American IV: The Man Comes Around

I get it. Sad music for sad men. Probably not the best track to listen to the day I found out my old dog is being put down Highlights: "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," "Personal Jesus," "Hurt"

I know I’m supposed to love this. I love some Johnny Cash and I love song of the originals covered here. But I find myself getting bored listening to this. I would feel pretentious giving this more than 3 stars.

Pretty good, the Beatles and Simon and Garfunkel covers were cool. Super slow stuff like this isn't my favorite though

Album #114, American IV: The Man Comes Around by Johnny Cash ⭐⭐⭐ I love the concept behind the American Recordings series. The idea of taking this aging musical legend and putting him back into the studio for one final creative burst, while playing to his strengths and giving him these unusual, unexpected covers, is just brilliant to me. When I think about these albums, I always end up thinking about other artists I wish had been given a similar late-career reinvention. Johnny Cash really got an enviable ending to his career. You could argue that this late period became the defining music of his life in many ways. That being said, I think I’m more of a fan of these records in principle than in practice. It feels almost cruel and crass criticising an elderly Johnny Cash’s singing, but it is honestly the part I struggle with most. Obviously he’s a legend, but his voice here can feel very monotonous to me, and these albums are long enough that I sometimes find it difficult to move past that. This is also an album that’s as serious as a suicide note. It’s morose, spiritual, heavy with themes of death and faith and regret. That absolutely suits the material, but at times it can drift into outright dreariness. The positives are that Rick Rubin chooses fantastic covers, and often really unexpected ones. Hurt is obviously iconic at this point and completely deserves its reputation, while Personal Jesus is also brilliant. The collaborations are great too. Fiona Apple appears at one point, and every time Nick Cave shows up on I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry it catches me off guard because his voice is so unmistakable. Then I remember Johnny Cash recorded The Mercy Seat, and suddenly that collaboration makes complete sense. Funnily enough, despite all the famous covers, my favourite moments on the album were actually the Johnny Cash originals. Give My Love to Rose and especially Tear Stained Letter. Tear Stained Letter in particular gives the album a rare moment of energy and movement, and honestly I kind of wished there was more of that throughout, despite it being at odds with most of the material. I think this is one of those albums where your mood massively affects how much you connect with it. Usually this kind of dark, reflective music is exactly my thing, but today maybe I just wasn’t in the right headspace for it. So it’s a three star from me today. Sorry to any Johnny Cash diehards.

Great album, live Johnny Cash voice and hurt it’s a classic

3/5 cash covers

howd he get away with making ts in 2002

Some of the very best of the American Recordings stuff is on here, but as with most of the others in the series it’s a bit scattergun and some of it is pretty poor. They could easily have cut it and made it much better in the process.

A mixed bag of a (mostly) cover album. Cash approaches these covers with a sparse and melancholic sound, mostly guitar and piano with the odd other instrument where appropriate. When it works, such as his cover of Hurt (which is one of the best covers in pop history) and Bridge Over Troubled Water, it works really well. A lot of these songs though just feel like Johnny Cash covering a song. He isn't really adding anything, which is an issue when these covers are so stripped back. The original character is gone and there isn't much to replace it. Overall, it's fine, but I am unlikely to return to most of it.

Неплохо, но скучно

It’s good but just slightly boring if I’m honest. Easy to listen to

Johnny Cash's voice is shockingly limited on here for someone who was only 70! The best songs, like "The Man Comes Around" or "Give My Love to Rose", manage to work with his limitations to arrive at something that's better than it would have been with a younger Cash, but for most of these songs, he's just a shadow of his former self. The cover of "Hurt" gets all the attention these days, but honestly I've never cared for that song in any form? When it comes to aged Cash singing non-country songs, give me "Personal Jesus" any day! At least that one's got a pretty strong guitar hook to it.

I really liked this album. Feels like walking around a city on a dreary day. Added some of the songs to #001 for getting into the feels. It was a little bit samey so I will rate it an 7/10 (1 being Taylor swift, 10 being Pulp and My Chem level)

I have mixed feelings about this: the late grave bound and gravel voiced Cash blasting each of these songs with mortality's gravitas. Some of them are great--Man Comes Around for one--but a bunch are lame (sorry, but I think that NIN song sucks). And is it a gimmick? I mean this is the FOURTH one of these.

Muy pelicula que protagonizaría Hugh Jackman... Buen instrumental pero siento que es muy gringo para mí... Es un album de gringo pa gringo

Bare bones arrangements to lift the core of the songs. Vocals not vintage Cash but mostly works.

Nice, chill, sad.

Каждый кавер кратно хуже оригинала

хорошо, приятно, но опять же - не зацепил сильно, 3.5

I've liked a few songs off this album for a while, but it's not always something I want to listen to.

A solid collection of covers. I enjoy hearing his spin on songs, especially tracks from different genres like Hurt and Plastic Jesus. I'll probably give this one another spin sometime soon.

This was a great comeback album for The Man In Black. A lot of fun covers. It seems like his voice is really forefront on this production.

The Cash cover album. It's okay. Some of the songs are a bit odd. Unpopular opinion that Hurt was better done by NIN, but Cash's cover is still good. Fun cover of Personal Jesus. Odd covers of In My Life and Bridge Over Troubled Water. Mixed bag really, and both the live albums on this list are better Cash records IMO.

Música de negros, para negros, que se ha vuelto increíblemente comercial y gracias a eso, tenemos maravillas como esta, a pesar que la mayor parte del tiempo me sentía confundido de escuchar lo que estaba escuchando, se siente blues en cada nota, no es algo hecho al azar, gran disco.

[NEVER LISTENED BEFORE]

Some of the songs are 5/5 and Johnny's sings with such great emotion. Some song selections on this record are bit weird and in my opinion doesn't quite suite Mr Cash's style.

#392 / 1089 Heard before? ✅ Revisit? ✅ In early 2000's I'd found outlaw country, which I liked in a very conservative fashion, and when Rick Rubin started to work with Mr. Cash I was excited. For me Cash had done some of the best country styled music that I could actually stomach, so I had no reservations regarding this collaboration. I've then realized that I had a very limited exposure to his catalogue, thus skewing my idea what outlaw country actually is. So some of the tracks to eventually come out on this album were a bit too traditional for my taste, which was quite a let down. I still don't do country well, especially the traditional crap makes me very cross and I have to skip or stop immediately (previous 1001 album was Loretta Lynn's from 1967). Strong 3, leaning to 4/5

Great return to form album from Mr Cash

Yo ni cash

I remember when this album was released. All the 'cool kids' thought they were making some kind of statement in declaring their love for the music of Cash, despite having no previous knowledge of him. I wasn't fooled by an album consisting of a dirge of covers, fed by a mainstream media love-in. Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️ in part Revisit ❌️ ★★★☆☆ (5/10) Total reviewed : 316 Already owned : 70 Purchased : 15 To buy : 4 Nope : 227

Chill

Álbum potente. Una voz que conmueve.

Definitely the best of his work I’ve heard. Not a big country fan, but JC is hard to classify as just country.

Always felt a little conflicted about Johnny Cash. This one is fine. It's cover songs and most of them are good, some of them don't quite hit. It comes off as a little too trite. The aging rock star at the end looking back on all of his misdeeds and begging with an audience to be remembered and forgiven.

