This came out in 2000 — or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
Some, er, older artists try to up their hipness quotient — and inject new life into their careers — by covering rock tracks. Others try dueting with contemporary artists. Trust Welsh pantie-magnet Tom Jones to do both — and pull it off better than anyone has before. Except maybe himself.
Picking up where his Art of Noise-teamed take on Prince’s Kiss left off, Reload finds Jones enlisting a roster of Britpop stars to help him sweat, shout and let it all out on a set of inspired rock covers. Among the highlights: Tom getting down and dirty with The Cardigans on Talking Heads’ Burning Down The House; Tom trading lines with lounge-pop heir Robbie Williams on a killer version of Lenny Kravitz’s Are You Gonna Go My Way; even Tom rocking up Little Green Bag with Barenaked Ladies. What’s next? A cover of Iggy Pop’s Lust for Life with Chrissie Hynde? Oh wait, that’s here too. And once you’ve heard Tom suavely coo, “I’m just a modern guy / Of course I’ve had it in the ear before,” you’ll be grinning from ear to ear and reaching for the repeat button. What’s new pussycat, indeed?
