Charlotte (Preferably a Little Less Than) Sometimes: Buzznet Album Review

Given how much I like female vocalists (see: No Doubt, Paramore, Dragonette, Lily Allen) and the fact that I can pretty much be a pop-pushover (yes, I did listen to Britney Spears for a large portion of this day), I SHOULD like Charlotte Sometimes‘ new album. I just … don’t.

I’m not sayin’ her debut, Waves & the Both of Us, is bad, it’s just there are certain vocalists who I can’t really hang with. Pearl Jam‘s Eddie Vedder, for example. Dude sounds like he started singing one day when he got lockjaw and was just like YES. I THINK I’M GOING TO STICK WITH THIS SOUND. LOCKJAW 4EVA. Charlotte Sometimes’ vocals are just a tad too lilty for my liking. Yes, I know “lilty” is not actually a word, but you know what? I’ve been sitting here for 15 minutes trying to articulate my sonic discontent and I just decided to invent it. Just go with it.

She’s been compared to Fiona Apple and Regina Spektor, but I think she’s a little more KT Tunstall. A little more folky singer-songwriter than broody piano priestess.

I’d probably dig one of Sometimes’ songs placed in an episode of “Grey’s Anatomy” — or as tune-age to the post-climactic deep-thinking scene in a romantic comedy. Sadly, there isn’t a song from this CD that would make the cut into my iPod shuffle playlist.

Wanna give the girl your own shot? Perhaps start with “How Could I Just Kill A Man,” check her out on this years Warped Tour, or read up on Buzznet’s recent interview with her.