I never really "got" Johnny Cash - the music was fine, but rather plain for my taste. but it was always more about the attitude than the music, and he had attitude in spades. This reminds me a bit of Willie Nelson's "Stardust" - an aging veteran covering a lot of old classics - but without the nostalgia bump that I got from Willie's album. I respect Cash for his history and his career, but that doesn't make this an album I especially want to listen to.

Aburrido y muy americano

Good

CUTE pero no se si lo escucharia mas

RATING: 7.5/10 HIGHLIGHT: I Hung My Head LOWLIGHT: I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry

Not my jam.

Look Johnny is undeniably a legend. And although this obviously doesn't stack up to his earlier work, if he wanted to take a victory lap before passing I can't blame him. There are plenty of great moments throughout this.

not my vibe, but incredible lyrics

A legend till the end.

I was super excited for this. I know the Hurt cover and the cover of Rowboat by Beck of his from a few albums prior. But I was not as wowed as I thought I would be. I loved the I’m So Lonesome cover, but the rest was just okay. Maybe I need to try again.

it's a cover album

Hurt is a classic and Personal Jesus is fun, but country is the nothingburger of music

In the early 1990s, Johnny Cash, who was experiencing the decline of his career, was approached by Rick Rubin, the producer of many rap and rock artists of the era, to collaborate. Cash accepted, and the American series brought him back into the charts and into the public eye. The fourth album in this series was the artist's last, and, as with Bowie's Blackstar, it's palpable: Johnny understands that the breath of death is drawing nearer, and all the songs here feel like flipping through an old photo album from the vantage point of his years. Most of them are covers, some of Cash's old songs, others of other artists' works, but none of them are blindly re-played acoustically, but rather stripped of unnecessary bells and whistles for an elderly man and seasoned with his wisdom (this version of "Hurt" many still consider original). The artist left behind enough songs to fill five more albums, but no one will ever say his signature "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash" again.

An album of covers is all wrong. But he had earned the right to do what we wanted and some of it is done well. The realisation of mortality comes thorough hard. Fairly good all told.

A few good covers, but overall feels like an album of B Sides

I have never been a fan of Johnny Cash and even though this is an album of covers I quite enjoyed it, he had a unique way to connect to the listener.

Haunting swan song. If I ever kill myself, it’ll be to this album.

It's a mixed blessing, some superb material that shows his talent but then some tracks that should have stayed in the studio.

I was very excited for this, as I have never listened to these four albums. I know I have said before, that I feel cover albums should not be on this list, but this is Johnny Cash! The album starts off great, but then I feel it just runs a bit long. I feel like if it were just a few cover songs mixed in with some original music, I would have enjoyed this so much more.

This would go so hard if I was driving a truck through Texas after divorcing my wife. But I'm not, so it doesn't.

I expected it to be less talk-y and more sing-y than it was, but in hindsight, I guess it makes sense for the time in his life when it was recorded.

I prefer Johnny Cash singing Johnny Cash but this is still pretty good

Giving this a three, which is a decent album I should’ve given live at San Quentin 4 Stars

You wouldn't expect it, would you? An album full of covers on this list. But still, there is something about it.

cool

As a lifelong NIN fan I've always heard that Johnny Cash's version of 'Hurt' is better than the original. Johnny brings a beautiful haunting emotion to it that I love, but for me you canny beat the original. Anyway! Nice album, slow and steady with Johnny still providing warmth and emotion through his voice.

枯れ切ったおじいちゃんの弾き語り

Son dernier album sorti en 2002, son 76ème. On sent beaucoup de tristesse, peut-être d'amertume de regrets dans sa voix. Peut-être savait-il qu'il était malade et qu'il ne ferait plus d'autre album. Ce sont essentiellement des reprises. Bien que ce ne soit pas un album joyeux, c'en est un d'émotions que j'ai relativement bien aimé alors que je suis pas le plus grand fan au monde de lui en général.

Not my favourite of his late period albums, but still good to hear again.

This was pretty interesting... Certainly some certified bangers here, but there's also "some real stinkers", as my grandpa would have said. Looking at the track list, I feel like the second half of the record is where it really falls apart. "We'll Meet Again" feels like a very 'not on brand' final song for Johnny Cash to publish during his life. The message is fitting, but nothing about it feels like a Johnny Cash song and that's a shame. I respect Johnny, but I'm going to struggle with my rating on this one.

Some good covers but nothing that makes me prefer them over the originals

Not really my jam, but I can see the appeal. Johnny Cash is obviously talented, and "outlaw country" is the only style I can tolerate in the country genre - especially when it's as dark and bleak as this. It's very lyrics-oriented, to the point that the songs often turn into pure narration, forgetting that they're supposed to be music. But since the lyrics are pretty good, I don't mind that much ; I just wish the instrumentals would pack more punch. Some of the covers are interesting (like Hurt, or even the very surprising Personal Jesus), while others are just average. My biggest gripe, however, is the voice. To be honest, Johnny Cash really does sound like an old man here, and it somewhat reduces the impact of what could otherwise have been great songs. An album I half-enjoyed, but that gets stale and repetitive after a while ; I couldn't finish it in one sitting. Probably won't play again, but I can respect it. 5/10

The Willie Nelson from the day before helps this one sound even better. The covers here work better for me, even the NIN one. Cash sounds really worn here. Back in 2002, this album helped me see past the cliché image I had of him. I like it and still come back to it sometimes, but I get tired of it pretty fast.

It made feel a little bit sad, i think i am not a fan of his voice pitch in this album, but the lyrics are great.

This was a good first entry point into Johnny Cash's work

most of them are not my cup of tea. i liked the songs that i already liked the original versions of but i definitely prefer the originals.

Never been crazy about Johnny Cash, but this mostly-covers album is quite good. Some of the covers, I'd still prefer the original, but it puts Johnny in a mode that I liked more than normal. I liked The Man Comes Around, Hung My Head, Personal Jesus, Streets of Laredo. The back half didn't do it quite so much for me, but still I enjoyed this. 3.25/5

Lots of covers, some great, some less so. Cash's voice is incredible as always. Favorite songs: The Man Comes Around ; Hurt ; Personal Jesus

Sinceramente un poco apagado, no tan mal por el mensaje de la música. Como reflexiones

Felt like he was talking while the background changes. Really a big fan of hurt though

118. not bad

Dubious song choices. But maybe anything Cash sings is American

I'm not really into that kind of music but it was a very refreshing listen. Johnny Cash has a beautiful voice which made it a really calm and enjoyable listen

I'm a little betwixt and between on this one. There are some songs where JC adds real weight and gravitas, and they're superb. Surprisingly, I'd include his cover of In My Life in this, as well as Hurt, which is brilliant. But quite a lot of the covers, you really have to question whether even he is enjoying them. I don't want to have to hear Desperado, Danny Boy or Personal Jesus done like this (or in the case of Desperado, done like anything). Also, why, for the second time in a week, am I listening to a cover of We'll Meet Again?

3+ Stars (9/15)

Johnny Cash - American IV: The Man Comes Around * The whole covers things is kinda weird. * I like the Depeche Mode version of Personal Jesus better. * Lowkey i feel like he's just saying things. * By Song: -^^--^...-^^---

With each song it felt as though he knew is death was only closer.

Sad beautiful cool as hell When the man comes around might be my fave Johnny cash song Some of the covers could take or leave though

252/1089 look, definitely not my vibe generally, however, there is something about listening to country classics especially when they’re sung by such a rich voice don’t love his version of First Time Ever… Personal Jesus however?? really like that The rest was decent and made for really nice listening, We’ll Meet Again was a lovely send off faves: personal jesus, i hung my head, we’ll meet again 62/100

A favor

Pas mal, average

Eh .. I'm not sure he really added any value to these covers, apart from Hurt.

