Charlotte Sometimes

Charlotte Sometimes is necessary for pop music right now. She's got so much spunk and charisma that she's primed to turn the whole genre on its head. Much like when Fiona Apple hit the scene, Charlotte's got all the right stuff to carve her own niche. In fact, her debut Waves and the Both of Us is purely brilliant. Coupling dark, sardonic lyrics and bubbly, piano melodies isn't a new thing. Adding Vaudevillian textures a la The Dresden Dolls also isn't new. However, Charlotte does them both better than anyone on the scene. Waves and the Both of Us is a beautifully deranged pop musical that's overflowing with life. Her voice soars from a sexy croon to bombastic, theatrical heights and then back again.

She's also an angry young girl, but she makes rage fun. “How I Could Just Kill A Man” name checks Cypress Hill, in a tongue-in-cheek fashion. "Losing Sleep" laments insomnia, while touting an extremely catchy chorus in the process. "Sweet Valium High" and "X-Girlfriend" feature a fairy tale aesthetic and strangely seductive, come-hither delivery all at once. "Waves and the Both of Us" is your classic tale of lost love, but told through her fresh voice and perspective. The closing duo of "Build Me the Moon" and "Pilot 76" serve as the perfect bookend to Charlotte's trip. Ride her wave, and you won't be disappointed. It's going to be a big one.

—Rick Florino
04.30.08

On Charlotte Sometimes' self-titled EP, the singer/songwriter gave listeners a tantalizing glimpse of her potential, but there was always the chance that it would take several albums for it to be truly realized. Thankfully, this is not the case. Waves & the Both of Us is a sparkling work that, despite some occasional missteps, truly represents the depth of her considerable talent. Like those on Charlotte Sometimes, the songs on Waves & the Both of Us tend toward the bittersweet, but never the broken. Despite her sweet and sometimes sad delivery, Sometimes presents herself both lyrically and musically as a strong, self-assured woman, a quality that makes her songs lively and passionate no matter what their tempo or subject matter. She especially excels when making the most of her keen sense of melody and penchant for powerful lyrics. Waves & the Both of Us is full of such pieces, but several stand out, including the album's title track (a poignant piece that is delicate and wistful without coming across as overly earnest), "Ex Girlfriend Syndrome" (a playful, sweet song about heartbreak and the need for closure), and "AEIOU" (a sassy diss of a potential suitor). Each of these songs, as well as a number of others, features descriptive lyrics, playful rhythms, and extremely catchy choruses -- in other words, the confident, undaunted spirit that informs all of Charlotte Sometimes' music. She does lose some of her effectiveness and charm on a few tracks, especially those that lack melodic hooks; when the melody goes flat on "Toy Soldier" and Sometimes resorts to half-singing, half-speaking the verses, it makes for a song that is disappointingly bland and generic. Though there aren't many songs like this on the album, the rest of Waves & the Both of Us contains so many memorable tunes that those with less lilt stick out by sounding uninspired. There are also some occasions when Sometimes' backing arrangements compete with her for the song's central role -- on opening track "Losing Sleep," producers S*A*M & Sluggo should have toned down the loops, keyboards, and drums that threaten to overwhelm the vocalist during the verses. (Fortunately, this is not a consistent trend, as the songs that follow are largely free of the problem.) While the album may not be flawless in its execution, its good points far outweigh the bad and make for a powerful debut that marks Charlotte Sometimes as an artist notable for her talent, unique style, and great promise. ~ Katherine Fulton, All Music Guide