Reviews (page 10 of 14)
Mostly covers which surprised me, but they are all executed so well. Johnny Cash has a way of making songs his own whether he intends to or not, such powerful styles of singing and lyrical delivery. The guest appearances were mostly unnecessary in my opinion, however the Fiona Apple vocals on "Bridge Over Troubled Water" were fantastic. Johnny Cash still knows what the people want to hear after having a whole life behind him. Fave tracks: Hurt, Bridge Over Troubled Water, I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
I actually really enjoyed this - more than I thought I would at first. The song selections and sparse arrangements are great, thought some of them work better than others (Personal Jesus was a bit of and odd choice for his style imo). I was not aware of this series of albums by Cash, but I think this is a great idea. After a long and fruitful career, why not kick back and just play music for the fun of it, recording versions of songs you like with your signature twist.
Glad to get a non-live Johnny Cash album this time! It starts off fantastically with two songs I'd already had marked as favorites on Spotify. Unfortunately, those were the highlights of the album and it doesn't continue at that level of quality. It's still very enjoyable though. Cash's voice is iconic and the selection of covers is great, although I don't think all of them are executed equally well. As a whole, a good album. But I can't quite justify 5 stars.
It probably shouldn't work but it does...a Johnny Cash on death's door covers some unlikely songs with immense gravitas. Hurt and Personal Jesus are both epic in their way. All praise Rick Rubin.
I've heard Hurt before, of course, but not in context. And apparently I hadn't really listened to the peaking at the end, that twin to the overwhelming depth of the opening track of American IV. The production is simply disorienting, maximizing the complexity of the voice and few instruments. The arrangements get fuller as we proceed, but Cash's voice is dead center. I figure one's response to it mirrors one's opinion of the album. I am a fan of the Man in Black, and enjoyed a rock-solid hour of music.
"American IV: The Man Comes Around" is a beautiful album, especially with the rendition of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt", but not only that. The duet with Nick Cave in "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" and the one with Fiona Apple for "Bridge Over Troubled Water" are very well produced and very delicate. "The Man Comes Around", the only new Cash composition on the album, opens and sumirises what the album will be, a great folk country record.
One of the most iconic voices of all time singing some of the best songs ever written less than a year before his death is grade A emotional manipulation, but goddamn if it doesn’t work
maybe 4.5/5
Solid. Personal Jesus and In My Life were the best ones for me. I don't think I'd listen to this kind of album over and over again. But it's Johnny Cash giving you his one-of-a-kind voice on a lot of great songs, I respect that.
Quite a moving, reflective set of covers sung by Johnny Cash's in his distinctive voice. He was an old man with not much time left when the record was made and this is apparent in the choice of material. It's stark but never depressing. Cash never has the greatest voice even in his prime but his personality, charm and delivery win the day. One observation, Cash always had quite an old sounding voice, so he doesn't actually sound much different from his 60's heyday. Minor quibble about the mastering, which sounds way over compressed, a common complaint from early 2000's recordings.
Jonny creates a dark brooding soundscape and makes his own a disparate set of covers. Somehow he brings them all into this one vision, tails off at the end but the pared back RICK Ruben sounds is great
Moving, reflective stuff from a man who lived a hell of a life
4.25
Stripped back covers recorded shortly before Cash's death. Many good choices, some very emotive (Hurt, In My Life), inspired (Personal Jesus) and Bittersweet (We'll Meet Again). His voice was still on point even if he could no longer play.
One of my favorites from cash. Beautiful album
Can't go wrong with johnny
Some really good tracks on here, particularly Hurt. I love the original and this cover is just as good. Some lame duffers later on, but pretty good overall.
Oooooh a big bag of milk leaking on my face. My needle dick jabbing her minge. Heaven.
-"Hurt" is obviously the popular ones and quite emotional. The change in perspective on the lyrics from Trent Reznor's heroin addiction to Johnny Cash's old age is very interesting. -I actually quite like "I Hung My Head" and "Tear Stained Letter" -Some of the songs get really sparse and slow for me, especially in the back half -Pretty good overall
All of these songs are so sad but good
A modern Cash classic. Fully of gritty guitar and vocals. Quite something. Top tracks: Personal Jesus, Hurt
Frábær plata. Ótrúleg dýpt í túlkun gamla mannsins.