Voice of an angel.

Goes a bit long, but I'll revisit at least a few of these songs again.

The final album of Johnny Cash's career feels that way. It's a similar quality I noticed in David Bowie's Black Star; an artists, knowing the end is near, writing their own elegy. Thematically, American IV is about 'the end', paying debts, death, etc. Some songs are happy, some are foreboding. Most of the songs are covers, which I found a little disappointing. Cash's voice shows age. It's hard not to be at least a little moved by this final artifact left by an elder-statesman and artist who had always been around, that is, until they couldn't be around any longer.

It is at once rather amazing and awfully mawkish. Full of contradictions, like the man himself I suppose. Contains some bona fide five star moments, and also some middleweight dreck. Cash's voice at times unbelievably doleful but mixed in with plenty of offputtingly cloying sentimentality.

Love Johnny Cash but it’s tough when legends put out music 30 years past their prime

I HUUURRT MYYSEEELFFFF TOODAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3/5 Algumas ótimas interpretações (Hurt, Desperado), outras que não casam com o estilo e voz de Cash.

3/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/johnny-cash/american-iv-the-man-comes-around/ Honestly, more nice songs than I imagined when I saw I had to listen to another Cash record. But also, didn’t care for many other songs. None of the covers are better than the originals—at least as far as I know the originals—but I do like the heavy-handedness of the whole album.

Is this an action movie?

It's a mixed bag.

Listening to this album it was good but not great, but a few songs were great. But I’ve probably heard Hurt too many times now. I would probably do 3.5 if I could.

I couldn't listen to it through at first, but it really grew on me. And it happens to be an Arkansas legend. Go ethel, one of the porrest counties in the Arkansas delta. I can imagine myself listening to this album on a drive.

Just okay

6/10

Good old country acoustic guitar and low gravely vocal telling life stories make listening to this album quite entertaining. But I probably would not want to put it on repeat.

Irgendwo schon beeindruckend 50 Jahre die gleiche simple Musik zu machen und das erfolgreich. Und das meine ich nicht abfällig. Das Album ist unterhaltsam und nett zu hören, gegen Ende nervt dann aber doch etwas die Monotonie.

Meh

Pleasing, like a grandpa singing some of his favorite songs. Great for sleeping to

Started off amazing, but ended with a lot of slow filler tracks that weren't exactly exciting.

Great covers. Love his voice.

On the surface, it's hard to imagine Johnny Cash singing some of these covers. But once you actually listen to the album, it becomes clear: it just WORKS. He adds a dark mood to all of these tracks in a way that befits his unique stylings. He brings together a bunch of disparate tracks from different artists and genres and makes an album that just simply works. It is all kind of capstoned by the fact that this was the last album released during his lifetime; the album listens as if Cash knew this and was making his final, dark, lonely farewell in a way that only he could. A lot of his stylings here aren't necessarily my cup of tea, but I can definitely appreciate what he did here. He showed a level of emotional depth and artistic evolution here that many only wish to achieve.

Pretty cool, knew some of these already. His voice becomes very samey after a while.

It didn't do much to me. I did not dislike, i did not like it. I like the fact that it is easy to sing along to, but thats pretty much it

"Hurt" is a song which brings many feelings with it but the rest of the album is not really my style.

Sad songs, about killing self or someone else and going to a better place but good listen.

Muy lento para mi gusto , no escuchar si estas medio bajon , o si

Грустный старичок

Quite a long album. Such a beautiful artist. His songs are truly lovely. So many rlly nice covers. Fav song is ‘Hurt’.

Classic

Doing this the day after You Want It Darker means two death albums. This is mainly good, sometimes bad, too long, but it's an interesting and worthwhile record.

Ja goed wel, ook wel saai. Leuke van Amerikaanse blues is dat het of heeeeel iers/schots is (zoals dit) of iers/schots/west Afrikaans (dat is dit niet), zoals bluegrass. Vind bluegrass wel leuker en interessanter dan dit. Misschien is het ook net wat interessanter om te luisteren als je lyrics luisteraar bent. Maar alles klinkt natuurlijk heel goed! Well meet again was erg mooi!

Some people love Mr Cash, but I don't number myself among them. To me, he is an interesting singer with a unique, haunting sound, but not someone that stirs my soul.

70 year-old sings classic songs

It was ok was more of a thing I would have in the background but it had some good songwriting.

5/15 bekannt 7/10 Beste Songs: hurt, in my life, personal Jesus

Très sympa, je soupçonne que ça serait 4 en regardant les lyrics !

Enjoyed his weary voice. The review on here didn't make it clear that he had rerecorded all these as an old man.

samtige stimme, tolle songs - so könnte man zum countryfan werden.

Leider macht seine Stimme nicht mehr mit

It was fine, the covers were good and unige and the mixing of his voice felt really loud, like he was standing right next to me, I like the album

A lot of moody stuff.

Mooie covers met zijn unieke stem

You see it all the time, especially on Reddit: Name a cover song which is better than the original. Instantly you have a hundred clampets falling over one another to scream 'mummy! Mummy, please, I know this one! It's Hurt by Johnny Cash!' Except it's not. Crap song to begin with, and the cover isn't any better. Having said that, both are infinitesimally better than that torrid Mad World from Donnie Darko. If a covers albums must be on this list, I suppose it should be this one. It has that emotional and cultural weight - the final words of a man who has been part of the Zeitgeist for more than half a century, feeling the reaper's icy claw squeeze that bit tighter. As with any covers album, there will be covers of songs you like(In My Life) and songs you can't stand (Personal Jesus). It's not unusual that being so close to death a religious dude will select songs related to the particular brand of fairytale he was indoctrinated into, but he also retained some humour in his song choices. Perhaps the funniest choice is the decision to release what amounts to a rap album as his final product, a middle finger to Country fans indeed. His talky-singy renditions belonging more on the gangsta side of the aisle than the cowboy.

Peça por ser demasiado grande e monótono, a Hurt não merecia isto mas oh well

Mais um álbum icónico, gostei de ouvir e descobrir mais uma ou duas músicas para além da Hurt. No entanto como álbum acaba por ser um pouco longo, com várias músicas um pouco meh. Se pudesse dava 3.5, mas 4 para um álbum em que gostei a sério de 1/3 das músicas parece demais.

Quite powerful, some of the songs sound like he’s singing at his own funeral. Obviously knowing this was his final release looms over the album but even if I didn’t know that I think I would’ve felt like I’m hearing a man’s final words. It’s just surprisingly good for all covers. Danny Boy usually doesn’t get me but his version did. We’ll meet again was such a sweet song to end on. Rating: 3.5

In terms of sequencing I really can’t believe Hurt is #2. Hard to follow!!

