I've been an admirer of Tom Jones since he took Prince's dull song "Kiss" and turned it into something fun with Art of Noise. Any performer who can approach his art with such a sense of humour both about the music and himself is worth my respect.

With "Reload+2," Tom Jones serves up an entire album of such cover tunes. While few of the tracks have that tongue-in-cheek feel of the "Kiss" song, they are all interesting interpertations of other people's hits.

"Reload+2" is even more remarkable in the fact that Jones has teamed up with a wide range of collaborators for this album, many of whom are somewhat shocking. I'd never been able to conceive of Jones performing with The Cardigans, Divine Comedy, or Barenaked Ladies, yet on "Reload+2" he does. There are 15 additional oddball team-ups, all of which have produced exceptional covers.

Stand-out tracks are "Burning Down the House" (with the Cardigans), Lust for Life (with the Pretenders), Little Green Bag (with Barenaked Ladies), She Drives Me Crazy (with Zucchero), all of which display that sense of fun that I loved about the old "Kiss" cover. "All Mine" (with Divine Comedy), "You're Right, I'm Left, She's Gone" (with James Dean Bradfield), and "Sex Bomb" (with Mousse T.) are just damn cool covers by any standard.

Finally, I recommend the import "Reload+2" over the regular album, which is simply "Reload." The +2 are live recordings of "Unbelievable" and "Come Together." Both are as fun-filled and worthwhile as the "Kiss" cover that first turned me onto Jones, and they are well worth the additional expense.

Finally, the full European version of RELOAD is available on this side of the Atlantic! For perhaps a year, I've been trying to get this version of RELOAD that has the Peppermint Jam Mix of "Sexbomb" on it, and my wait is over. Having heard this cut on "Wright Around the World" on the BBC WorldService, I had searched high and low, Internet and otherwise, for this CD. And while Amazon did list it, it never arrived. Now, however, it ships in 24-hours.

Up until this expanded version arrived, I had to make due with the RELOAD that did not have "You Need Love Like I Do (Double Click Remix)" either. Perhaps "make due" is too strong of a phrase for the tune selection, parnerships on duets and arrangements are first class. Not all are true winners, otherwise the CD would be rated 5 stars, but six of the tunes are GREAT with "Burning Down the House (with the Cardigans)," "She Drives me Crazy (with Zucchero)," "Lust for Life (with the Predenders)," "Little Green Bag (with Barenaked Ladies)" and the aforementioned "Sexbomb (with Mousse T.)

If you have ever liked Tom Jones, and are looking for a good "dynamic" CD of covers with interesting duets, this is the CD for you. Be sure to try to get the version with 19 tunes on it.

In a music establishment that permits and supports stuff like Garth Brooks as Chris Gaines, this new release from Tom Jones is a breath of fresh air. Tom is in top vocal form and puts 100% of his heart and soul in the songs. The single Burning Down the House is worth the price of admission alone! Tom proves once again that he is far from being a has been. The music establishment may not always recognize talent, but Tom stands up and forces them to hear him with this excellent release. His back catalog is tough to follow, but he actually pulls it off with this cd. Hats off to the man from Wales AKA the VOICE!

I started listening to Mr. Jones at the age of 3 when my older sisters would play his 45s on our basement stereo- "What's New Pussycat" was my song! As an adult, I rediscovered Tom when I saw him perform at a benefit concert in London in 1991- of all the trendy, progressive artists performing, he was the coolest. On Reload, Tom collaborates with artists of diverse musical styles with the result being a seriously groovy CD. How could you not love Tom's over-the-top vocals on such tracks as "Lust for Life"? My personal favorite is "Sex Bomb"- hilarious! So, order the CD, loosen up and dance your a** off around the basement stereo!

The duet with others famous,open with "Burning down the house"..Tom Jones and the Cardigan,a techno-rhythm song."I'm left,You're right,she goes" is an interesting song..also "Sex bomb.And the song that impressed me "Sometimes we cry" with "Van Morrison",like I've heard this song since I was a child."Never tear us apart" the really beautiful song since 1989 from INXS,reload by duet with "Natalie Imbruglia"..and still beautiful in 1999. And many other songs are good ,I think this is the Cool album that not wasted your money.