Praise And Blame

Praise ＆ Blame marks a significant turning point in an amazing musical career that has spanned nearly five decades. Tom Jones, the Welsh Wonder whose fame rose quickly in the 1960s, with hits like What’s New, Pussycat?, Help Yourself, She’s a Lady and Delilah, returns with his follow-up to 2008’s highly successful 24 Hours. This time, the soul/r n’b flash of that record’s Nellie Hooper assisted sound is gone, and in its place is a much grittier atmosphere. The overall tone is spiritual, with the Bob Dylan penned What Good Am I? opening, setting the overall feel of belief and doubt. Lead off single Did Trouble Me is an introspective highlight on the album, giving meaning to the life of the song’s wayward soul. Burning Hell, made famous by John Lee Hooker, gets the nails a bit dirtier, with its raw blues structure and Tom’s astounding vocals. He may have just gotten better with age, and at 70, there appears to be no stopping the man who once was nearly finished, until a creative re-birth in the 1980s. On Praise ＆ Blame, Jones proves once again that not only is he a remarkable vocalist, but also a gifted interpreter of song. Praise ＆ Blame is easily the best record Jones has recorded in some time--perhaps it is also his most consistent and satisfying. Fans will be pleased, and newcomers just might find something to enjoy from the Welsh Wonder! A triumph.