Such a sad listen. I do love me some Johnny Cash, but this is not one of my top albums of his. It was quite beautiful, just such a change from the Johnny I grew up with. Has a cover of one of my all time favorite songs - First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.

i hurt myself today

6.0/10 Liked some of these covers

I didn't like Johnny cash growing up, but I like the idea of an experienced singer like him doing a stripped down acoustic album with immense feelings... But this isn't it... A couple of them work, mainly hung my head and to a degree hurt but so much of it just sounds like you've gone to a concert at an old people's home and you don't want to embarrass them by walking out, so you sit through it cringing that he can't make the tunes anymore. The first track was awful. So was the 3rd. Bridge over troubled water was poor, but I actually enjoyed the bits where the female backing vocals came in, but then they went out again and he couldn't manage the tune and so he started talking and it drifted into William shatner territory, only shatner lives in the zone and totally owns it, while cash seemed to go there cos he didn't know how to make it work. Personal jesus had promised with the grooving guitars and his darker vocal, but then there was a piano glissando and the verses were naff. In my life had some alright guitar but the vocals wasn't interesting. After that I didn't think about opinions as much as just let it pass me by. Oh, it's a double album. I see. God. I think because his voice is shot the ones were he is contemplating death and especially the ones suggesting he has no hope really work well, the others... Not so much. I didn't like hate it, but I didn't like it. But just for hung my head it's worth a 3.

Not a huge country fan, but I think Cash is a rare exception. Hurt is an absolute classic.I also enjoyed The Man comes Around. While Cash is a great performer and fantastic storyteller, this is an album full of covers which is a bit disappointing. I am only giving this three stars, but trust me, for a country album that is an impressive score.

country and slow. good but i need to be in a certain mood for country

Johnny Cash does covers. I mean, he does them well, but still.. it’s all just.. covers?

Pretty good album of mostly covers

Not a huge Johnny Cash fan, so this was just okay for me.

Wow, beautiful covers of bamgers, giving them a new twist

Not a huge country fan but always enjoy some Johnny Cash.

5/10

One approach to interpreting music has always been stripping things down: guitar and voice, piano and voice, guitar or piano solo. Melodic/rhythmic accompaniment and the words, with melody and whatever character the singer brings. And that’s pretty much all the formula one needs for a vocalist as distinct - but crucially, well-known - as Johnny Cash. It’s not quite a Henry Fonda as the bad guy switcheroo, but the same disarming, even surprising concept is at play: old country vocalist whose hey day was 30 years prior takes a crack at contemporary songs. It could just end up being a gimmick, but instead, the American Recordings act as a meditation or soliloquy for Cash, as opposed to just doing his level best renditions later in life (a la the Sinatra duets). This is not the sound of a boundary-pushing folk hero performing for prisoners his age, but a man reflecting on his past and present. The result could be a gimmick in lesser hands, something that pop music lends itself to both in form and delivery, but here, it’s a masterstroke.

Első szám elég baba egy idő után azért repetitiv lesz de a csavo orgánuma 10/10

I can tell why he was so popular, he still sounds great even into his old age which is crazy. personally not the music I am into but very talented

I don’t typically listen to this type of music but I enjoyed most of the songs on this album, my favourites being The man comes around, hurt, bridge over troubled water and personal Jesus. I did enjoy most of the covers compared to the songs he wrote himself but overall this was a good album. I could see myself listening to most of the songs again.

Not my style

With 3 original songs and 12 covers, Johnny Cash built up a quite grim and tragic soundtrack for his last moments of his life. According to Wikipedia, this was the last release from Johnny Cash while he was still alive, and the themes and performances show that he was very aware that death was approaching, and fast. For this composition, he specifically chose songs that depict subjects of the pass of time, remorse, looking back at the great moments of live, sadness and of course, death. The way this album starts is insane. It opens with "The Man Comes Around" , a fantastic starter to the album, featuring some biblical references such as The Four Horsemen; and "Hurt", which is possibly he's most popular song. I'll admit that I prefer the original song by Nine Inch Nails, but he and the team did an absolutely incredible job at reworking the track while capturing the same feelings and power that the first one has. The album then continues with a great series of very beautiful songs, such as his classic "Give My Love To Rose", the wonderful "Bridge Over Troubled Water" featuring Fiona Apple, the tragic "I Hung My Head" and the sorrowful "First Time I Ever Saw Your Face", "In My Life" and "Danny Boy". The next bunch of songs didn't impact me as much as the previous one. The slowest moments, "Desperado" and "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry"are a bit dragging (specially the first one with Don Henley annoying voice), and both 'Tear Stained Letter' and 'Streets of Laredo' are very standard country tracks. What I did love from this last part is the ending. I think "We'll Meet Again" works incredibly well as a swansong. Instead of being some of the darkest moments, it sounds very uplifting with the lyrics reminding the listener to keep on going even after he is gone. This is a very moving moment and the choir singing along with Johnny makes the song even more impactful and beautiful. So yes, this album is quite powerful and moving. However, I do think the second half drags a bit too much, enough for me to lower the score a bit.

Not what I was expecting; a little disappointed in the man in black

The lyrics are meaningful it reminds me slightly of an Edgar Allen poem it's moody with making u fell u need something so 3/5

извини но нет

Classically American

It’s a funny one this. You gotta respect Johnny Cash for the artist he is whether you like country or not. It’s an album of covers of which some I hadn’t heard the originals and those are the ones I found ok. Some of the ones I knew were a bit questionable but one or two I thought were excellent. At the end of the day, after all he gave to the world of music maybe he earned the right to be a bit indulgent and record some of his favourites or songs that were poignant to him at the time.

As usual, the writing on this record was exceptional; however, I wasn't able to fully engage with it musically. Favourite Track(s): Hurt Least Favourite Track(s): Desperado

3⭐️/5 01.12.2026

I dont native english speakers, but i thik teksts of this songs is very good and deep. But its not my cup of tea. I like high orchestical vocal. So this album is good, but not for me

He is such a good story teller! Didn’t like his covers of songs as well as originals though

mid

I was really ready to enjoy this, but apart from the the obvious (Hurt), none of these really grabbed me as much as I was hoping for. Glad to have listened though!

there's a couple great songs in here but it overstays its welcome by a long time

Love Johnny Cash, but not so much the Rick Rubin era. Feels like they erase taking advantage of JC when he was vulnerable.

This is an album that gets more love than it should because it was released soon before his death. There are a few highlights but most of it is fair to middling. I've never loved his version of Hurt and honestly the first three American Recording albums are better

Not my genre but good artist anyway

Couple of good tracks

Honestly not my cup of tea

This felt extremely personal to Johnny Cash and was very reflective. Top Songs: In My Life, Hurt, I Hung My Head

Johnny Cash sounds less like a performer and more like a witness—to faith, regret, death, love, and the end of the road. Rick Rubin strips everything down so Cash’s voice, age, and truth are unavoidable. Every crack in his voice adds weight, not weakness.

If someone had asked me what dying cowboy songs like prior to listening to this, I would not have an answer. This album is the answer. It’s heartfelt, sorrowful, and yet there is a sense of completion. Feels like grandpa’s last message.

Not really my kind of thing but I would be lying if I said it didn’t bring on the feels while I was eating my breakfast

3.5+

First time listening, very impressive work, never thought I’ve accepted it

I like his deep voice that he has

This album feels very nostalgic, like something that somebody would sing around a campfire or songs that would play in the background of a movie montage. I wasn’t particularly a fan of the talking points during the songs, but I enjoyed the overall vibe that the album brought. As a gravity falls fan, it was a jumpscare to hear We’ll Meet Again. That along with Bridge Over Troubled Water were my two standout songs from the album.

Didn’t expect all the covers but it was fun

Very repetetive songs, bet labas.

