American IV: The Man Comes Around

One of the most unforgettable, chilling voices in history. An album that is stripped and beautiful, relying on the emotional strength that Johnny Cash's voice is capable of. This album is almost hard to listen to because it feels so imbued with grief and knowledge - you can almost tell that Johnny knows that he is going to die, and this album is a reckoning with the different aspects of a life long lived. While this is a cover album, it feels transformational (like a great cover album should). Songs like "In My Life" sound completely different. It doesn't sound like a bad pastiche of the original artists, but rather the uniquely simple and strong instrumentation and vocals of a country legend. 5/5.

Not me crying in the break room at lunch because Johnny is giving me an existential crisis over the impermanence of life.

The greatest version of Desperado, period (featuring non other than Don Henley on background vocals). A cover of a Nine Inch Nails song that somehow becomes one of The Man In Black's greatest songs (its no longer a Trent Reznor song, it's forever a Johnny Cash song). Cash and producer Rick Rubin come close to doing the same to a Depeche Mode classic. Fiona Apple sings with Cash on Bridge Over Troubled Water. Billy Freaking Preston shows up to tickle the ivories on a couple of tracks. Some of Tom Petty's Heartbreakers contribute, along with a Chili Pepper, Nick Cave, and the great Marty Stuart. But it's still Johnny Cash who makes it all work, his voice huskier than ever, sometimes sounding like he's singing at his own funeral, ready to shuffle off his mortal coil at the end. The ultimate victory lap to cement his legend, the last album released while Johnny Cash was alive. It's the perfect swan song.

I mean... dang. Old Cash beats the pants off of Young Cash any day. These songs, covers and all, are so hauntingly beautiful. You feel the weight of life lived, mistakes made, and perspective gained in Cash's performances. It's a damn near perfect album.

This album could have been half the length and come across stronger. Some brilliant interpretations, some “this is Johnny Cash covering something”.

Cash rules everything around me

Oh I'm just not arsed, Johnny. Just well known songs that aren't really improved. I know it was just before he kicked the bucket and Hurt was all very poignant and that, but...yeah whatever. Sue me.

I think this is one of those rare moments. I must be honest, sacrilegious as I know this is, but much as I admire and respect Johnny Cash for so many reasons, I never really cared to listen to him. It didn't bother me; I just wasn't interested. Well, with this album, forget all that. I feel like this is one of those 'a-ha!' moments when something inside me switched on and now, silly as this might sound, I "get it". I know. Could I be any later to the party? Nothing I can do about that, my friends. Here I am. Brilliant.

First track was better than expected, but nothing else was. And I didn't expect much. Really not a fan of traditional Johnny Cash, and his take on the more modern songs didn't do much for me either - I much prefer the original versions in every case. Bridge Over Troubled Water was particularly painful, especially when the backing vocals come in. Danny Boy has been murdered by many before, and it's good to hear Johnny Cash keep up that tradition. I listened, so at least I can say I gave it a chance, and I definitely preferred this to most of his other music. Still hated it.

It's an interesting album. The sparse acoustic guitar accompaniment goes well with Johnny Cash's voice to make for a haunting, somber tone. My issue with the album is the song selection. Some (Hurt, Personal Jesus, In My Life) work great, but others (Bridge Over Troubled Water, First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Desperado) just don't work for me. They sound awkward and forced. 3 stars.

Amazing. How he takes songs from different eras and dramatically different artists and turns them into his own classic Cash style. His vocal performance and emotional delivery create something magical and knowing it was his last work brings it all to a new realm. I truly responded emotionally and for me that is what true art and performance does.

Wow. So hauntingly beautiful. For an album of covers, this feels incredibly intimate - to the point that it sometimes feels too personal to listen to. The way Johnny Cash delivers these songs and makes them his own is something else. His voice is calm but deeply emotional, and it demands your attention. He's contemplative and retrospective too, as if he's looking back at every facet of his life while saying goodbye through his music. Being my first full-length Cash album, this makes me thankful for this project. What a pleasure listening to this record. I'm only saddened by the fact that I might not be able to play it front to back as much as I want to, because it starts feeling very heavy and emotional at some point. But that's only a testament to how good it is. Standout tracks would have to be Hurt, In My Life, Desperado, & We'll Meet Again, but the whole album is breathtaking.