Hurt is a 6 out of 5 and another 4/5 tracks (Personal Jesus, I Hung My Head) are fives, but there's some stuff that doesn't work, like Bridge Over Troubled Water and In My Life, and even Cash can't make Danny Boy seem essential again. So a four.
Mycket nostalgi för ett par låtar, vänder inte upp och ner på världen men jag gillar det starkt
4, close to 4.5, but not quite
So much sorrow. Glad I listened to it, but these covers are so sad. His voice just oozes calamity, redemption, sadness. Simplicity at its best. Best cover: Hurt
I think it's a bop man. By bop I mean it feels like my fucking soul is being syphoned out of me slowly. I have listened to a lot of Cash. And like, hearing him so fucking old is kind of hard to listen to. Also it's fucking rad he covered Personal Jesus. Fucking neat that one. Much prefer his cover of im so lonesome I could cry. Anyway I fuck with this album, I don't exactly think it's a 5 out of 5. But it's def solid as fuck.
Some fantastic songs on this album. Hurt is definitely one of those songs that was done much better as a cover (by cash) than the original. Not quite as uptempo as his earlier music but still great
This is a really great album. I have heard a couple of the songs before the rest were 'new' for me. There are a lot of cover versions on the album mixed with a couple of Johnny Cash originals. His cover versions are amazing - especially Hurt. Standouts: Hurt, I Hung My Head, In My Life, The Man Comes Around, Danny Boy, Desperado, I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry. 4/5
Probably would be upped to a 5 if I had a nice glass of whiskey with me as I listened. Really great stuff.
Desse álbum, eu apenas conhecia a "Hurt", já que é um dos clássicos do Cash. Além dela, gostei muito de "I Hung My Head" e o cover maravilhoso de "Personal Jesus" do Depeche Mode. Na verdade, esse não é o único cover do álbum, tem também o "In My Life" dos Beatles, "We'll Meet Again" do Ink Spots e pesquisando, descobri que mesmo "Hurt" é um cover e o último sucesso do artista. Para referência, fica aqui esse link: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/johnny-cashs-11-coolest-cover-songs-162155/hurt-nine-inch-nails-167363/
The Man in Black - Johnny Cash walked tall & lived & performed on his own terms. I preferred Elvis covering "Bridge Over Troubled Water", but again, Cash does it in a style that was true to himself. A good album with an unusual variety of songs.
Lots of good renditions here. I really like the sound of Johnny's voice in this record. While it's nice to sometimes make a cover sound true to the original, I like that authentic feel of switching it up every now and then.
Aside from "Hurt", obviously, the stand out tracks are Cash's own compositions or where it is just him and a guitar. A couple of the covers miss the mark ("Bridge Over Troubled Water", "Danny Boy", "We'll Meet Again" once it broke into a singalong). Some are wrecked; either by an infernal pianist noodling in the background ("Personal Jesus"), or by some awful co-vocalists - Fiona Apple and Don Henley I am looking at you. Overall, though a really enjoyable listen; I just wish they'd have cut out the unnecessary collaborators.
Whether it's the last works of a legend looking back over a long life, or someone let grandad do the karaoke, this is better than it should be. Hillariously some unwelcome duets and bizarre choices of arrangement manages to shoot themselves in the foot. A potential five star album given away.
Of all the guest stars, I think I was most surprised to hear Mrs Mills on piano
Prachtig album, kon dit meer verwachten als gedacht
It was a good listen
I first heard portions of American IV: The Man Comes Around shortly after the album came out. I was beginning to dig into some of Johnny Cash's work, and learning to play a couple classic songs. I like this album, and it was a great discovery for me. I reference songs from this album in at least two other reviews on this 1001 album list. I remember seeing Cash on the TV frequently growing up, and it was great to hear what he was doing so late in his career. It was still a year or two before the biographical movie about Cash came out, so there was plenty of room to explore on my own. This album seemed like a reward for exploring his older catalog. Favorite tracks inlcude: "The Man Comes Around", "Hurt" and "Tear Stained Letter". The track I enjoy the least is "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry". I'll blame that on Nick Cave, 100%. There are covers on this album that I don't like as much as the originals, but there are covers that I DEFINITELY like more than the originals too. I'll probably listen to all of this album again.