The first half of the album was very entertaining. I haven't listened to much music like this, but I enjoyed the intimate feel of each song. Much of the album felt incredibly vulnerable and raw. Towards the second half of the album, the novelty started wearing away but it was still enjoyable. I don't think I would reach for this again,

A solid 3.5 for me. No other track quite reaches the heights of Hurt, in my opinion, though I found Bridge Over Troubled Water and Danny Boy very beautiful. A great album, and I'm glad it's on the list.

Thought I would like this more than I did. This version of Hurt is iconic. I can remember how impactful it was when it came out. A great version the song. But others didn’t work for me. I thought Personal Jesus stripped out a lot of what makes that song great. Desperado was…fine. Just not sure I can go super high for an album of covers. 2.75

Slow album, mainly storytelling. A lot of classics.

I was not excited for this :( but here I am - very dedicated to this project! I know Johnny Cash and to be honest I need to lock in! Fucking hell very grim, to release this before he died and to have such acceptance of death, the lyrics are phenomenal, he really poured his heart into this one! Glad I had the opportunity to hear it. 3.5 if I could but also didn't find it to be 4 stars for me personally.

Love some J.C. great covers, distinct voice.

The covers on this album range from sublime and iconic (Hurt); radio 1 live long quality (Personal Jesus); and faintly ridiculous (Danny Boy). I’d have limited these to the best and then folded in some of the old favourites from his back catalogue, brought to life with his seasoned older voice. Having said that - how sensational is The Man Comes Around? A Cash original and the best song on American IV by yonks. This song alone justifies the collection.

bunch of standard covers. Idk why this is on this list I mean its interesting to see that its four in a row, proves an interesting range.

Melancholy. If he was aiming for us to feel beside him in his final hours, then he succeeded.

i get why it exists

This album is worth it just for the cover of Hurt. The rest is a mixed bag with some that work well and others that are just interesting or OK.

Utter respect for the guy, though musically not in the same frequency. 7/10

i honestly prefer Bob Dylan over Cash ;)

3 excellent songs. Really touched my heart. Favorite was hung my head.

Fine, not really for me. I get it.

I prefer the sparse nature of the first album in this series. I think the magic slipped a bit more with each album following that first American release. Too much instrumentation here and the song selection is weaker. I still bought though, haha.

found a song i want played at my wedding

Enjoying it 🤠

Is he okay

The start is great. Love his voice. But further in the album it becomes too country for my taste.

Album Rate: 6,7/10 The Man Comes Around: 9 Hurt: 8,5 Give My Love To Rose: 8,5 Bridge Over Troubled Water: 7 I Hung My Head: 8 First Time I Saw Your Face: 7 Personal Jesus: 7 In My Life: 7 Sam Hall: 7 Danny Boy: 5 Desperado: 5 I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry: 4 Tear Stained Letter: 6 Streets Of Laredo: 6 We’ll Meet Again: 5,5

What a sad, dark, melancholic record. My first Johnny Cash album was the one recorded at Folsom Prison and it was quite joyful and funny. But these are the songs of an old, dying man having all kinds of regrets and longing - even if it’s covers. He decided to do these covers. The song Hurt is incredible. It’s so profound, beautiful and touching it made me stop in my tracks because I was surprised by this greatness. I also liked We‘ll Meet Again. A great ending for this record. However, the rest of the album was not quite as great in my honest opinion. 3 stars.

A mixture of beauty and sometimes sounded like an old man singing karaoke. Which i guess is what it is

This is a special record, of course, with some really great covers that improve on the originals. It's also too long and monotonous with very little variation, so I was kind of glad when it was over.

Pleasantly surprised. I’m not big on country, but i really enjoyed a lot of parts of this album. I found the second half to be a bit boring, but overall pleasant experience.

So I learned that I'm not that big a fan of Cash with this one, so whilst I can tell they this is a Good Album it just didn't resonate with me.

It wasn't so good as I remembered, but still class.

An excellent series of albums; the highlights are particularly strong on this one ("When The Man Comes Around," "Hurt"), though I prefer I and II as albums since this one has a few clunkers ("In My Life," "Bridge Over Troubled Water") and is hampered by its unencumbered length.

bit of a drag at the end but whatever

Bare bones record. I enjoyed the takes on non traditional cover tunes as well as the closer “We’ll meet again”. The tone of this album is generally sad, then it ends rather hopeful.

it's johnny cash yall

Not a huge fan of cover albums, sing your own songs. At least he does it well. Needs some range, gets old after 5 or 6 songs.

5/10

Difficult one to review, given that Mr Cash was close to his end. Some well-done covers (Hurt, I Hung My Head, In My Life, Personal Jesus) but some that were quite painful to listen to (Bridge Over Troubled Water, First Time Ever I Saw Your Face). Ending on 'We'll Meet Again' very poignant. 3/5.

It’s good, I just got bored and tired. Hurt is a 5/5. This album feels front-loaded. Either that or I just got worn out and later songs melded.

Hurt, and its accompanying video, is a spectacular piece of work, amplified by the subsequent death of June. The other covers on the album do well to reframe the originals, though some of them are stylistically too close to their original. The album is too long - it would have been better cutting off the last five tracks. As much I enjoyed the majority of the album, I am loathed to give it more than 3 as it is mostly a covers album so I can’t give credit for songwriting.

I enjoyed it much more than I anticipated I would. I'd listen again.

Hurt is arguably the greatest swan song of all time and it’s one of the best cover songs ever done, crazy to think he was dead within the year of shooting the music video. Hadn’t really listened to the rest of the album before, you can really hear the emotion throughout. However I don’t feel the rest of the album really stood out as much as Hurt

Johnny Cash doing a bunch of covers of popular songs is kind of cool. I do like and respect his version of "Hurt", but sorry, it's nowhere close to as good as the original by NIN. Overall, I liked the album, but don't need to hear it again. Am I glad I heard it before I die? Yes. 3.25 / 5 stars

Better than expected. The title track is genuinely brilliant

I remember the Johnny Cash resurrection and how big these albums were when they came out. This was the best of them and Hurt made me rethink Cash & NIN. Love the raw delivery and vulnerability you heard in an artist who was so much bravado for so long. A solid listen even though I would never think to listen to this.