I watched Walk Hard:The Dewey Cox Story this week and would have loved for Johnny Cash to have covered Beautiful Ride or Let’s Duet on American V

good but always the same thing

Original NIN version of hurt is way better, bugs me that everyone thinks its a Johnny Cash song First impressions of this album is that it's an album middle aged conservative men love because he sings about good ol american values n shit. Not that I always dislike that but this all sounds too jesus-y for me. Damn he covered personal jesus too, this version sucks more that hurt. Jesus, In My life too, this is the worst cover yet. I hate this man's voice, I get he's trying to sound sad but he just sounds bored. Ok I'm gonna skip the last 3 songs, I've heard enough All of his songs sound the same to me, I'm not a fan

I was waiting for this album. Dang Johnny, thanks for this last one. Simple, beautiful arrangements. His originals, reworked or not (The Man Comes Around, Give My Love to Rose, Tear Stained Letter) have just as good lyrics and draw you in just as well as any of his other previous songs or versions. His version of Hurt just epitomizes this whole album - stripped down, vulnerable, sad (mostly). I Hung My Head and Personal Jesus are other great examples of how his reworked versions really put a new spin on the original. You have to be in a certain mood for it, but as a concept this album is brilliant, as is his execution.

I love how even though this album is mostly made of covers, Cash makes them sound like they were always his songs to begin with Favorites: The Man Comes Around, Hurt, Personal Jesus, Streets of Laredo

this made me cry. a lot.

Pretty cool to hear him sing these songs. He seems to really perk up when a song involves shooting someone

Poignant and beautiful. Hurt and Personal Jesus are magnificent examples of what good covers should be. And I love hearing Cash re-do songs with his impossibly gravelly old man voice that he first recorded in the 50s and 60s. Give My Love to Rose is even sadder now! You know how artists will get together and do tribute albums to a musician after they die? I feel like Johnny Cash decided to record one of those for himself, and he killed it.

initial thoughts: why have I never sat down and fully listened to this album, I basically favorited every song on it fav off album: hurt

kinda boring - prefer johnny singing country

Boring, uninteresting covers of songs.

One thing about the march of time is that around the 2000s you start getting these last testaments by great acts. You Want it Darker and Blackstar come to mind. But this album is probably the first I think of. A last dance with a legacy act. And country is a fantastic genre for it. Getting old? All the weariness comes forward. Better than that is this album is inventive, covering all sorts of songs including famously NIN, a thing that on paper sounds INSANE but in practice is one of the most devastating performances ever. What an album. 1000% belongs on here even if you dislike it. This is an important fucking album, it says things about life itself dammit hahah

When I first heard Hurt I was in high school and didn't know why we were listening to an old man trying to be cool. Listening now - there is just so much emotion - sadness, longing, love If you can listen to this without feeling something you are a sociopath haha

fav track: i hung my head

This is good, but now I'm imagining a Johnny Cash covers album of songs that really wouldn't work as Johnny Cash covers. "Through the Fire and the Flames" by Dragonforce, "Sicko Mode" by Travis Scott, "Woodpecker No. 1" by Merzbow. I would pay money to hear some bullshit like that. Alas, rest in peace.

Badass cover album. Even Trent Reznor said Hurt isn't a NIN song anymore, it's Cash's. Also cool that John Frusciante was on Personal Jesus such a jam. As is In My Life. All in all the lows balanced out the highs I mentioned. His voice was insanely good on this though. High 3.

Johnny Cash is one of those guys that somehow gets a pass for most people. The "I don't like country but Johnny Cash is good" crowd. I mean, this isn't even really country. The album that sent a bunch of boomers to Potbelly's to play covers. There's better country, there's better albums, there's just not a whole lot here. It also seems like a big cash grab

Ugh. This was not much an album. It was not memorable and not really singing the lyrics but more of speaking the lyrics. The covers were weird and not good at all. Did this album get added simply because it is Johnny Cash? Yes. Is it dog shit? Yes.

The soundtrack of a life lived full of love and regret. It's truly wonderful.

This album is Johnny Cash at his most powerful and vulnerable. The music is stripped down and simple, letting his voice carry the full weight of the songs. Every track feels honest and lived-in, with lyrics that cut straight to the heart. The covers are brilliant - familiar songs reimagined with such depth that they sound like they were always meant to be his. It's an album about life, faith, loss, and mortality, yet it never feels heavy-handed. Instead, it's moving, intimate, and unforgettable. Cash doesn't just sing these songs - he inhabits them. A masterpiece and one of the finest records of his remarkable career.

Loved it. Spending time to listen to each song is rewarding

A great album by one of the greatest songwriters of his era. A very moving, extremely well done mix of originals and covers that feel like they could be his own. Highly recommended much like the other albums in the American Recording series.

Cash's late imperial phase is dominated by covers, yes, but so was most of his career. Anyway this album is fantastic, not a bad song here.

