Tim Fite
Ain’t Ain’t Ain’t
(Anti/Epitaph)

Interesting and innovative music often defies categorization and this is certainly the case with Tim Fite’s 13 tracks on his new album, Ain’t Ain’t Ain’t.  This album is the final work of the Ain’t trilogy after his previous albums, Fair Ain’t Fair and Gone Ain’t Gone, and this time, musically, the regular sampling has been replaced with live playing and the focus is skewed toward adolescence and the reflection on our teenage years.  As a singer Tim is part street preacher, part crooner, and part fine artist, which makes for a very unique quality especially when joined with the blend of staccato rhythms, soulful folk sounds, and world beats with lyrics ranging from sharply aggressive to randomly observant to poignant simplicity.

The album opens with one of its best songs, “Hold Me All Night,” a perfect introduction with its building complexity and varied sounds.  Some of the other standout tracks include the experimental “Bunnies,” the compelling “We Are All Teenagers,” “Talking To The Air,” which is reminiscent of Van Morrison, and “Bully” with its combined truth and humor.  The songs sometimes pass the point of experimental into the territory of annoying, such as on “Tiger Shopping,” but only for brief moments.  One of the great aspects Ain’t Ain’t Ain’t is the visceral nature of the music, it has an ancient quality while remaining very contemporary. While it doesn’t get every song right, it has its moments and works as a listening experience.