Seventy-year-old Jones has finally matured, delving into his musical heritage, and delivering a stunning album. With Ethan Johns as the Rick Rubin to his Johnny Cash, Jones presents stripped down cover songs that enriched him - from Dylan, John Lee Hooker, Staple Singers and more - anchored by a voice that sounds more impassioned and diginified than ever. Poignant at times, exhilarating at others, 'Praise And Blame' marks an exciting new direction from a national treasure. 8/10 Simon Harper, August 2010