This album contains one of the most beautiful songs I know. For years I even considered it the most beautiful — a position I no longer defend quite so fiercely, especially since another Cash track from the same series is now a strong contender. But let’s be clear: one transcendent song does not make for a great album. And this is not a great album. A step back. This is the only entry in the book from Cash’s ‘American’ series, the career-reviving collaboration with Rick Rubin that began in 1994. Cash, 62 and recovering from drug addiction, had drifted far out of view. Rubin — the man who had launched everyone from LL Cool J to Slayer — asked him to record for his newly renamed Def American label. The pairing was unlikely, the success extraordinary. Cash suddenly found an entirely new audience, especially among the culturally left-leaning Americana adopters I mentioned before. And as these things go, one successful album became four, then five, then six; this one was the last released during his lifetime. Which makes it all the more puzzling that this part of the series is the one included in the list. For what it’s worth, every other entry in the American cycle is rated higher by allmusic.com — and I tend to agree with them. The only plausible explanation is that this album contains that astonishing high point. The whole concept of the series was simple: give Cash stark, minimally arranged songs — sometimes classics, often not — and let that impossibly deep, weathered baritone do the rest. In this case, Nine Inch Nails’ rather unremarkable “Hurt” becomes, in Cash’s hands, something genuinely overwhelming. The video, with its foreshadowing of June Carter’s death, only heightens the effect. It’s a masterpiece. The album, unfortunately, isn’t. It starts well: a punchy “The Man Comes Around,” then Hurt, then “Give My Love to Rose,” which adds little to earlier versions but does no harm. And then the record veers off a cliff. Covering “Bridge Over Troubled Water” is already risky, but Cash’s version — a duet with Fiona Apple — is catastrophic. I’d listened to some of her much-praised debut out of curiosity, and it seemed fine. But here? To borrow my partner’s reaction when I played it for her: she insisted she could record duets with Johnny Cash, because she could not possibly sing any worse. And trust me, the bar in our household is low. Things recover briefly: Sting’s “I Hung My Head” works, and so does “Personal Jesus.” But much of the rest suffers from the same fatal flaw: the tempos drag, and Cash seems unable to find the right phrasing. He is one of the greatest singers modern music has produced, yet on this record even he repeatedly misses the mark. “In My Life” — that simple, beautiful Beatles classic — is a complete misfire. “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” is lifeless. And then come the real duds: a plodding “Danny Boy,” a strangely inert take on Hank Williams’ “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” (even Nick Cave can’t salvage it), and finally a closing “We’ll Meet Again” that sounds like the forced sing-along on a school trip bus. So yes: “Hurt” is absolutely extraordinary, one of the most moving recordings I have ever known. But an album is more than one perfect song, and this album simply isn’t good. Why not include the first American record instead — fresh, revelatory, and far better executed?

Must admit that on a day when I’m in Prog Rock ecstasy following the release of two new albums by Lunatic Soul and Gazpacho today I had little time to listen to this album. Fortunate that I knew most of the songs and as I skipped through it sounded like Mr Cash had made a decent job in his interpretation of them. A world away from these two new releases of course and where my true music allegiances lie but I always tip my hat to Johnny Cash for what he contributed to music if not always to my liking. 3/5 31/10/25

This was quite enjoyable. I knew some of the Cash “revival” recordings but never listened to a full album before. I especially liked his versions of “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and “Danny Boy.” I’m having trouble giving this a rating. I think the whole album is solid, but I don’t think I’ll be returning to all this material. This is right on the line, 3.5. I know some might feel it’s sacrilege to give this less than 4 stars, but today I’m rounding down.

gfallt mer kli besser als at folsom prison aber trozdem ned 100% mis

Preferred the earlier American Recordings

It's good. I mean it's the man in black. I love the production of his vocals in particular. They're raw, vulnerable. It's an old man whose warble is apparent. He's not long for this world and he knows it. There are some really fantastic covers here. Unfortunately there are some that just don't do much on it as well. It's so close to that 4 star rating for me, but doesn't meet that "will I reach for this album again" threshold. 3.8

Some solid enough songs but I can’t rate an album of covers all sang in the same style higher than 3

Entspannend. Gute entspannte Mukke. Ozzy schockt mehr, aber nicht ganz so ruhig.

Some good covers here and some not so good, mainly because they are crap songs. Hurt is the obvious standout, but a few others are good as well. Personal Jesus is pretty good.

Look I really like Johnny Cash, I think he’s one of the most underrated song writers, and there is a very famous cover of hurt on this album, but in saying that there are only 2 originals and one of them was originally recorded 50 years previous to this album. My usual feelings are that albums featuring mainly covers are not as groundbreaking as majority original material. I do like most of the renditions though to be fair.

Cool.

A bunch of good covers. Appreciate that Cash was able to produce some great music in his late age free from the young drugged and famous career.

This was a difficult one for me in a few different ways. First: this would be my first time ever listening to a full Cash album, which is a very awkward point to start within his discography (list didn't even give me At Folsom Prison first? Not even At San Quentin?? C'mon list!). I just feel very weird starting on this record despite being very familiar with the concept of the record and as well as a few of the songs contained within it (which actually leads me to my second point). Second: The Nine Inch Nails cover is impossible for me to take seriously. I think it's one of the funniest things ever. Like look, it's objectively a GREAT cover, to the point where I'm convinced many people who aren't into music would think it's an original. That being said, this song is the basis of an incredibly juvenile ytp video that I've loved for many many years. I cannot hear this song and not laugh about it. Every time I hear this song I have "and you could have it all/my empire of dick, everyone I fuck cums in my ass yeah, I focus on the asshole/the only thing that's real" stuck in my head for the rest of the day. This cover being track 2 really set the mood for the rest of the listening experience. Third: I don't know many of the covers on here! While I might recognize many of the artists featured to help record these songs (John Frusciante, Fiona Apple, Nick Cave, etc.), the only real covers I instantly recognized while looking at the tracklist were the Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, Hank Williams, and The Beatles covers. None of these covers necessarily had any deep impact on me (other than the Hurt cover for purely comedic reasons), which sucks because In My Life is an incredibly emotional song for me, and for reasons that are somewhat similar to the circumstances leading to this record! (a dying old person). The covers just do nothing for me. Maybe it's because I wasn't raised on country music. I have no deep connection with Cash. The only country artist I can say I actually truly enjoy is Hank Williams, and Cash's cover didn't necessarily impress me. That being said, I didn't hate it. I'm completely broke and drank my final two beers while listening to this, so I kinda felt it harder than I would have otherwise. RIP

I'm mostly familiar with Cash's classic albums of the 60s/70s/etc. Never really cared for cover albums, even with the Hurt cover being a focal part of it. The last album an artist ever releases (while they are still alive) can often leave the biggest impact for their presence not just on earth, but as a musician's final will and testament. Think of Bowie's Black Star or Tom Waits last album (as of time of review writing): it's hard to admit you're giving your final word and the approach of it, which explains that these are all songs (aside from the intro, which Cash wrote) are all covers. Johnny doesn't have much else to add, but will like to make various shoutouts to musicians many wouldn't think he would have time to listen to or otherwise appreciate at the end of life: covering stuff like Nine Inch Nails and Depeche Mode, along with the covers of songwriters and folk/country musicians of his time. For me, it's amazing how much his cover of NiN's Hurt is one of the biggest songs Johnny Cash has ever recorded. We're talking about a man with a whole line of country standards: Ring of Fire, Boy Named Sue (a cover, though the Folsom performance is just that iconic), I Walk The Line, The Man In Black, among many others. You can hear throughout the album that Cash doesn't have a lot of time left on this planet, his voice more gravelly than it ordinarily is. Cash would pass away a year later, recently widowed with the loss of the love of his life, June Carter Cash. For my own personal tastes, this record is so slow (naturally, but I like stuff a little more faster than my resting heart rate). Impactful, yes. Not denying the legacy of this record or its appearance in the 1001+ albums (could be a bubble pick but ultimately does have enough of a lasting impact). Of course the slowness makes sense, a settling down atmosphere for a music legend. It works for something like In My Life. Not much else to add after that. Good record.

These Rick Rubin albums were a big deal when they came out but I never really checked them out at the time so am glad to have the chance to hear this one now. Funny to get served this just a couple days after San Quentin, where I noticed some reviews complained about his shitty voice, because he sounds so much worse here and yet no one seems to mind. Time and age change expectations, I suppose. Listening to this encourages me to cynically imagine Rick Rubin pimping out Johnny Cash to all his musician friends having their own superstar fantasy camp opportunity to sing a song with him or hear him run through one of their tunes. Even when I'm not feeling so cynical I have a funny feeling that we're hearing here everything they recorded and that pretty much everything was done in one take....still, it's The Man In Black, and that's worth something. Sounds like a fun project to be a part of but didn't do a lot for me as a listener, certainly not approaching the altitude of his 1960s work.