I'm so sad
4/5 it won me over!
great listen, and covers. Was surprised how much i enjoyed this album.
Despite the album having lots of covers, this one deserves a 4 since Cash really put his own personal stamp on each of them
Although it's an album of covers, there is something so very poignant about it. Thrilling, exhilarating and at times quite depressing.
Gran recopilación de canciones para un estilo muy personal con una gran voz. Inconfundible estilo.
dobar album, par odličnih pjesama
CASH. MONEY.
Love almost every song.
Some of the best covers ever made, but don't overlook the originals. What a legend. Best track: Hurt
Some good, recognizable covers. Cash has a great voice. I don't know. Not much to say, other than I enjoyed it a lot. Like that he puts his own spin on the songs
Like this album, not the cheeriest but I like it
Now, I'm not the biggest fan of country music as a whole but I decided to take this one as it was and immerse as I would any other album. I gotta say, this is a really nice record. There's a mellow warmth to the way Johnny Cash covers certain songs and his writing ability on the three tracks he did write for the project are really solid. Knowing that this is the last work he ever released also gives the project this odd kind of emotional weight to it as well. A lively country record indeed. Not bad, Johnny Cash. Not bad.
A short and haunting tale from a legendary artist who knows his time is coming. The soft instrumental definitely help the voice stand out, not as a cry for help, but rather as an acceptance of defeat, a voice of gratitude at the end of a career. Im so lonseome I could cry and The Man comes around are my highlights, they really show that this album is an introspection on deep feelings, an ode to mortality, redemption and love. It feels like a closure to a legendary carrer, a closure to life, makes more sense considering Johnny Cash died months after the album´s release. Not my favourite genre, but can definitely apreciate the piece´s value.
I was a huge fan of these albums when I was younger, and there’s still great stuff here, but it would be a far better album with about half the tracks. Some of the songs are a slog - sorry Johnny! Favourite track: Desperado
This is a very boring album, it's too slow for me and each song sounds the same. I only add one song to my liked but it wasn't that good.
Like Leonard Cohen's later work, it was nice that this was different from his earlier albums. A softer, much more considered album that feels sadder, but mainly because it was so stripped down compared to his other albums. I hadn't realised that the Man Comes Around was a Cash song, as it is on the newest pulp album, and is one of my favourite songs on it. It was nice to be suprised by hearing this, and it is a great album. I can't say I was blown away by this album, but it was refreshing to hear something different from Cash. If any of these songs were in a film I think they would set a scene.
hmm it was fine, just not my style o_O
quite somber and raw... the lyricism is amazing read that this album was one of his last and his voice is telling of that (in a good way like a wise way you know)
A moving and soulful coda to Cash’s career. Besides the crushing mood of “Hurt”, he makes some surprising choices. “Desperado” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water” work better than “Personal Jesus” and “In My Life”. But it’s a testament to the Man in Black that he could take on any song and put his mark on it. Like Dolly with ‘Rockstar’, his last album is a celebration of music styles and his embrace of newer generations. He never went out of style.
6.6
I like Cash's voice, but the vibe of this album was a bit too one-note for me and the covers were hit or miss. Hurt, Desperado, and Streets of Laredo were great interpretations. Bridge Over Troubled Water was one of my least favorite covers ever.
Decent
Not my favorite, but not bad by any mans
The great Johnny Cash, with the crumbling remains of his voice, but still with that massive heart and huge charisma. I don't think this is the best of the American series - I prefer American III - Solitary Man - and while this has some great moments, especially Hurt, there are several songs here that are not up to snuff, and are rather mawkish
Not a bad (mostly) cover album, but it is hit and miss. Some of the song choices don't really make sense to me
Great introspective listen from one of America's most fabled artists. The cover tracks were outstanding and unexpectedly fresh. You can hear both a mourning for life and yearning for greatness in Johnny's voice throughout the record.
Legendary cover of "hurt", but the rest just aren't on the same level
Good covers
There are some songs on this I really like. But other leave me cold. Not unough to bring it up to a 4.
6.5/10
It’s a yes but also sort of a no.
Rather heartwarming.
