The New MTV Darling?

Waves and the Both of Us (Geffen Records)

Charlotte Sometimes

By Kory Wilcoxson

Charlotte Sometimes has all the makings of an MTV darling: man-bashing lyrics for the girls, cleavage for the boys, beats for the hip-hoppers, and enough style to catch the eyes of the channel surfers. She also has a decent album.

Sometimes is a cross between the bitchiness of Alanis Morrisette and the sweetness of Lisa Loeb, and she slides seamlessly between vocal-driven pop ("Losing Sleep") and hip-hop lite ("AEIOU"), ala Nellie McKay. Her first single, "How I Could Just Kill a Man," takes the bravado of an old Cypress Hill rap song and turns it into the confessions of a jilted lover, delivered with a catchy killer chorus.

While Waves is probably two songs too long, Sometimes shows a lot of promise for asserting her womanhood without losing her pop sensibilities. On the title track, an R-rated version of Sixpence None the Richer's "Kiss Me," Sometimes is seductive, sexy and sweet. For the average MTV watcher, what more could you ask for?

Ask for more at charlottesometimesmusic.com.