Great great album

Moments of brilliance mingle with very good karaoke. As an ex-fiancé pointed out, the video to “Hurt” is awful. Superstition suggests that my throwing passing shade at Rubin’s comeback industry only yesterday summoned this record, I have to point out that this is one of the fine ones.

American III has the better songs and "Hurt" is way over-played, but this is still pretty awesome [EDIT - gotta' give Johnny props for making "I Hung My Head", an actual Sting composition, sound timeless You can hear the barrel being scraped a bit with some ropey numbers - does anyone really want to hear "Danny Boy", "Bridge Over Troubled Water" or "Desperado"? And, Mark - I take your timely point about the Rick Rubin comeback conveyor, but you could argue the '90s JC revival started with U2's "The Wanderer" (great tune) or "'Til Things Are Brighter" even earlier]

This was interesting. Listening to Johnny Cash sing Personal Jesus is worth a star on its own. I'd listen again but can't say that I loved it.

Some classic Cash sounds and some that felt like they dragged him into the studio and put the lyrics in front of him. "We'll Meet Again" probably my favorite... although "Hurt" is always good.

Man. I don't know what to say. This is heartbreaking to listen to - a fitting swan song for a brilliant career in country-folk music. Johnny Cash's voice is expressive, emotive... just great. The instruments backing his singing make tasteful use of piano, strings, and even guest vocalists (including Fiona Apple in the third track!). If I had to suggest one thing to change, it would be to include more original compositions (fewer covers) and more musical variations between the songs. But really, given the context of the album, I doubt this performance could have been surpassed. 4/5 Key tracks: Hurt, Bridge Over Troubled Water, In My Life, The Man Comes Around

Excellent, but the 3 duets would be better if Johnny handled them alone.

Off the cuff remark: an enjoyable listen but with some real duds. Sorry but the version of Bridge over troubled water is particularly poor. Standout track: title track is fabulous Revisit?: welll I just might, but won't lose sleep if I don't

Some stand out covers amongst some dreary songs. Hurt and Personal Jesus are my favourites

Great concept and cool album. Very neat that it’s his last one. Also, it is just cover songs…

What a treasure of an album. I'd heard "Hurt" before, but most of these I hadn't. And I didn't realize there was a whole series of this. Much respect for you, Johnny ❤️

This is the first Johnny Cash album that's come up on the list for me. I wasn't expecting much, and it managed to slightly exceed those expectations. I appreciate the guy was 70+ when he recorded this, but his vocals weren't very good. Musically it was very sparse, which I'm was an intentional less-is-more approach. I listened all the way through and there were a couple of decent tracks. It's 3 stars from me.

This album is overrated imo. Lots of covers that Cash does not add substance to them.

This album was my first real introduction to Johnny Cash. I’d always known who he was growing up, but I wasn’t interested in country music back then. This album, though, is far more than just country. It’s the work of a man who knew he was nearing the final off-ramp of his life and chose to bare his soul one last time through a collection of hauntingly powerful covers. It’s so emotionally raw and beautiful that it often brings me to tears.

Another Johnny Cash album and another 5 stars! Never knew I was such a fan! His old man voice is so poignant and some of the covers to me now seem to be the quintessential versions. Touching and powerful. Tasteful use of Fiona Apple too!

Johnny Cash, at the end of his life, sat with an eclectic mix of cover songs and turned them into a powerful meditation on life and death. A poignant and sometimes haunting death bed serenade. 10/10

This is one of the first albums I ever bought and some of the first songs I ever learned to play. I did not know Johnny cash farther than a cartoonish character of country music that was more fable than man. It wasn’t until a decade later I really started to see cash a a real person after reading Cash by Johnny Cash (because I was High Fidelity). Now 20 years later with more insight and understanding more of the songs chosen for this anthology, I can give it no less than an 5/5

Cash really makes a lot of these songs his own (especially Hurt). It's fascinating listening to such a famous artist dealing with his own mortality, which really pushes this album beyond just a collection of Johnny Cash blues songs. Favorite Songs: Hurt, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Streets of Laredo

Amazing album, although a bit of a cash grab. Hurt, first song whatever it is are the best

5/5

I'm hurt, you're hurt, we're all hurt.

The greatest american voice somehow gets better with age.

Love it. Own it.

Idée géniale de Rick Rubin. Quelle belle fin de carrière pour Johnny Cash. De la dizaine d'albums qu'il a fait avec American Recordings le IV est pas mal mon préféré. Le III ne donne pas sa place aussi.

