Tom Jones

Praise & BlameIsland ****

The shadow of Rick Rubin's shaping of the Johnny Cash American recordings is ever- present, but that shouldn't deter you from investigating this radically different Tom Jones offering. Out the door are the big Vegas show tunes, replaced by a beguiling collection of gospel, blues and spiritual numbers. The Bob Dylan cover,

What Good Am I?

, demonstrates that Jones's powerful baritone can handle even the most personal and nuanced of songs, while Did Trouble Me is nothing short of a revelation, as a light rootsy background helps lift his voice to new heights. What shines through everything here is the sincerity of the artist; this is no cheap gimmick to refresh his marketability. Jones sings with integrity and passion. Yes, it will be greeted with cynicism in some quarters, but do yourself a favour and listen without prejudice. See tomjones.com

Download tracks: Did Trouble Me, What Good Am I?