It's nice to be deemed the "Best Unsigned Band", but it doesn't mean that you have to stop growing as an artist -- in fact, it's more like pressure in the opposite direction. Spin once described Granian (aka Garen Gueyikian) with those three words, but that honor, combined with healthy record sales and a solid fan base, has apparently convinced him to reexamine his approach to his craft. On My Own Two Feet is a big leap forward.

"Ain't That A Shame" sums up Gueyikian's struggle to adapt to his new situation -- he sings, "You watch and you wait / surrounded by things that you can't relate to / and then you find yourself / in the corner of the room again". Praise and success shouldn't result in creative stagnation, nor should artistic self-actualization. Even as he demonstrates his newfound sense of self, Gueyikian takes us on a journey that will eventually lead to his next self.

Gueyikian uses his skill with the acoustic guitar to craft radio-friendly songs, shot through with traces of '60s folk and timeless blues, and ties them together with solid pop mechanics. Light, affable strumming makes for simple songs that emphasize straightforward beauty. Good fortune also plays a role in the album's sound: Gueyikian hadn't met his backing band until they worked together in the studio, but you wouldn't know it from their breezy, sometimes jazzy interactions.

Gueyikian's delicate, insightful take on emotional life sets him apart from the crowd. Over the album's course, he creates songs from thin slices of personal experience. He deftly describes bitterness ("I will never bleed for you ... I spent too much time on my knees for you ... Consider yourself set free" -- "Mark My Words"), obsession ("She's like a drug when you're addicted to love," in "Contagious"), and ultimately acceptance ("If this is what you want / then it's what I need," from "If That's What You Want").

More than a significant step forward for Gueyikian, On My Own Two Feet is a cathartic experience rendered in sharp, memorable, insightful language and warm, organic instrumentation. Connecting with it is almost too easy.