Greg Laswell: Take A Bow

Greg Laswell
Take A Bow
Vanguard Records [2010]









Fire Note Says: His voice just never gets old!

Album Review:
We have said it before but Greg Laswell just has one of those voices which should immediately capture your ear. He has a smooth delivery and on his third full length Take A Bow, he offers another 12 songs of heartfelt sonic mid tempo jams that showcase his talents as a songwriter and most definitely a singer. After last years stellar Covers EP, we know that his influences range from Echo & The Bunnymen to Kate Bush, which should discourage any naysayers from claiming Laswell is simplified pop. Sure his music has had multiple spins on Grey's Anatomy but that show has the same music producer that put Death Cab on the map. Take A Bow does not contain any groundbreaking moments but it stays the course for Laswell's more then competent song structures and has a knack for hitting the right emotional chord. One distraction on Take A Bow is its slower pace on the last fourth of the album, as the record just sort of fades away. That piece is slightly disappointing because Laswell's ballad's have soaring anthems and his upbeat numbers carry a very Coldplay vibe, which should still translate to mass appeal. Greg Laswell is a very talented artist and Take A Bow is another solid performance in his arsenal!

Key Tracks: "Take Everything", "Come Clean", "Off I Go"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Coldplay
Ron Sexsmith
Snow Patrol

Greg Laswell: Covers [EP] [Fire Note Review 10/15/09]
Greg Laswell: Three Nights From Alto Nido [Fire Note Review 9/3/08]
Greg Laswell: How The Day Sounds EP [Fire Note Review 3/25/08]
Greg Laswell: Through Toledo [Fire Note Review 8/17/06]

Official Greg Laswell Website
Greg Laswell MySpace
Greg Laswell Facebook
Vanguard Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony