Fair Ain't Fair

Tim Fite's rosy disposition and extraordinary outlook

Not even once pretending to be called a prophet Tim Fite, singer and songwriter from Brooklyn nevertheless writes texts filled with deep philosophic thoughts. His 2007's online album Over the Counter Culture has amazed everyone who heard it and the critics from the American leading newspapers placed it on their lists of the year's best works. The point is that the album's main theme was consumerism that is today practically equaled to culture and the basic performance style was rap. This spring Tim Fite releases his new full length record Fair Ain't Fair. Having experimented enough with rap Fite demonstrates his brilliant vocal skills combining in his performance rock, funk, country and alternative and thematically Fair Ain't Fair once again covers the most important questions. Then again one will have to find them behind the mask of irony, humor, and sometimes an utter nonsense. Tim Fite's new record is a very precise reflection of his rosy disposition and extraordinary outlook becoming another achievement of the unique creative personality.

Fair Ain't Fair, a collection of great quality music

Besides the texts value Fair Ain't Fair is also a collection of great quality music. Worthy tunes some of which can be remembered at once and others require a certain time for that, flawless application of most varied instruments from banjo to mandolin, successful arrangements cannot remain without attention. The album opens with rather a bold introduction Roots of a Tree, traditionally the artist addresses the audience but the exaggeratedly rude attitude serves a prompt to understanding all the material to follow: one should not take everything too seriously. A splendid percussion on Trouble and a disarming waltz rhythm on composition The Barber reduce to null the discomfort that has almost appeared at the beginning while completely nice feelings return on Big Mistake, one of the record's leaders. The important theme of forgiveness is disclosed here with an unforgettable accompaniment of electric piano and an acoustic guitar. A strange song Inside Man is performed against a monotonous background of harmonica while an even more unusual Rats and Rags pleases with the addition of a cello that creates contrast between a lofty music and rather a primitive lyrics contents. Refined with a flawless piano and whistling Yesterday's Garden has also become an example of a catchy tune and the key song of the consumerism topic is the humorous More Clothes picking to pieces practically all the material values. The album's shortest tracks Harriet Tubman and Heaven is War manage to depict bright images while a song with a speaking title Sing Along justifies it to the utmost. The record closes with song Line By Line loaded with barking sounds and by the end reminding a tuning orchestra which makes it a kind of a climax of all the tension accumulating throughout the album.

Ironic, topical and very emotional album

Endlessly talented Tim Fite is famous for applying rare or forgotten samples in his recording. The brightest example has become his debut album Gone Ain't Gone on which all the songs are based on samples taken from records bought for a lower than one dollar price. The tendency is a bit weaker on Fair Ain't Fair for this time the artist has staked at a live sound yet naturally he could not do without production. Each of the 16 tracks with their length varying from 1,5 to 4 minutes can boast an interesting sounding in many cases getting close to the experimental music a bit reminiscent of the works of TV On The Radio and Fite's voice, rather penetrating and difficult to conceive makes the impression stronger. Due to the instruments involved in the record one cannot get bored listening to it. It is worth while noting that Tim has also a hobby of writing illustrated story so his author's skills are not subject to doubt. Ironic, topical and very emotional Fair Ain’t Fair can be easily called Tim Fite's best work to date.