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Greg Laswell
Three Flights from Alto Nido
(Vanguard)
First Appeared in The Music Box, September 2008, Volume 15, #9
Written by John Metzger
Sat September 20, 2008, 02:30 PM CDT
The problem with artists like Greg Laswell is that they are satisfied simply
with creating compositions that lurk quietly in the background. They never seem
to do anything to separate themselves from the rest of the adult contemporary
pack. Consequently, their albums are neither mind-blowing nor unpleasant, and as
they stroll from one song to the next, right down the middle of the road, they
never become tedious, though they also aren’t exactly memorable. This is
precisely why their work fits so well within the framework of network
television’s prime time dramas, where the material can be shaped, sculpted, and
informed by the settings into which it has been placed. The fans that these
performers ultimately attract are those who have found a connection between the
events of their own lives and those of the characters on their favorite program
rather than with the music itself.
Laswell received a boost in attention when songs from his sophomore
set Through Toledo began to appear in shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Cold
Case, and Numb3rs. Not surprisingly, his latest endeavor Three
Flights from Alto Nido is designed to take advantage of the same sorts of
product placement schemes. The affair is filled with inoffensive songs that
unfold effortlessly, but once again, the roads that are paved lead nowhere in
particular. Strings dot the landscape of cuts like It’s Been a Year,
acoustic guitars twinkle through Comes and Goes (In Waves), and the
amplified essence of How the Day Sounds builds to a majestic crescendo.
Through it all, Laswell sings as if he’s lost in a hazy dream, and his vocals
casually drift through the arrangements, sometimes becoming so ethereal and
breathy that it seems as if, at any moment, they might slip away.
All of the songs on Three Flights from Alto Nido are immediately
accessible, though they also fall terribly flat. If comparisons must be made,
Laswell’s material most frequently sounds like he has crossed Duncan Sheik
with Coldplay and added, perhaps, a touch of Sting for good measure. Unlike the works
of his key influences, however, Laswell’s compositions are completely lacking in
melodies that reach out and engage the listener. The result is an album that is
superficially enjoyable. In the end, though, Three Flights from Alto Nido
also isn’t terribly satisfying.  ½
Of Further Interest...
Keane - Hopes & Fears
Duncan Sheik - White Limousine
Sting - Brand New Day
Three Flights from Alto Nido is available from
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Ratings
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 2008 The Music Box
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