Bottleneck - Lawrence, KS 04/09 - Mojo's - Columbia, MO 04/11 - Schuba's - Chicago, IL 04/13 - Radio Radio - Indianapolis, IN 04/14 -The Parlour @ Southgate House - Newport, KY 04/15 - Garfield Artworks - Pittsburgh, PA 04/16 - Tin Angel - Philadelphia, PA 04/17 - Canal Room - The Tripwire Presents - New York, NY 04/18 - Vintage Vinyl - In Store Performance - Fords, NJ 04/18 - Nightcat (formerly Coffee East) - Easton, MD 04/19 - Towne Crier Café - Pawling, NY 04/20 - Jammin' Java - Vienna, VA 04/21 - The Square Room - Knoxville TN 04/22 - Smiths' Old Bar - Atlanta, GA 04/23 - WorkPlay Theatre - Birmingham, AL 04/24 - Tasty World - Athens, GA 04/27 - Proud Larry's - Oxford, MS 04/28 - Juanita's - Little Rock, AR 04/29 - Biliken Club - St. Louis, MO
Hear samples of the new CD here: http://www.brickwallmgmt.com/williamfitzsimmons