Through Toledo

Album Review

Through Toledo starts with the melancholic "Sing, Theresa Says" that has Greg Laswell delivering the song with the care of a lullaby, but his voice is an acquired taste like that of Lyle Lovett or Chris Isaak. It's lo-fi indie pop that consists of a short, punchy backbeat and high female harmonies hovering above. Meanwhile, "Amazed" is a lush, rich piece of pop that glides along effortlessly before breaking out and turning the amp up a notch or three. At times Laswell sounds too smart for his own good, with the winding "Worthwhile" coming across as too busy and less than worthwhile, while veering off in several different direction and tones at the same time. The same can be said for the dreary "I'm Hit." He redeems himself with the fine "Do What I Can" that brings to mind Coldplay. The longer the album goes on, the more Laswell shows his strengths as a very credible singer/songwriter, particularly on the piano-fuelled "High and Low" which is easily comparable to Keane's "Try Again" with its subtle but dramatic string accents. The ambling, relaxing, and soothing title track is a winner from the opening as the musician is in no hurry to get things to a higher pace or tempo, coming off as a jazzy jewel. He returns to this well once too often during "Come Undone" and things never quite come together again.