CD REVIEWS
By Michael Swanger scenescribe@mchsi.com
Canby
“Rat”
Aqui Estamos Records
Most people think of drummers merely as sidemen because drum kits are rarely located at center stage and therefore they assume that a drummer’s musicality is limited. But that’s not always the case as Scott Yoshimura, who plays drums for the Des Moines-based indie-rock band The Envy Corps, proves on the debut album from his side project Canby. “Rat,” which was recently issued by the local independent label Aqui Estamos Records, not only features Yoshimura playing drums (of course), but playing guitar, and writing and singing the album’s 10 original songs. Yoshimura’s baritone singing voice (sometimes he speaks his lyrics) is smooth and effortless and lends gravity to his smart, indie-rock songs like the pensive, yet hopeful “Reassurance,” and introverted frustration of the title track. Fortunately for Yoshimura, if his main gig doesn’t pan out, he has something to fall back on. CV
(For more information about Canby visit www.thisiscanby.com.)
Greg Laswell
“Take A Bow”
Vanguard Records
Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Greg Laswell’s bright, orchestral melodies, melancholy pop vocals and intimate lyrics have helped him gain fans and become a favorite of film and television music supervisors since his 2006 debut album, “Through Toledo.” His songs have been featured in TV shows such as “Grey’s Anatomy,” “True Blood,” “The Hills 90210” and “Smallville,” and the musician has made appearances in “Confessions of a Shopaholic” and “My Sister’s Keeper.” Laswell’s latest album, “Take A Bow” offers more of the same — piano-driven, plush ballads and medium tempo slow rockers like “Come Clean,” “You, Now,” “Goodbye” and the title track. Thus far, the album has spawned the hit single “Take Everything,” for which a memento style video was filmed backwards and helped launch the song into the Top 5 at AAA radio. CV
(The Cary Brothers & Greg Laswell perform Saturday, July 31 at 10 p.m. at the Vaudeville Mews. $15.)