Was fine, first couple songs were great. I was pretty disappointed to find out a lot of these songs were covers so that kinda dampens it a bit
Hat mir gut gefallen aber extrem schwermütig und auf die gesamte Länge etwas einseitig. Starke drei Sterne
Einige Songs haben mich echt sehr berührt. Hab aber irgendwann das Interesse verloren. Bin grundsätzlich nicht so angetan von Cover-Alben.
3s gachuqeb
I don't know why this exists. It's generally not very good versions of good songs, plus Hurt which is great, and some songs about murder which seems to be his speciality. Points for Hurt, and some of the others are ok.
fav songs: Hurt, Danny Boy
Great in parts, some really moving renditions, bit front loaded, and ultimately it's pretty samey, although if you played it in the right mood, probably a higher score. 6/10
Nice album of old man singing and talking his way through some classics. Haunting to say the least.
Not bad, better than what I thought it would be.
Not bad, Personal Jesus and Hurt were the clear highlights in 50 mins of covers and some originals. I'll give it flowers, but probably won't listen again. 2.5/5 -> 3/5
Bummer after bummer. Listen to this album if you wanna get more depressed than you already are.
The Man Comes Around and Hurt are incredible, but there a lot of 'eh' covers on this. Trim it down a bit and it's much higher.
Overall it was great, but the lyrics were a bit childish and repetitive in my opinion
As a collection of songs, particularly from a legend approaching his death and reflecting on some favorite songs from his life, this is poignant and (against all odds) very enjoyable. It just doesn’t quite cohere as an album. It’s classic Johnny Cash in the sense that it’s very self consciously trying to sound exactly like what people think an old cowboy would sound like, while also serving up some covers of pop music from the previous few decades.
The Beatles again!?
It's amazing how Cash has the talent to take other people's songs and make them so uniquely his.
I appreciate this album for what it is but it just makes me so damn sad.
I don't listen to very much Johnny Cash. Album made me feel sad and introspective. Standouts are Hurt, I hung my head, and tear stained letter. Cash's performance feels despondent and full of grief.
its country its fine
Has some incredible covers, but his voice definitely felt like it was losing shape.
Listened
Omg so sad
Good, but I still like the county songs over the slow version of popular songs
American Recordings 440 063 336-1 (US) vinyl rip: As this is the first Cash album I've ever listened to, and really the most I've heard in one sitting, I had no idea what to expect. I wonder if he chose the songs to perform all on his own? "Hurt" is definitely better than the NIN version. I can't imagine any other version of "Personal Jesus" than his. He sounds like a man that's lived a long, painful life on every track. "Sam Hall" is a killer rerecording. I like the anger.
It was good, particularly for the genre
not a bad listen, but a few other cash albums I would put on before this one. Still this puts a solid end note on his legacy
Hit and miss imo
noloescuche me dio alta paja
3 and a half. Some class some dross
First track is killer, but the album starts to get a bit maudlin towards the middle and end. Interesting (if sometimes strange) cover choices on here.
Solids got a few classics
Yes, its pretty neat that Johnny Cash covered Hurt in his old-man-gravely-warbly-whistly voice but thats about all it is. When the man comes around is a banger though
Correcto
Classic and meaningful but also not my first choice/ preference for many of the songs
I've never been a fan, but I loved the rendition of Personal Jesus, and I've always liked Danny Boy
3.5 ⭐️. In which Cash gives the sickness of mortality to some immaculate songs.
It’s pretty nice. I love Johnny Cash but his older stuff that I’ve heard is more my style. 3.5
Review - a classic "guy does an album right before he dies" record. Really good performances from a very old Cash, great choice of songs. A few duds here and there but basically very good. Score - 7/10 Need to listen? - YES
What an incredible and diverse set of covers thrown together. I’m never going to like songs about cowboys of days gone by, but I was definitely moved the rawness and emotion of his voice against this weird selection of songs that have been stripped back so far. All felt very vulnerable and poignant.
Bueno, de chill. Interesante voz, me gustó escucharlo pero no lo volvería a escuchar. Buenos covers
Alright
Hurt is an incredible song. The rest is Johnny Cash butchering songs after songs. In my Life is the worst offender. He couldn't even make a good Marty Robbins song.
Ah johnny what a legend. A mix of complete devastation & country bops. Wasn't sure if i was up or down. Enjoyed the ride.