Nice album, very talky

I listened to the original LP release (17 tracks). Just like the Leonard Cohen albums we heard earlier, young Johnny Cash sings much better than old Johnny Cash. Johnny had lots of health issues when he recorded this, so I’ll give him a break on his voice. My biggest problem is that although Johnny selected very good songs to cover, the original versions were better. But I’ll give him credit for the concept.

This was fine. It didn't elicit any feels for me like it seems to for others. I enjoyed the minimal instrumentation on most of the tracks. That really put the focus on Cash's vocals and those seemed more strained with age.

I accidentally rated Isaac Hayes with the review I meant for this one

6,33

I’ll be honest I’m a bit disappointed in this. Obviously “Hurt” is a masterpiece, genuinely one of the greatest covers ever, but the rest of this (long) album is kind of trying to do “Hurt” over and over, with varying degrees of success. The songs feel less like songs suited to Cash, and more songs chosen for the sort of meta story they’re building relating to his life. Some songs (especially story songs) he still excels at and seems to be having a great time. “Personal Jesus” and “My Life” sound like someone stuck the lyrics in front of him approximately two minutes before hitting “record.” Also, I know he was very old and his voice was never great, but man, the autotune done on him here is bad. And 2002 autotune so it’s especially noticeable. High notes are suuuuper robotic. Also that Don Henley duet is awful. Clearly they were never in the room together, their voices don’t mesh. Rubin has mixed them so terribly it just sounds like fuzzy noise. Embarrassing job for a professional! Also lol the guy who made this list managed to sneak another appearance from Nick Cave onto the list with his duet with Cash here! Sneaky sneaky!

Although I love Johnny Cash I think the other album in this series, which has a cover of Loudon Wainwright's The Man Who Couldn't Cry, is far superior. Of course everyone knows the incredible cover of Hurt from this album but other covers fall flat for me. Always a timeless voice but the material he is doing doesn't really do him justice on this record.

6/10 - I'm a big fan of Johnny Cash but this came across as very depressing, Hurt is a great song though

It is ok- I like other albums from him better

Admittedly, the only Johnny Cash song I’ve ever sat down and listened to in full is A Boy Named Sue. I’ve listened to snippets of Hurt when it’s been used in a programme or film, so i was looking forward to just being able to focus on it. I’m torn on this album. It starts off incredibly, The Man Comes Around and Hurt are just fantastic and I could listen to them over and over. But then we get to halfway through the record, and First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and Danny Boy had me wanting to turn it off. Maybe 15 tracks at 52 minutes is too long. After track 5, I’m struggling to get through the rest of the songs. It could have been cut down by a third. But… then I’m back at the first two tracks of the album. Those two songs on their own would be enough for five stars. The rest of the album, however, I’m going to have to go for three. Standout tracks - The Man Comes Around and Hurt

kingof pain

It's a really long album full of Johnny Cash covering other songs. Some are strikingly beautiful, others are Johnny Cash covering a song. A few songs stuck out here (I liked the Hurt cover especially) but overall it didn't really move me.

Really enjoyed the album altough it's not my genre. Het album klonk als een geheel. But every song was unique. I really enjoyed his voice and the little stories his songs told. I didn't add any song to a playlist but I did listen to the album twice. 2nd time I could actually sing along to some parts of some songs. Edit: It has come to my attention that most of the songs on this album are covers, which most are literally a copy of the original... I'll still give it a 2,5.

I found it a little heavy going and little contrived at points, but overall I enjoyed it. It struck me that under Rick Rubin this album could have been overblown in every area, and I really like the fact that it wasn't. The sound and feel is warming. I'm not sure how many times I'd return to it though, as an entire body of work at least.

I really like this album. Maybe it's because of coming off of three days of metal but it's simple, deep and enjoyable.

Better than I was expecting. I guess the it makes the list because it’s such an interesting idea for a legend like Cash to record these stripped down versions. But, I really like the older Cash stuff better.

A great album but I prefer the originals more in general. This album is mostly impressive due to the longevity of Cash's career (67 albums over 50 years.)

I remember how white old dudes were creaming themselves over this album when it came out. Considering I was very young at the time I'm glad to get the opportunity to listen to it now I too am middle aged. This is a very gently played, affecting album. Johnny Cash sounds wonderful, you can hear the years in his voice. Very interesting choice of songs. His version of NIN's Hurt is kinda devastating. I doubt I'll listen to this again though.

Cashes version of Hurt is brilliant.

The covers get a little bit silly by the end of this album. Johnny Cash owns Hurt though, that feels more like Cash than Trent Reznor. But I could easily have gone without hearing the Johnny Cash versions of Personal Jesus or In My Life. This Rick Rubin production is interesting and I'm happy to have listened to it, but other than Hurt, I can't see myself coming back to this.

Enjoyed it more than I thought I would

Best track: the man come around, and personal Jesus Good album, some good song, and some to slow 3,5/5

Covers are best when they completely reimagine a song and bring something new and unexpected to it, rather than simply deliver a faithful rendition. Johnny Cash certainly does that here on songs like the stunning “Hurt” and his deeply personal spin on Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus.” Both also win bonus points for being surprising picks by the grizzled country legend, a hallmark of this collaboration series with Rick Rubin. Other songs, like “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and the Beatles cover, work less well because they hew closer to expectation. Also, the guest vocal cameos here — Fiona Apple, Don Henley and Nick Cave — mostly don’t work and highlight the challenge of pairing with Cash’s plaintive, speak-sing baritone. The album finishes relatively strong with country standards and an original, but on the whole this is an uneven effort.

Is the album good? Yes. Is it in my top three covers albums? No, that would be 1. Cat Power - The Covers Record 2. Elf Power - Nothing's Going To Happen 3. Not sure but not this.

I like this when he does unexpected songs like Hurt or Personal Jesus, but less when he does Danny Boy. Nice shout out to Nick Cave (guest vocalist on one song) that Cash uses the biblical phrase "kicking against the pricks", which is also the title of a nick cave LP.

I really liked this album but I dropped a point for that bridge over troubled water cover because it was not it.

It's okay. Would be 2.5

3.5

It’s hard to say because the music here has been played and known so I can’t make a new assessment. There are classic songs here. His rendering of “hurt” by Trent Rezner is awesome but does it move the needle forward. Overall I think this is a three.

Starts off well, and then kind of withers out. with the exception of hurt and maybe personal Jesus, the covers are strengthened by the quality of the songwriting as opposed to what Cash has done with them. Standout Song: Hurt obviously. 3.5 Stars

The frailty of Johnny’s voice is terribly affecting, which is why “Hurt” works so well. Song choice is so important here- and most of them are hits. This is a great record to put on any time. THREE STARS

I definitely appreciate Rick Rubin bringing Johnny Cash back to relevance and the fact that this record introduced his music to a new generation but I find these American records pretty boring. Production is way too clean and just makes me want to listen to old Johnny Cash records.

