Tom Jones

Throw your panties in the air and wave them like you just don't care, because Tom Jones is here to let you know who's boss. Like Frank Sinatra, Jones has brought along some guests for Reload, but unlike the Chairman's "duets," Jones will take on all comers (Stereophonics, Simply Red, Van Morrison, Natalie Imbruglia). And whether he's putting a sly sexual angle to Talking Heads' "Burning Down the House" (with the Cardigans) or out lusting Iggy with the Pretenders on "Lust For Life" this is unmistakably Tom. Robbie Williams comes out on the losing end of "Are You Going to Go My Way" - Jones has been doing the sly wink longer, and pulls off the powerful sex god angle with substantially less effort. But for my money, the highlights are the James Bond-ish horn hits of Portishead's "All Mine" (with the Divine Comedy), the traditional "Motherless Child" (with Portishead) and the all-time great, "Little Green Bag" with the Barenaked Ladies. That Reservoir Dogs moment provides final proof who's cool enough to be Mr. Black.