Charlie Sohmer

That’s living alright. If country can be groovy, this new album from Canadian Charlie Sohmer knows how to shake its thing. There’s a simplicity to the voice and songs that’s reminiscent of John Prine – and it’s a similarly deceptive simplicity, disguising an emotional depth charge. There’s some interesting stuff; the sinister Waitsian whisper on ‘Cissy Bon’, for example. Other songs are in the storytelling tradition, with gamblers, bad women and cars dominant. But the tracks that stand out are those that try to convey honestly the emotions of a man looking back on the 55 years of his life, facing the lost opportunities and constraints of being born without a silver spoon. This is moving stuff, hidden behind that groovy country twang and a fondness for a singalong chorus. March 27, 2006 - americana-uk.com

There’s nothing fancy about Ottawa singer/songwriter Charlie Sohmer; his voice is simply what it is and his delivery basically gets the job done. But gosh, this boy knows how to put together a story including, this time around, the “Let me be your lovin’ daddy’ tune Lean In A Little Closer, the going-over-Jordan song Take My Possessions, and the dandy little tale of life in the old west The Queen of Kentucky, starring a lady of easy virtue, a card game, and a double barroom death. Accompanying himself on banjo and helped out by Burke Carroll on dobro and Keith Glass on guitar, Sohmer casts an easy-going spell with his mix of Appalachian, gospel, western swing and old-style country. - Ottawa Citizen

Charlie Sohmer is an Ottawa-based singer/songwriter and self-confessed banjo playing fanatic. This marks his fifth album release; and it’s filled with all original folk/country and roots flavoured songs. Sohmer delivers the material with a somewhat unique vocal style – certainly not smooth, but gritty and gutsy enough to keep you listening, and finding special little nuances with each listen. It’s Charlie Sohmer’s songwriting that is the main attraction here … a lot of this would fit snugly alongside the works of writers like Tom Russell, Ian Tyson and Stewart MacDougall. Quirky stuff at times, but like the vocals, you’re always hearing something new in the songs with each progressive listen.

There are a number of special moments here … the tongue-tying I Never Lost Someone I Loved As Much As I Love You, has a jazz/country feel, while Trouble On My Side is a bluesy ballad, which Sohmer delivers in a half-spoken mode. Quite effective. Also high on preferred list is The Queen Of Kentucky, an old wild west tale.

Variety in style is also the key here … Charlie Sohmer doesn’t get stuck in a creative rut for sure, as he injects a touch of Cajun in Cissy Bon, there’s a reggae feel to Blue Satin, while Who Do You Think It Was offers up some blues, with a spooky story line. There’s even a hint of bluegrass, most notably on the mid-tempo Ride Billy Ride … and Sohmer’s versatility as a songwriter goes into another phase on Old Friends, a ‘prison’ story song that has an effective echo intro.

Not a ‘hardcore country’ album by any stretch … but one that keeps you listening … and that, after all, is the objective of putting your music on disc. The album was produced by John Switzer at Audio Valley Studios in Perth, Ontario and features, in addition to Sohmer’s banjo, the session stylings of Burke Carroll on dobro and steel, Steve Briggs on guitar and mandolin, and Keith Glass (of Prairie Oyster) on guitars. - Country Music News

Charlie Sohmer’s music is quirky, thoughtful, and warm-hearted or, as Charlie’s web site puts it, “Honest and touching.” In other words, quintessential Canadian folk music (albeit with plenty of country, gospel, Cajun, and bluegrass influences). Sohmer sings and plays banjo and is supported by his Jazzed Up Hoodlums (players from Toronto’s The Brothers Cosmoline and The Bebop Cowboys). And while the whole album is rock solid, personally I’m drawn to the stripped-down, darker pieces, Take My Possessions and Who Do You Think It Was being two standouts. But there’s also the Cajun-flavoured Cissy Bon, the nostalgic Blue Satin (which to my ear evokes Jimmy Buffet), and country swing on Lean In A Little Closer. None of it will rock your world, perhaps, but there’s something very appealing and more than a little refreshing about Sohmer's plain spun creations.

Richard Thornley, Penguin Eggs, Autumn 2006 - Richard Thornley