Sometimes it takes us a whole year (or longer) to completely catch on to greatness.  Take, for example, John Murry who is a Mississippi-born, San Francisco-centric singer who this year finally released his debut album, The Graceless Age.  Graciously, it is appearing on many Best Albums of 2013 lists around the globe (and which, in all honesty, served as our wake-up call).  The album tells the  tale of Murry’s move to California a decade ago and his subsequent decent into near-deadly drug addiction.  One of the best songs on the album is the soul-encapsulating single Little Colored Balloons, which recounts Murry’s overdose at “16th and Mission,” during which time he was declared clinically died.  Murry sets the insidious spiral scene sparely and oh so well:  “saran wrap, little colored balloons, a black nickel, a needle and a spoon.”  Watch Chuck Mobley’s nostalgia-laden video (taken from public domain sources) for the song below.  It’s a beauty, the song is justly showing up on a lot of Best Songs of 2013 lists.   The song and album have been particularly well-received in the UK, but also here (the respected American Songwriter has it in its Top 5 Albums of the Year).  After, watch the official video for another great song off the album, California.