Top tracks — play these first
-
→
I Won’t Crumble With You If You Fall Start here — This opening track sets a poignant tone for the album, exploring themes of resilience and support through heartfelt lyrics and a soulful melody.
-
→
Talking Reality Television Blues — With its clever commentary on contemporary culture, this song showcases Jones's wit and relevance, blending humor with a bluesy sound.
-
→
One More Cup of Coffee — A cover of Bob Dylan’s classic, Jones infuses it with his unique vocal style, transforming the narrative into a deeply personal reflection.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong vocal performances and thoughtful arrangements but lacks a cohesive narrative throughout.
What we noticed
- Several tracks feature layered instrumentation, with strings and piano complementing Jones's vocals, enhancing the emotional delivery.
- The last three tracks gradually decrease in tempo, creating a sense of closure as the album concludes.
- Composition 25% of the score
-
7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
-
8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
-
7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
-
6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
-
6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- reflective moments of soulful introspection
- dynamic journey with emotional peaks
- captivating storytelling through melodies
- for late-night contemplation
Maybe skip if you
- prefer fast-paced, energetic tracks
- seek instant gratification from music
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Showcases Tom Jones's continued evolution and vocal strength in his eighties.
- Themes
- contemporary culture critique· soulful resilience· personal reflection
- Moods
- Introspective· Nostalgic
- Career context
- Released in 2021, Surrounded by Time is Tom Jones's first studio album since 2015's Long Lost Suitcase, marking his continued evolution as an artist in his eighties. The album features a mix of original songs and covers, demonstrating his ability to remain relevant while embracing new influences.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Joe Cocker· Engelbert Humperdinck· Wilson Pickett
Tracklist
- 1 I Won’t Crumble With You If You Fall Start here 3:16
- 2 The Windmills of Your Mind 4:43
- 3 PopStar 4:00
- 4 No Hole in My Head 4:08
- 5 Talking Reality Television Blues 6:29
- 6 I Won’t Lie 4:28
- 7 This Is the Sea 7:11
- 8 One More Cup of Coffee 3:45
- 9 Samson and Delilah 5:06
- 10 Ol’ Mother Earth 5:16
- 11 I’m Growing Old 4:14
- 12 Lazarus Man 9:10
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Coming Home
Leon Bridges
Shares a soulful blend of and contemporary sounds with themes of love and reflection.
Love & Hate
Michael Kiwanuka
Explores deep emotional themes with a rich, bluesy sound and introspective lyrics.
Pick Me Up Off the Floor
Norah Jones
Combines blues, soul, and pop with reflective lyrics about resilience and personal growth.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
Sync your library
Everything you track here works immediately — no account needed. Create one when you want to sync across devices.