Charlotte Sometimes - Waves & The Both Of Us(Music review by Paula Felps as posted on Walmart.com)About The Album
Charlotte Sometimes' debut disc, Waves & The Both Of Us, is a joyous ride inside an unsettled mind. Part indie folk, part pop and part rock, this disc is a funky, fresh take on relationships and life's journey in general. Sometimes visits some dark places in her psyche, but approaches them with such spirited pluckiness that the trip is enjoyable every step of the way. Drawing her moniker from a children's book -- she's not divulging her real name -- Sometimes has crafted an album that is anything but child-like. With the opener, "Losing Sleep," she delivers a finely off-kilter anthem about trying to keep one's inner demons at bay while becoming the woman she wants to be. Her true gift is her ability to paint dark pictures, but frame them with upbeat lyrics that transform even life's lowest points into a quirky sing-along. That knack shines through in the disc's first single, the infectious "How Could I Just Kill A Man." This catchy examination of the misery endured in the aftermath of a relationship is tuneful and inviting. Sometimes has a distinctive voice that wraps around the words and delivers them with an intriguing blend of conviction, insight and innocence. Most of the time, Sometimes plumbs her inner psyche to exploit her own emotions. "Sweet Valium High" is raw and demanding -- although its flowing pop rhythm makes it sound more like she's falling in love than falling apart. It's a post-mortem on a passionate relationship that is every bit as obsessed as Alanis Morissette's "You Oughta Know." Sometimes takes that one step further with "Ex Girlfriend Syndrome," which refuses to let an old lover off the hook. As brooding as it all sounds, Sometimes never lets this sound as heavy as it feels inside of her. She keeps the mood light -- almost cheery -- with her jangled, edgy folk. That puts her in a league with talent like Lily Allen and Katy Perry, and Sometimes more than holds her own with either. Her soaring vocals on "Toy Soldier" and her sheer force on "This Is Only For Now" only underscore her vocal dexterity and serve as a testament to her versatility. But she's not without a softer side, and she best showcases that side on "Build The Moon," a sexy, seductive plea for love. It's a stirring and wistful track that offers a rare glimpse of her vulnerability and voices all the insecurity she carries inside. She uses that gentle number to lead into "Pilot," a mid-tempo folk-rock cut that blames her emotions on the booze as she steels herself for another emotional loss. Musically, it has an offbeat patter that seems to emphasize the shakiness of her current situation. With Waves & the Both Of Us, Sometimes can join the sorority of fresh new artists who understand how much love hurts and how difficult life can be. At the same time, there's no reason to let that bring you -- or your audience -- down. And Sometimes neither brings down or lets down her audience with this magnificent debut.
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