Une belle leçon pour un "snob" musical comme moi. M. Cash nous montre ici que le style de musique est secondaire et que tout est dans tout. De Vera Lynn à Nine Inch Nails en passant par Depeche Mode, on peut tout faire country si on en a envie. Ça m'inspire on dirait, dans ce milieu, on veut toujours faire meilleur, plus vite, ou encore différent/novateur et lui a l'air de dire que l'important c'est d'y aller, de jouer son instrument, d'avoir du fun et le reste est secondaire. Peut-être que je suranalyse, mais c'était les choses qui me passaient par la tête, en écoutant ces arrangements simples et épurés, pogné sur un gros bouchon devant le pont Laviolette.

Album d'autant plus puissant qu'il allait mourir un an plus tard. Vraiment le chant du cygne d'un grand artiste. Hurt est incroyable. aussi beaucoup aimé I Hung my Head. Un peu déçu de Personnal Jesus. J'était excité par le duel avec Nick Cave, mais ce dernier est plutôt subtil et laisse beaucoup la place à Johnny.

Increíble. Cash hace su propia versión de muchísimos clásicos y les da una vida que creo que jamás me hubiera imaginado que tendrían. Me soprendió escuchar Personal Jesus e In my life en voz de Cash y sentir como si estuviera ante algo completamente nuevo. Pero la canción que una y otra vez me rompe el corazón y el alma es Hurt. La voz de Cash es espectacular y única. Se mete debajo de la piel y hace sentir cada nota, cada cosa que está sintiendo Cash al cantarla. Y leyendo un poco sobre el disco, me entero que fue el último publicado por Cash antes de su muerte, así que decir adiós así, es cosa de grandes. Y Johnny Cash fue de los enormes.

tracks 1-4 deeply affecting vocal performances, in spite of or maybe because of his aged/slightly more fragile-sounding voice at this point in his career. his version of hurt is one of the greatest things i have ever heard for reasons that are beyond simple human explanation - it has to be heard and sat with and you will absolutely get it. the solemnness and death hanging over this record at time of its recording contextualised by events contemporary to and immediately following its release, of course. think that is what makes "i hung my head" work so well for me in all its simplicity. the rendition of "first time ever i saw your face" stopped me in my tracks. version of "personal jesus" i could take or leave; a cool track to hear here but ultimately not one that his voice or approach could really lend any new fire or affect worth mentioning. "in my life" was perfectly fine if a bit ploddy and unremarkable. "sam hall" a welcome and jovial performance - a touch folkier, and not to harp on it, but fantastic out of his voice possibly because of his age and affect. "danny boy" - pretty, stripped-back tubular production going on here; a gorgeous song in its own right, does it justice. again, lots of death, life-lamenting etc. in these covers, hits me right in The Feels. harmony and mixing on desperado is absolutely nailed. gorgeous. come to your senses! opener is a very timely track but i didn't say that earlier. his version of "we'll meet again" here was absolutely beautiful - production leaning on two pieces of instrumentation and his vocal until you get the final lines delivered by his folks. hit me very hard. gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous album. strong. worst i could feasibly say here is one or two were unmemorable covers. most of them were good. track-listing could've shuffled slightly but it's really no biggie. he took ownership of these songs in a way only a very special few ever could, often only in singular instances. 9/10

Great song selection, minimal production and moving performances from a legendary at the end of a storied career.

Отличный, довольно лиричный и печальный альбом. Навевает настроениями ностальгии, воспоминаний и осмысления прожитых лет. Голос Джонни Кэша здесь звучит очень лично, как будто он лично тебе рассказывает свою историю. Это, наверное, один из лучших альбомов, которые я прослушал в генераторе.

A wonderful Album!

AWESOME!!!

Love Johnny Cash, letsgo! Potverdikkeme, lang geleden dat ik zo'n lekker album heb gehoord. Johnny heeft duidelijk geluisterd naar Michael Scott, Keep It Simple Stupid! Muziek heeft geen rare fratsen nodig, gewoon een mooi melodieus, enigszins gevoelig gitaar rifje, met een fantastische lage rauwe stem erbij. Meer heb je niet nodig. En dat is precies wat Johnny je geeft. Hier staan echt een hoop (nieuwe) Favo's op zeg. Hurt, I Hung My Head, In My Life, Sam Hall, Deperado (al vind ik het origineel toch net wel beter), Tear Stained Letter, Streets of Larado & We'll Meet Again. Jeetje wat heeft ie een goede stem zeg. 5 reten.

Incredibly sad. RIP Johnny Cash

This album was so so good.

Great album, great voice, liked the covers

Still a great album with the best version of Hurt.

