Charlotte Sometimes

AMG Review of Charlotte Sometimes

Katherine Fulton
All Music Guide

It's hard to paint a complete picture of an artist's potential using just three songs, but Charlotte Sometimes' self-titled EP makes it safe to say that the singer/songwriter has talent to burn. True, the disc's collection of songs was shrewdly selected, highlighting strengths without revealing potential weaknesses, but this plays to the artist's advantage, as well as that of the listener. The disc's opening track, "How I Could Just Kill a Man," showcases Sometimes' skill at crafting cheerful melodies and immediately catchy choruses. It also displays her wit -- the song recycles a refrain from a Cypress Hill song, twisting its meaning in a breakup song where the man does the crying. As a songwriter, Sometimes is sweet, intelligent, and above all authentic, with a bright sound that manages to put substance over style. She may sing wistful songs that are a bit melancholy, but her tone is never self-pitying. Instead, Sometimes sings in a strong, clear voice that is even a little brassy during her songs' refrains. All of these elements are tied together with the EP's closer, the plucky and defiant "Sweet Valium High." Like the other two numbers, it's charming and disarming as it weaves a sad tale with a melody that bounces and sparkles, leaving little doubt that Sometimes has plenty more tales to tell.