I like his voice 👍 I like guitar 🎸
Oh my glob the prophecy from nine inch nails came true
Of course I'd heard the cover of "Hurt" before -- it was impossible to miss. It had been a while, so this time through it gave me goosebumps. So does the original -- I think this one is slightly overpraised, especially by Trent Reznor. I've never been close to as keen on the Personal Jesus cover... a strictly-worse version of the Depeche Mode classic. As for those I hadn't heard before, I enjoyed this version of In My Life... but couldn't stand the Bridge Over Troubled Waters cover. All in all, there are too many of those old cowboy/gunslinger tracks here too. It would have been far more interesting if he'd chosen more tracks like Hurt and Personal Jesus to truly get his take on music popular long after his heyday. The Hurt cover was a massive success, but I don't think the rest of this is essential.
Some interesting cover versions and originals- some work and some don’t so much
3.5-5 Bra, men rar mix. Noen skips. Veldig interesang historie bak.
2.5/5 good album, not my fave Johnny Cash album, and tbh Hurt by NIN is better, sorry, not sorry.
Now that I have some distance from this record I feel like it's not as good as the other recordings Johnny Cash did with Rick Rubin. Give me back the Heartbreakers as the backing band.
Not bad, he's just really depressed
Oude lul geworden
The new takes on old tunes by an old man near death sometimes work, but not often. Sometimes sounds forced and unnecessary in many cases. Can't help but compare to Leonard Cohen's final album You Want it Darker. Cohen's is much more powerful performing his own new music.
Okay Mr cash. Let's see this. Mostly covers eh? You can hear the age in his voice it's doing a great service to this music I think. Very mournful tone. I like it. I don't think I wanna listen to it again. Favourite: Hurt Least favourite: Bridge Over Troubled Water
Some good old American music. Probably liked this more than I expected. I liked the Lucy gray sounding song and it was fun hearing the original version of hurt. Probably close to a 4 but realistically a 3
As RYM dark, gloomy, sad, but yet still has uplifting chords uts a big contrast, Johnny Cash man its okay I smoked a doob w oscar for his birthday today :)
Meh
6/10 Esta bueno, medio raro por momentos pero sin ser malo
5/10
In a way Johnny's voice isn't fantastic in and of itself but is very comforting to listen to. Feels like a grandfather sharing a story or something. Can't say this is one I would listen to on repeat, but It wasn't too bad and I enjoyed the selection of covers as well.
This was a good album but it definitely wasn’t great. I can see how people really love this album I am just not the hugest fan of Cash’s Music. However there were 2 very amazing songs in Hurt and I Hung My Head. The best part of the album is the emotion he displays in the songs. He really makes the listener feel the story he is telling which is always so fun to listen to. I think the lows outweigh the highs unfortunately. Sam Hall was a terrible song I have no clue what the vision was there. There was also just an inconsistency with the tracks that was hard to overlook.
Good.
Look, there’s some very good stuff here, but some of it veers a bit too close to Cash Karaoke for me. The version of ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ an example. ‘Hurt’ is fantastic, as is ‘I Hung My Head’ and ‘Personal Jesus’. ‘Danny Boy’ and ‘In My Life’ can definitely pass. A great document but perhaps could have been better.
ok
I really enjoyed this one, but some remakes were hard to listen to.
Legend Johnny Cash's voice was getting a little bit shaky but I'm glad that he did this series of albums before he passed away. Overall this volume was an enjoyable listen but I didn't care much for about half of the songs. I get that they were pushing the envelope with their song selections but the effort was met with mixed success. Many of the songs sounded like trying to put a square peg into a round hole. This would have been better as a single album with some of the chaff having been removed. (For me: Bridge Over Troubled Water, The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face, In My Life, Danny Boy, Desperado, We'll Meet Again.)
This album is a mixed bag for me. The Cash originals and lesser known covers are the strength of the album. The Man Comes Around is an amazing start to the album, and Give My Love to Rose and I Hung My Head are excellent also. The more famous covers are either mediocre (Hurt, Bridge Over Troubled Water, In My Life) or bad (Desperado and especially Personal Jesus). A shorter, tighter collection would have been more effective. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall not bad but not the best, I don't think I will get hung up on any song. It has some covers I wasn't not expeting like beatles cover (but beatles original is better.
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 know this album is objectively good but johnny cash is just not my cup of tea
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