Reviews (page 11 of 14)
Don’t mind JC but I never got the hype for that Hurt cover. This album does nothing for me
I need to remind myself that time and perspective changes how you relate to music. Twenty years ago, I bought this album because I knew folks who told me I should appreciate Cash. I didn't and couldn't appreciate it then. Listening 20 years later, I see why everyone thought it was amazing. Beautiful songs, simple compositions that drive the storytelling and add to the lyrics. 5/5!
Awesome. Such power, such pain.
This was fine. I prefer Cash originals. Easy listening for Sunday chores. 3.5.
All covers and all good. Love it.
It was really good! I have such an appreciation for Mr. Cash now. Simple and effective.
So s'good!
I mean it’s damn solid. I feel bad rating it higher than I did his live albums, don’t remember what I gave it. Hard to hate on this even tho it’s super Rubin-ified
Passed by me. Will I listen to again: 20%
I am generally a huge Johnny Cash fan and this record was a pleasant surprise. I had heard a few of the singles from it, but hadn't listened to it all the way through, and it was great to see him revisiting some old material as well as the covers (which made all the press). The whole is greater than the sum of its parts!
Each song on this album, with maybe the exception of "I Hung My Head" and "Personal Jesus", has unmatched delivery. 80% of this album is covers and yet Cash manages to make each song uniquely his. You can feel the grief. Heartbreaking and masterful.
3.5 in that area. I'll go 3 because I dont see myself listening again
Eerie introduction with the Bible verse. But it picks up quickly The Man Comes Around showcases that Cash still had a strong voice and good ear for melody Hurt absolutely smacks. It’s lyrically beautiful and Johnny Cash’s cover offers a darker perspective of the song rather than angst. It’s master class on how to properly cover a song. The story is he just initially read the lyrics and was down for it. Which was a smart move on Rick Rubin’s part. Absolutely amazing song. Highlights: Hurt In My Life Tear Stained Letter Desperado
The Man Around Hurt Give My Love to Rose I hung My Head Sam Hall Desperado We’ll Meet Again A very fun listen. Always have loved Johnny Cash. His voice and guitar are all he needs. Would love to listen to this album again
While I didn't care much for Johnny Cash when I was younger, I have developed an appreciation as I have gotten older. Very good album
This album intrigued me prior to listening as I've never listened to a Johnny Cash album. I immediately noticed that this album is mostly composed of covers as I saw my favorite song ever made, "In My Life". As I started too listen to the album I figured Johnny Cash's voice would annoy me, but it actually grew on me. Listening to the first few songs, I really enjoyed the calm nature of the songs. I finally got to, "In My Life" and really liked it. I liked how they shaped the song to fit Cash's style including the change to George Martin's piano solo. This goes for the rest of album as all songs are adapted well. Really solid, 4/5
I've always liked Johnny Cash's voice and it really creates a warm, melancholic atmosphere to this record. The covers are certainly an interesting take - Hurt is amazing and I liked Personal Jesus. The rest is not quite my bag but certainly I have respect for the craft.
A few great tracks but also some stinkers
Actually pretty good
This town ain’t big enough for the two of us 🤠 His earlier stuff is better
How many times do we have to teach you this lesson old man.
Yaaawwwn, he has better music than this
Great album. Solid listen
Oh sí. Esencial. Cash es probablemente el único artista Country al que tolero.
Very strange album in my opinion. Mostly covers, which is a concept I am not a fan of at all on this list. I thought 'Hurt' was a Johnny Cash original, but turns out that is a cover as well. The first song is at least good, and there are some other ones like 'We'll meet again" and 'Personal Jesus' that work as well. My biggest gripe with this album is Johnny's singing. There are very few songs where I actually think it works out. Mostly he just speaks, rather than sing. And if we're lucky, it's going to be in tune. It isn't even the tempo or whatever that is the issue, it's the execution. It sounds half-assed and amateurish. I get that he was old when this was recorded, but come on. Feels a bit brutal but going to have to give this a strong 2. I recognize that this might be something other people enjoy, but not my cup of tea.
