There's no denying that Mr Jones' last album of covers with latter day artists brought him to a younger audience who marvelled at the sheer coolness and...... more
There's no denying that Mr
Jones' last album of covers with latter day artists brought him to a younger audience who marvelled at the sheer coolness and sexual charm of the hairy-chested vocalist. However,
this may have gone to
Tom's head a bit as
this latest album finds him at the mercy of top refugee producer Wyclef Jean and a whole new dictionary of "bling" words that mean something to "The Kids". On first listen there are many parts which will make you cringe as if your dad was wearing a baseball cap and rapping for your friends at a 14th-birthday party, but once you suspend disbelief and get into it, Mr
Jones is a pretty good collection of songs. Opening single "TJ International" finds him semi-rapping about how great he
is with a Nightmare on Elm Street-style melody sung by Wyclef; though not a standout on the album it has potential to become a live favourite for years to come. The following song "Younger Days"
is a remarkably sentimental trip down memory lane showing a wizened edge to his lyrics (aside from the mantra "Bumrush the door") and just gets better and better on repeat listens. A strong highlight has to be the epic ballad "The Letter" which
is classic
Tom vocally but with a smooth R&B feel that suits him far more than the pseudo hip-hop beats found elsewhere on the album. Of the three cover versions, there's a contemporary dedication to legendary blues guitarist Leadbelly with a version of "Black Betty" and an okay remix of "I Who Have Nothing" but both songs highlight that Mr
Jones appears to be more of a Wyclef Jean album with
Tom as guest vocalist rather than the other way around. Give it time though, it's weird at first but it gets there in the end. --David Trueman
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