Yesterday I went to Taco Bell and Johnny Cash started playing. One of the works yelled "OHH MY GOD I HATE JOHNNY CASH!" and went on about why and stuff and all I could think is how wrong she absolutely was, and that was before I ever heard this album all the way through. Anyway this album is a perfect ending of his life, before Bowie's Blackstar there was this, and it's absolutely fantastic. I hope that lady at Taco Bell has a good day.

Anything less is diabolical

Man, there's just something about this album. It makes my ears feel good.

Álbum incrível! Alguns dos melhores momentos da música estão nele. Truthear Zero: Red.

sätter man inte 5 på den här är man död på insidan

ICONIC.

I’m a sucker for lonely, sad tones and this fits the bill. I like his strong but at same time weak vocals, like he’s holding on. Hurt is completely re-imagined in a more visceral manner and I love how the album ends, like Cash is saying goodbye. Beautiful.

Johnny Cash revived. Great selection of songs done by a master with unbridled emotion.

I have this whole series, it’s a lot. It’s superb, but has an aura of intense melancholy throughout. Maybe it’s just my retrospective viewpoint, but to me it is pretty dark overall. Like a man on his deathbed speaking to God….which maybe it sort of was. There are lots of surprise cover versions of songs you’d never expect (one of the other albums has a Soundgarden cover). But still, the Man in Black’s version of Hurt is absolutely devastating. Get the whole series and repent.

Better than Coldplay

The man in black owns every song on this album, even if they are covers. Dark and wonderful.

It's Johnny Cash, innit. Surprised by the amount of covers, some of which I thought didn't quite fully suit, but not in an unpleasant way.

Джонні я особливо ніколи не слухав з двох причин: 1) біля 70 альбомів в дискографії, це дуже багато та 2) я не те щоб супер поціновувач кантрі. Цей альбом я також не чув, лише кавер на NIN та Депешей. Знову ж таки знаю про контекст з Рубіном, але хз в якому стані був Кеш до нього і що він там записував. Цей альбом мені дуже сподобався. Незважаючи на те, що Кеш тут взяв на кавера відомі або дуже відомі пісні, в нього вийшло відійти досить далеко від оригіналу та дати пісням свій стиль та характер. Я б не називав цей альбом виключно кантрі, тут скоріше збірна амерікана з відчутним блюзовим, та особливо фолковим впливом на аранжування. Дуже подобається як на альбомі звучить голос Кеша і як звучать інструменти. Все дуже чисто, з виразними акцентами, ніби зводив Dr.Dre. Дуже сподобався альбом, за нагоди ближче ознайомлюсь з доробком виконавця

Johnny Cash, what a legend. And what a gift he keft the world just before he passed with this series of albums.

It's like listening to your grandpa singing songs by the fireplace, while the rain quietly pours outside. What's not to like?!

he hurt we hurted I hert

Not just hurt, a wonderful record of an aged genius. Hurt would be worth 5 stars alone.

Hurt 😞

pota

Album 870 of 1089 Johnny Cash - American IV: The Man Comes Around (2002) Rating : 5 / 5 Of course, I already knew “Hurt,” but I’ll admit I never really gave the whole album a second thought until now. I’ve always enjoyed Johnny Cash, but I figured this one was just an end-of-career set of covers. What I didn’t realize was just how much of himself he poured into each of these songs. This is a remarkable listen - so much that I went through it twice. Beyond “Hurt,” standouts like “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “Desperado,” and “In My Life” hit with a quiet weight that only Cash could bring, keeping the whole thing at a level 5 all the way through. It’s more than just covers; it’s an artist near the end of his journey reflecting with honesty, humility, and depth. Immediate placement on the “Best Of” list for me. I know many folks already recognized the greatness of this album long ago, but it’s always nice to finally stumble onto the nut yourself.

I cheered out loud when I revealed this album today. Johnny Cash. The. Man. In. Black. This is probably as close to perfect as you can get. The Man Comes Around has been used for so many movies. He sang Hurt so well that Trent Reznor said the song was his now. Johnny Cash gives a new voice to some classic and contemporary songs. Desperado with Don Henley is a good tune too.

Awesome but sad

You know, had it not been made months before he passed away it wouldn't have hit as strong. "In My Life" got me shivering.

5 stars for Hurt alone. I've heard it before but not the album it came from.

i looove a final album and this is no exception!

I love all the ‘American’ records - what a way to book-end a career. That raw, emotional production is perfect; there can’t be many artists with such a long career behind them that manage to produce some of their best work in their final few years. There’s lots to love on this record but the cover of NiN’s Hurt is the one that, reasonably enough, gets the most attention. Truly sublime.

Love this

I needed this one, perfect for my mood today, so fuck it, 5 stars. It's also a pretty good record...