Rick Rubin strikes again, this time with a great Johnny Cash album. The first track is a great Cash song and it makes me kind of sad that there are no more of his original songs. Still there are plenty of great covers here. "Hurt", "I hung my head", "Personal Jesus" and "In my Life" to name a few. The sparse production is great and focuses on Cash singing and guitar playing. The feeling conveyed through the singing is really something special. Albeit there are a few dud covers (looking at you "Bridge over trouble waters"), it is still a great album.
This album does absolutely nothing for me. I don't hear emotion in it. He sounds bored in some songs.
This is how you death album! Awesome
Cash’s Hurt cover is probably the first song that comes to mind for “best cover song of all time”. There are many great ones: Hendrix’ All Along the Watchtower, Jeff Buckley’s Hallelujah (although I prefer John Cale’s rendition slightly), Whitney’s I Will Always Love You, etc., but I think The Man in Black’s Hurt is number 1 if ranking them is necessary. Hurt is the clear highlight overall on this album, but there are other really good songs. The title track is great, as is I Hung My Head - classic Cash. The covers of Bridge Over Troubled Water, In My Life, Desperado, and I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry are all fine renditions, perhaps better as part of this album than as individual tracks. I think I’ve listened to the American series and remembered this being the clear best. It’s the first example in my lifetime that I can think of where an artist in their twilight years produces some truly incredible work, a trend that would follow several years later with artists like David Bowie, Leonard Cohen, and David Crosby among others (The Rolling Stones album from 2023 is awesome too).
Such brutal, gravelly honesty to Cash's voice. I've listened to American IV a handful of times and it always mentally transports me to the porch of a quiet farmyard shack in western Tennessee overlooking the Mississippi. Aside from the clear standout, Hurt, I really enjoyed Bridge Over Troubled Water, First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and Danny Boy. I must say that something sounds off with Desperado, it feels a bit out of place, but that's a small criticism against what is a quality collection of mostly American classics.
Solid, need to listen to more cash
Didn’t think I would like it as much as I did. But you can’t help but get sucked in
This album probably doesn’t make the list if it wasn’t Johnny cash. Covers were the best part. Feels like an album to read in the background with a good fire.
This is a very powerful album. Deep and rather dark, and oozing with Cash’s “self”. I worried about some of the really iconic covers, but Cash pulls them off. Some better than others, but all OK. Johnny Cash was a great singer, and even at 70 years old, he still could bring emotion and personality. This is not a happy album, but it’s not really maudlin either. But dark, and real. Sparsely recorded, a man reflecting back on his life. 4/5
“Hurt” is extraordinary. I think everybody knows that. I found it hard to take the rest of the album seriously after that peak. It’s like your grandpa with the cool, smoky voice got a karaoke CD recording session gift for Xmas and nailed it. I was thinking that this CD belongs in the memento cabinet along with tennis trophies and photos of the grandkids. Then, I applied a little patience and began to hear the quiet magnificence of this rough and tumbled old man. It will be a few more years before I need to listen to this again, but I will listen to it again.
Solid as always 4.1
The best!!!!+
Ehh. He just talks. But I did like give my love to rose.
i think if your a big country enjoyer you'd like this im not a big country enjoyer not this country anyway 2.9/5
This is beautiful. I've been through the American recordings series with Rick Rubin and I think this represents the high water mark. They have managed to tease out the parts of the puzzle that make cash unique and build exclusively with these attributes. His growl, the drive of his guitar, his man in black American outlaw/Messiah complex. This album is like a minimalist painting from a painter in his later years who has learnt that less is more. A masterpiece and something everyone should hear.
You can tell Johnny Cash really put his all into this album. Hurt is the standout, but The Man Comes Around is pretty good. The rest is sadly hit or miss for me, but the heart and soul Johnny puts into the entire album makes it a win.
I had this on CD. I loved it then and love it now. I love all the covers and love them coming from Johnny Cash.
If you need a good cry this morning go watch the video for "Hurt" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AHCfZTRGiI. One of the last things he and June flimed a few months before they died. Cash's version of the Nine Inch Nails song is incredible in its own right, but the video is one of the best ever made (especially for Cash fans and those that know his story). This is his last album, its all solid. He is one of the rare singers whose voice continued to get better as he got older. Go see your favorite artists live - they won't be around forever.
