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Tom Jones - 24 Hours
| Billboard |
| Rather than stage a stripped-down comeback in a incense-laden studio with an acoustic guitar and/or Rick Rubin, 68-year-old Tom Jones struts in the other direction, having waited for the full Winehouse-led rebloom of the bombastic rock'n'soul he made not so unusual in the first place. Jones roars out of the box with Tommy James & the Shondells' "I'm Alive," a sweat-soaked jumpsuit of a song thick with fierce maleness ("I don't care if I'm right or wrong, I'm a man," Jones howls). The Bono-penned "Sugar Daddy" is basically a series of dirty-sex couplets delivered as a smirking kiss-off to anyone who dares doubt his continued virility ("Daddy always gives you what is good for you"). Then there's the Bruce Springsteen obscurity "The Hitter," about a past-his-prime boxer who can't stay clear of the fight. Like Jones, you might be wondering what he could possibly be doing in the ring, until he lands a hook or two. —Jeff Vrabel...full text |
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| Boston |
| The songs may have changed, but in the Tom Jones universe, some things are constant: hip swiveling, proud displays of chest hair, and big booming vocals. Jones has always lustily attacked his songs, which is why "24 Hours" marks a departure for the 68-year-old knighted pop star. Instead of tearing and shredding every song with his usual bravado, Jones demonstrates that he can be a subtle fellow. He's no shrinking Thom Yorke, but the title track, about a death row inmate, is a quiet reflection on life. Overall, the inspiration behind the album is Jones as Amy Winehouse or Jamie Lidell. "I've been singing this song since before you were born," he boasts to all the Winehouse-come-latelys on the U2-penned "Sugar Daddy." Given that he is the grandpapi of sweaty Brit R&B, it is a natural fit for Sir Tom to show these young'uns something about soul. Sadly, he's not working with producer Mark Ronson, but tracks such as the honeyed "If He Should Ever Leave You" are sufficiently Ronson-esque. He smartly revisits songs from Bruce Springsteen ("The Hitter") and, for those who miss the raw, hungry Jones, he delivers a roaring rendition of Tommy James & the Shondell's "I'm Alive." (Out tomorrow)...full text |
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| Popmatters |
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It’s not unusual for male singing stars of the ‘60s to make comebacks here in the 21st century. Just think of the critical successes by men like Glen Campbell, Neil Diamond, and Johnny Cash. What’s most amazing about 68-year-old Tom Jones’ recent album, his first new American release in 15 years, is how similar it sounds to his classic records of the past. While Campbell, Diamond, and Cash had to strip back their sounds to get a more rootsy vibe, Jones gets to do just what he used to do. They say what’s old becomes new again, and that’s what happened. Jones began his career singing in a style borrowed from American soul singers and utilized the same brass heavy instrumentation as those old Stax artists. (Legend has it when Jones met Otis Redding, the Stax singer told Jones that Redding and other Soul artists tried to imitate him, to which an astonished Jones replied, “But I’ve been copying you!”) Now that retro-Soul from the UK has again become successful in the guise of Amy Winehouse, Duffy, and others, Jones gets to sing in the style that made him famous....full text |
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