My Baby Don't Tolerate

iTunes Review

Although initially considered a country singer, Lovett excels at smuggling sentiments over conventional genre lines. He sings blues, gospel, folk-just about anything his voice and ace back-up band can handle. He then informs his music with a dangerous wit and eye for subtle detail. He's also apparently hit a bout of writer's block, since Tolerate was his first album of new material in seven years. As a Lovett album, it has a lighter touch, irony being replaced by genuine sentiment. The songs bounce with less hidden meaning ("The Truck Song"), less clouds in the sky ("In My Own Mind" embraces the quietude of aging), and more simple unadulterated joy ("San Antonio Girl"). By the time you get to the two closing gospel numbers ("I'm Going to Wait," "I'm Going To The Place"), you're conditioned to finally accept that the twist in Lovett's songwriting this time is that there isn't one. For once he's singing what he means and meaning what he sings.