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Tom Jones’ new album “Praise & Blame” is a back to basics offering, with Tom tackling a selection of fine spiritual and R&B numbers in what a New York Times reviewer fittingly called “a stripped-down reach for the mythic core of American roots music.” This is Jones’ first release on Island Records and it attracted much pre-release publicity, thanks in no small part to an executive at the label slamming the CD.

Commenting on the album, Tom Jones has said:

Jones turned to the highly regarded producer and musician Ethan Johns to help him realise his goals for this album and on this evidence it is a relationship that should be explored further. The collaboration invites comparisons with the Johnny Cash/Rick Rubin partnership, which yielded the American Recordings series and indeed there are three tracks here that were also recorded by Cash for those projects – “If I Give My Soul,” “Ain’t No Grave” and “Run On.” The latter was recorded by Cash under the title “God’s Gonna Cut You Down.” Jones is in fine voice on all three tracks and inevitably sounds less weathered than Cash.

This is Tom Jones laid bare and the richness of his aging voice is abuntly clear, from the opening Dylan cover, “What Good Am I?,” to the closing “Run On.” The former features Jones sounding more vulnerable than at any time in his career and it’s a welcome change from his trademark bombastic approach. It’s a track that you will find yourself hitting the repeat button on.

Jones sang “What Good Am I?” on “Later With Jools Holland” in May:

The famous Jones power is still in full evidence on other tracks, with meaty renditions of John Lee Hooker’s “Burning Hell,” the Staple Singers’ “Don’t Knock” and the aforementioned “Ain’t No Grave.” “Burning Hell” was released on single last month and it’s a solid version of the song, but not a major stand out on the album for me.

Here’s Tom with a live version of “Don’t Knock,” which is the second single from “Praise & Blame.”

Jones is back in melancholy and reflective mood on Susan Werner’s “Did Trouble Me” and the blues standard “Nobody’s Fault But Mine,” which bears no relation to the famous Led Zeppelin version. It’s closer to the versions by Nina Simone and Beth Rowley. “Did Trouble Me” is one of the most appealing vocals on the album, supported by a fine country arrangement and simple but effective banjo riffs.

Spirits are lifted by a toetapping rock ‘n’ roll version of Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s “Strange Things Happen Everyday.” Jones is really at home with this material.

Much has been made of Tom Jones taking a huge departure with this album and to an extent this is true, but more so because of the sparse, stripped back production than the choice of material. Although Jones is most famous for pop standards such as “Delilah,” “What’s New Pussycat” and “It’s Not Unusual,” he’s always been a great admirer of R&B and a gifted exponent of the style. “Praise & Blame” could in fact be seen as a follow-up to the great R&B album he made with Jools Holland in 2005, but this time with a more earthy, less polished approach. As Greil Marcus might say, this is “music that bleeds.”

It remains to be seen whether Johns can do for Jones what Rubin did for Cash, but this album certainly deserves success. If it’s not a big seller, lack of quality isn’t the reason.

Tom Jones “Praise & Blame” is highly recommended.

Here’s the full tracklist for “Praise & Blame”:

• What Good Am I
• Lord Help The Poor & Needy
• Did Trouble Me
• Strange Things Happen Everyday
• Burning Hell
• If I Give My Soul
• You Don’t Knock
• Nobody’s Fault But Mine
• Didn’t It Rain
• Ain’t No Grave
• Run On.

What do others say?

Here’s an at a glance look at how others have rated the album:

• “…it’s a blistering album, at its best when Jones and his band…cut loose.” –
  The Guardian 4****
• “Few singers are going to emerge with an album as incredible as this in 2010” – Mojo 4****
• “…Praise & Blame is clearly on of the best albums of Jones’s entire career.” –
  The Independent 5*****
• “An album that is sheer class.” – Daily Express 4****
• “…the album still emphasises his powerful vocals, just in a more stripped back, salvation-seeking fashion.” – NME 8/10
• “…he delivers an impressively accomplished album.” – Time Out 4****
• “…the album even has something of his old pal Elvis Presley’s ’68 Comeback about it. Either way, it’s a revelation.” – Daily Telegraph 5*****
• “Poignant at times, exhilarating at others, ‘Praise & Blame’ marks an exciting new direction from a national treasure.” – Clash 8/10
• “At moments like this, you could almost forgive the wasted years.” – Q

These are the best reviews I can recall for a Tom Jones album and with good reason.

You can order “Praise & Blame” now from the following online retailers:

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