Greg Laswell

Fans of Matt Nathanson and David Bazan might want to listen to similarly deft San Diego singer-songwriter Greg Laswell. It’s a big pop sound as offered by a sensitive guy, which means lyrics like, “Won’t you let me give you a hand? / I have an extra I’m not using,” accompanied by acoustic guitar, piano, and tambourine. (The results have predictably been slipped into TV shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Parenthood.) Laswell’s strong compositions have separated him from the dime-a-dozen bin and make his brand-new album Landline—a follow-up to 2010’s Take A Bow—worth the wait.

Updated 05/14/2012