Greg Laswell
Country of origin:
U.S.
Type of music generally:
Contemporary folk, folk/rock
Status:
Most recent release, Everyone Thinks I Dodged a Bullet (2016)
See also:
Greg Laswell's site
Comparisons:
Someone will probably hate this, but I think on his slow songs he sounds a lot like Thom Yorke of Radiohead. On the rock-ier songs he sounds a little more like other indie folkrockers. (sophiagurley@hotmail.com)
Covers/own material:
Own
General comments:
Greg Laswell began as a producer before releasing his first solo album as a singer songwriter. His work combines elements of folk and rock to make an interesting individual-sounding folk/rock. He has an engaging way with both lyrics and tunes that definitely lifts him above the crowd. (sophiagurley@hotmail.com)
Recommended first album:
Through Toledo is the first we've heard
Recordings:
- Good Movie (2004)
- Through Toledo (2006)
- How the Day Sounds (EP, 2008)
- Three Flights From Alto Nido (2008)
- Covers (covers EP, 2009)
- Take a Bow (2010)
- Landline (2012)
- I Was Going to Be an Astronaut (2014)
- Everyone Thinks I Dodged a Bullet (2016)
Through Toledo
Release info:
2006
Availability:
Wide in U.S.
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Greg Laswell—all instruments
Guest artists:
Evan Orpanides—violin on 1 track
Trinidad Sanches II—bass on 1 track
Derren Raser—acoustic guitar on 1 track
Molly Jenson—backing vocals on 1 track
Comments:
This is an eclectic disc, moving from straightforward rockers to intriguing ballads. I find myself quite affected by three of the slower songs here: the first nostalgic track, "Sing, Theresa says", "Come Undone", and the final track "Your Melody", which all three of which strike me as particularly haunting and original. It's here that Greg Laswell's vocals become most engaging and slower pace and quieter tone allows the intriguing structure of the sounds he layers together shine. He rocks well, but really nails the ballads in a way that other singer-songwriters are sure to envy. Recommended. (sophiagurley@hotmail.com)
Thanks to sophiagurley@hotmail.com for work on this entry.
