Greg Laswell

How the Day Sounds

(Vanguard)

US release date: 11 March 2008

UK release date: 3 March 2008

by Michael Metivier

The pretty, piano-ballad soft rock evinced by Greg Laswell on How the Day Sounds isn’t usually my bag. I normally don’t feel old, mature, or stable enough to find comfort in that which seemingly exists to provide it (i.e., Coldplay). The contours of Laswell’s EP are pillowy soft and radio-friendly, pleasantly sung and arranged, straight-forward and benign. Hard not to like, but difficult to love. The title track is the best of the six tracks here, built around lightly percussive keys and Laswell’s warm, amiable voice. “High and Low” is an even gentler crooner, melodic and familiar. Laswell doesn’t over-emote, which is much appreciated, but he also doesn’t draw out emotions in any surprising way. It’s evident in the swells and lulls exactly what’s going on at all times; good for those moments when you want/need something reliable, like a rock rather than a rolling stone.

— 4 April 2008
Tagged as: greg laswell
Related articles
Greg Laswell: Through Toledo

Review: Greg Laswell: Through Toledo

Jason MacNeil

13.Oct.06

Sad but not miserable, this bit of heartache is both moving and comforting in its murkiness.

 

TODAY ON POPMATTERS
Columns | recent
Marginal Utility: Brand Evangelists
Field Studies: Vinyl: Got to Get You Into My Life
Events | recent | archive
:. Sonic Youth - River to River Festival — 4.July.08: Manhattan, NY
Books | recent | archive
:. Federico Fellini The Book of Dreams by Federico Fellini
:. When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris
Multimedia | recent | archive
:. Wii Fit
RECENT MUSIC

In bold are PopMatters Picks, the best in new music.