Greg Laswell: How the Day Sounds

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.