The Man Comes Around - 6.5/10 Hurt - 7.5/10 Give My Love To Rose - 7/10 Bridge Over Troubled water - 7/10 I hung my head - 6.75/10 First time ever I saw your face - 7/10 Personal Jesus - 7/10 In My Life - 8/10 Sam Hall - 8 Danny Boy - 8/10 Desperado - 8 So Lonesome I Could Cry 8/10 Tear Stained Letter - 8 Streets Of Larado - 9/10 We’ll Meet Again - 10/10 74/100

basicamente uma coletânea de covers escolhidos a dedo. não curto muito, mas acho que deu um significado interessante visto que eh o último album dele em vida. eh. bem johnny cash mesmo. vou dar 3 estrelas pelo teor sentimental bad vibes que esse aqui trás. que deus o tenha.

forestiller mig at grunden til at det er blevet en del af listen er fordi coversangene og perioden i hans eget liv giver det rigtig meget tyngde. Tror også specielt hurt har en særlig plads her, fordi den originalt er sunget af nine inch nails som et produkt af drug overuse, hvor Johnny er gammel og det er mere er refleksion over livet og alle omkring ham forsvinder (fordi han er gammel). Kan huske jeg læste at Trent razor havde sagt han synes det var lidt kedeligt, indtil han havde set musikvideoen og forstod hvordan sangens betydning ændrer sig fordi det johnny som synger den. God musikvideo. Det er americana hvor der er fokus på de akustiske instrumenter og enkelt instrumental. Countryfolk og en smule gospel inspiration. tror det er et album som kræver et revisit engang, når man kan relatere endnu mere til teksterne. vil nok sige 3,5 for mig

It wasn't as interesting as the pervious album. The songs in the beginning were good and the last song was great (though it was giving "you've got a friend in me").

Legendary voice and a legendary send-off. Not always my cup of tea and gets a bit tedious by the end, but when he hits (Hurt, In My Life, Personal Jesus, etc.), it's really special.

Starts strong but gets pretty meh after a while. The Man Comes Around might be my favorite Johnny Cash song.

I don't love this album. I love Johnny Cash and appreciate him and some of these songs are really great, but others are not very good at all. I know it was his last album but I wouldn't say this is his best work.

This was real easy to listen to. There's something in the way Cash delivers that I've always been a fan of. I grew up listening to A Boy Named Sue, and then the Walk The Line movie came out and a deeper appreciation followed. This feels like a more humbled project, but that could just be the aging tremble in his voice. The lyrics, as should be expected, hit really hard. There's a handful of tracks I don't find myself loving, but the good ones are SO GOOD. Hurt is on this album, hard not to give the track its own 5/5. That doesn't make up for areas where the music wasn't speaking to me, and a cultural difference might have something to do with that. 3.3/5

Johnny Cash is in his own league. country/rock/pop in an excellent songwriting. Very pleasable hearing. BUT not that favorite of mine.

Very sad and slow (mellow). I would definitely listen to it on a rainy day and Johnny Cash is such a legend. I loved give my love to rose, such a beautiful story Solid 3.5/5

Pre-listening thoughts: I have a good feeling I already know what this is going to sound like. But the one thing I do hope for because this is later in Johnny Cash's career that this isn't like the Leonard Cohen album from 2016 cause that was atrociously bad. Post/during listening thoughts: this is sort of like the Willie Nelson album we got. Lots of covers done very stripped down. Although this one has Fiona Apple on backing. Something about hearing an old Johnny Cash sing is making me sad though. I'm not even like a fan of him, this is the first work I've ever heard by him. But it's like looking at the handwriting of someone you love who has passed away. I can't really explain it any more than that. Anyways, this is good. Slow, but good. I'm not sure it's the type of music I would revisit often especially because most of these songs are covers and I like the original better. But I do appreciate the covers on this album for being clear reimaginations instead of imitations. 6.5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: nah Fav tracks: Hurt, In My Life Least fav tracks: Sam Hall

Its ok

Very distinctive voice and I enjoyed it. Feel like I can’t give more than 3 to an album of mostly covers even though he did do his own thing with them

His covers of Hurt (obviously), First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and Bridge Over Troubled Waters are so damn good but second half faded into obscurity for me. Solid 3/5.

I tried, I really did. In the end, I’m just not the audience for Mr. Cash. His music does nothing for me, and I find myself just bored and annoyed.

Very nice, obviously his voice isn’t what it once was, but great work nevertheless

the title track's cool, and he makes something great out of nin's pissbaby song. of the rest, the folkier numbers fare better than the pop covers. despite the sentimental production and the presence of some godawful guests (fiona apple, nick cave, john frusciante, don henley), i do have a soft spot for this. 'cause it reminds me of my dad. covers i wish he had recorded before he died: dan johnston's "speeding motorcycle" smashing pumpkins' "bullet with butterfly wings" jonathan richman's "pablo picasso" roky erickson's "i walked with a zombie" john lennon's "oh yoko"

Цікаво як Джонні Кеш (з допомогою Ріка Рубіна) зміг наприкінці життя оновити свою кар'єру. Колись випадково в секонд-хенді, здається гривень за 20, купив собі його автобіографію, написану доволі відверто. В цій книзі він детально розповідав про сесії для амерікани й напевно об'єктивно четвертий альбом є найкращим, у першу чергу через вдалий кавер на НІН. Десь напевно на початку десятих в нашій тусовці модним було слухати ці альбоми, але скажу відверто що я майже не повертаюсь до них. Тому і ставити високу оцінку не буду.

never listened to this wholly, but know nine inch nails' 'hurt' cover is on it. we'll see how it is! edit: it was good! a lot of covers, which i slowly put together. not necessarily my thing, but did enjoy a lot of what he sand. someone between three and four stars for me.

A good album, but overall not an outstanding album of covers. Hurt is the standout and most famous track, but overall perhaps a little uninspired.

I love his voice! Don’t think I have heard anything like it before. Lots of covers (apparently), which sound amazing. My dad wanted me to learn to play Hurt on my guitar. I couldn’t.

Real good slow country album. I prefer his older stuff but I like this one and really love the covers, especially Personal Jesus.

ok

This is a typical example of an album I like listening to, but can't give a super high rating. After all, it's only a covers album and if it wasn't for Cash's interpretation and voice (which I happen to love) it wouldn't be very special, musically.

Hurt does a lot of heavy lifting to make this a ‘classic’ album. ‘The Man Comes Around’ is great too - the rest just feel like pretty nice covers. The Rick Rubin production gets predictable too.

Solid album

Muy lindo album, melancolico, intimo Fue como escuchar a mi abuelo, si alguna vez hubiese sido un vaquero narrando sus vivencias, pero en un contexto moderno El cover de personal jesus es malísimo lamentablemente 6/10

Very good.

Ganske udmærket album. "Hurt" er vokset på mig.

Loaded with covers and morbid as a funeral, but I made it through.

Those were really nice covers. We'll Meet Again gave me chills. Rest in peace.

I know many people consider this album as a testament of some sort and it's true that it's touching to hear him sing some of those songs, but honestly I can't get behind some of the covers here. Even the ones I was most excited to hear (In My Life, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Personal Jesus) didn't do much for me. Still, there are some really beautiful moments here and his cover of Hurt has become legendary for good reason. But this is not a Cash album I'd want to go back really often.

Thought it would be worse for so late in the career

A country singer singing non-country songs. I don’t like country music. It doesn’t resonate with me, both culturally or geographically. However, there are some songs I like elsewhere covered well here. I like NIN and I like Hurt. I like this cover. I like Depeche Mode and I like Personal Jesus. I like this cover. However, there are other covers that simply don’t work, with Danny Boy being a prime example. This was therefore a mixed album for me. It’s not Fulsom Prison, but it’s ok. 3 stars.