By Benn Orgill.
Charlie Smith’s long teased second album ‘When I grow up I don’t want to be anything at all’ was released on the 8th of September – well timed considering many of the tracks on the record radiate a gentle gloom that pull on the hearts like the first stirrings of Autumn.
Despite its title, this record suggests this Southampton-based independent musician and promoter is developing into a songwriter with more range, originality, and maturity than ever before.
Some things haven’t changed – the warm blend of cello toned acoustic guitar and lo-fi production working as a platform for Smith’s sparse, often cryptic lyricism and Cobainesque voice are staying put.
But now we find drums in the mix, gnarly distortion putting muscle on the increasingly complex riffs, and a surprisingly effective sprechgesang on ‘Vitamin D Supplements’.
Charlie’s strength is the sad, intimate sound he has defined as his own. It is given new depth here by greater technical ability in the recording process as evidenced by the subtle layered vocals on opener ‘Tell me’.
However, we also find a nascent prowess for sudden turns into heavier terrain with echoes of Pearl Jam amongst other identifiable influences from 90s alternative like Ash and Smashing Pumpkins. ‘Rich Amphibian’ and final track ‘Closed But Unresolved’ fly as excellent Nirvana homage with enough sincerity and attention to detail to stick the landing. Equally, ‘Waste away beautiful days’ brings forth visions of southern gothic landscapes and would be at home on the soundtrack of True Detective (Season One, as if I need to say).
Throughout, we find elements of Charlie’s live sets in the production. False starts (the acutely titled ‘Let me try that again’), line checks, and squawks of feedback give the record a feeling of comfort in its own skin and the listener a sense of being directly in the room with him. All that is missing is Charlie’s funny, self-deprecating patter, but as he is never long between shows, there is plenty of opportunity to catch that elsewhere.
Whatever his ambition or lack thereof for the future, this record demonstrates a sound that is new, improved, and growing in all the right directions.
You can stream and buy the album from your preferred platform here:
distrokid.com/hyperfollow/charliesmith1/when-i-grow-up-i-dont-want-to-be-anything-at-all
Charlie is currently touring the country in support of this album. For people local to Southampton, you can catch up at:
The Loft (Southampton) on 02/10/2026
Kola (Portsmouth) 22/10/2026
The Railway Inn (Winchester) 01/11/2026
- In Common is not for profit. We rely on donations from readers to keep the site running. Could you help to support us for as little as 25p a week? Please help us to carry on offering independent grass roots media. Visit: https://www.patreon.com/incommonsoton