The Welshman with the big voice trades his pop pomp for spiritual enlightenment and traditional influences of all varieties and colours. Of course it's the instantly recognisable sound of Jones himself that takes centre stage.
After what was most likely a very clever publicity stunt on the part of his label, in which an email from label boss was leaked calling the Welsh icon's 39th(!) studio album a 'sick joke', Tom Jones has succeeded in making the very release of Praise & Blame a talking point in itself. Where 1999's Reload and its singles 'Sexbomb', 'Burning Down The House' and 'Mama Told Me Not To Come' bolstered a new respect for Jones among the youthful population, Praise & Blame will no doubt see him reclaim his rightful throne as a favourite among the older generation.
At the ripe old age of 70, the fact that Jones can still belt 'em out with the same force and fervour as his younger days is an accomplishment in itself, and of course, his deep, warbling and unmistakable voice is still the driving force here. Focusing on electric blues, folk and country styles, Jones chooses songs with obvious religious undertones, but these thankfully never become sanctimonious or overly off-putting.
Taking on tracks by greats like Bob Dylan and John Lee Hooker, Jones also provides his own unique take on traditional numbers such as 'Nobody's Fault But Mine', popularised by Nina Simone, and 'Ain't No Grave' which recently appeared on Johnny Cash's final album of the same name. In fact, Praise and Blame is quite a similar offering to that posthumous release, though Jones' musings on redemption and death are not nearly as morbid or thought-provoking.
The bluesy riff of 'Lord Help', the lightly plucked banjo of 'Did Trouble Me', the 1950s style rock and roll of 'Strange Things' and the gospel flavours of 'Didn't It Rain' are all upeat and uplifting, balancing the mood of Jones' more melancholy moments nicely. With nearly five decades of music-making behind him, Tom Jones has undoubtedly had his fair share of ups and downs. He can be proud of this one.
