Robert DeNiro lived by a code in the movie Heat. He tells anyone who will listen that you shouldn't "have anything in your life that you can’t drop if you feel the heat around the corner." As a wanderer and a traveler, those lines have always had a profound impact on me. You get a sense when listening to Chris Van Cott's new record, Gold Like the Sun, that I'm not the only one with a need to stretch their legs every now and then.

Gold Like the Sun is an extension of Van Cott's impressive solo debut record, Little Puppy. A talented songwriter, this acoustical gem takes on a lyrical journey with heavy doses of the love, lost and liquor. As a newfound respect for singer/songwriters emerges, Van Cott will not only fit it with this crew, he will lead the pack.

"Carnival Ride" could be the theme song to all those who've recently discovered Pinot Noir thanks to Sideways. A song about an after work drink never sounded so good. Van Cott displays his humorous and his bilingual side with "Only the Necessities", a cheerful song about taking off to Mexico. Here Van Cott's lyrics paints a vivid journey reminiscent of Lucinda Williams.

Traces of Jack Johnson echo throughout Gold Like the Sun. You can picture Van Cott strumming his guitar to a sun drenched crowd relaxing with a few cold ones after a long day in the surf. Yet, like every good songwriter, Van Cott doesn't limit himself to that Endless Summer feel.

"Save Me My Place" with its gritty and urban, is the price you pay for your travels. "When We Were Drunk" sounds like its title, an upbeat number that would drive the crowd crazy at Bob's Country Bunker.

Van Cott is soaking up the rewards of his talents. In 2004, UMO Music New York selected Van Cott as one of "The 14 Best Singer/Songwriters of Greenwich Village." Chris Van Cott plays solo gigs from coast-to-coast so be sure to catch the this traveling man when he stops near your neck of the woods.