Griffin House January 31, 2009

Ultimately, these songs are about spirituality and trying to find your place in the world," Griffin House says of Flying Upside Down (Nettwerk, April 29), an album that dramatically marks the 27-year-old Ohioan's coming of age as an artist of formidable skills. The collection showcases a young artist whose openly emotional singing, poetic lyrics and spiraling melodies recall Jackson Browne circa Late for the Sky. Embedded in Flying Upside Down is a song cycle chronicling the arc of a relationship, from the first kiss ("Let Me In") to the emotionally lacerating moment of truth ("Heart of Stone") and its anguished aftermath (the title song). These psychologically penetrating songs are set against a backdrop of the lives of family members and friends, including some serving in the Middle East, and a pair of spiky, head-clearing rockers. House describes the recording of Flying Upside Down "a dream come true," thanks in large measure to the drop-dead studio band assembled by producer Jeff Trott (Sheryl Crow), including a pair of Hall of Famers in Heartbreakers keyboard player Benmont Tench and guitarist Mike Campbell. Also making major contributions were Beck's longtime bass player, Justin Mendal-Johnson, drummer Victor Indrizzo (Macy Gray, Aimee Mann, Daniel Lanois) and violinist Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek). On CBS Sunday Morning, critic Bill Flanagan raved about House's first album, Lost and Found, putting the newcomer on his short list of the best emerging songwriters in the U.S., alongside Ray LaMontagne and Joseph Arthur.