William Fitzsimmons lets his voice do the talking on 'Lions'

Society always celebrates the records that top the Billboard 200 album chart. Back of The Billboards is a Music Times weekly segment that looks at the opposite end: the new record that finished closest to the back of the Billboard 200 for the previous week. We hope to give a fighting chance to the bands you haven't heard of.

Week of 02/28/2014
WHO: William Fitzsimmons
WHAT: Lions
SPOT: 199

Odds are you've heard William Fitzsimmons before, even if you don't realize it. Work from the performer has appeared on Grey's Anatomy, Brothers & Sisters, Private Practice, One Tree Hill, Burn Notice and a slew of other television shows you've never heard of.

The easiest way to put it is thus: Fitzsimmons' musical style just makes him ideal for running while a show ends on an emotional note. Leonard Cohen and later Jeff Buckley exemplified the idea with the track "Hallelujah."

Fitzsimmons is better compared to fellow moody plucker Iron & Wine—both in music and beard stylings. His lyrics are chock full of feelings, but volume will never be his tool for expressing them. As such, he tends to keep his playing quiet as well. Newest release Lions breaks from the mold a tad by featuring the occasional electric instrument, but nothing to drown out the vocals. The buzz of an amped guitar can become distracting on songs such as closer "Ten Lions" however. Fitzsimmons is at his best on simple, heartfelt numbers like "Blood / Chest," or just boosted by a gentle piano as on "Josie's Song."