Think Hurt is overrated and Bridge over trouble water doesn't really hit, overall this is still a very powerful album with so much character in that voice
We were only just discussing the American Cash records at our album discussion group last week. Lovely little bit of serendipity. I know there's a couple more after this one basically made from offcuts, but IV is Johnny's last album. I remember the gobsmacking video for Hurt, utterly heartbreaking. I know lots of this (and the other American albums) extremely well, and some not at all. I've never listened to any of them as a full album. Hurt as track 2 doesn't quite work though, hits too hard, needs to be deeper in. I am lead to believe the first American album beats the pants off all the rest. So I'll be stopping by that one soon. Some utter gems here. Some that take a little time to blossom (troubled water), some that truthfully, probably work better as a thematic idea than in practise (In my life). And a little filler. But it's Cash's swansong, and it's got Hurt on it. Trent Reznor saying 'that song isn't mine anymore' just says it all. So Top marks.
Not my favorite from
Hurt was the first Johnny Cash song I ever heard. I'm probably not alone in that. Other songs I discovered later we're his country songs and this made me utterly confused. After some research I could scratch an itch with his American recordings. With the aforementioned Hurt, Personal Jesus and the titeltrack ( cleverly used in Dawn Of The Dead) it has an all star tracklist allready. Other personal favourites are We'll meet again, Tear Stained Letter and in my life. A sublime last effort from the man in black
Always loved a lot of Johnny cash songs but never listened to much from this later era, which seems almost more critically acclaimed. He does have a great distinctive voice and is an icon of country however I’m not sure I enjoyed this album as much as I wanted. I’m not entirely sure if their is a special point to this album but there was a lot of covers which just didn’t sit with me. Overall I enjoyed it his voice is great but it didn’t feel special, except the first 2 songs they were great. Hopefully I get some of his earlier stuff and can rate that instead. Just a 3/5 though. Stand Out Songs: The Man Comes Around Hurt I Hung My Head
Great album and generally great song choices. The twists from the originals are a lot of fun. Loses a point for predominantly being covers.
He’s goated, no one else in the genre has the same ear, let alone voice, as Cash
Do I have to? Always respected the man, but I never cared much for Cash's music. This is an album of his music being other artists' music that he sings. He is about to die, with his old voice. Sentiment. Is a word. I appreciate all of this. But it's covers. And the sensation of Cash doing those songs in his style just doesn't carry me through 52 minutes.
Confusing. 4
One of the most raw and powerful albums I've ever listened to. I don't really have any words that would do this justice. 10/10 Would I listen again? If I ever need a good cry.
Great album with a few covers, making them better than the originals.
Some of the best cover versions ever on here, breathing a completely different power into the songs. Sometimes maybe a bit much for one listen but lots of great stuff here, songs like "Hung My Head" and "Hurt" are amazing
Includes one of the great covers of all time in ‘Hurt’. Cash’s voice is something else - it feels like his entire life is contained in each syllable.
Didn't even realise I Hung My Head was a cover until now
Taken in small bites this is a beautiful collection of fragile, poignant and powerful songs. But it’s a heavy, heavy salad in one sitting.
I’m not feeling this at all. Old Johnny seems to have taken some beautiful song that featured the whole gamut of human emotion from joy, sorrow, regret, hope, fear, love, sacrifice, remorse and euphoria and replaced them all with: Tired. Major sense of the emperor’s new clothes here.
Beautifully emotional album. Hurt is one of the greatest songs ever written, and I love the original and this for different reasons.
FFS Didn’t expect to cry 3 times on the way to work. Hurt is one of those songs that bring me instantly to tears every time I hear it. That and personal Jesus are some of the best covers out there. I was skeptical about “In my life” and what he could add to such a perfect song. Again, tears! I didn’t really need to hear another version of Danny boy but fucking hell that destroyed me. There are a few other covers that don’t hit the mark for me and feel a little on the nose.
Obviously I have heard a lot about Johnny Cash, but haven't listened to much previously. Overall enjoyed more than I thought I would, but most songs sounded the same. Ending his final album released during his life with "We'll Meet Again" hit hard.
I love Johnny Cash's voice and ability to tell a story; I understand why he is as legendary as he is. In all honesty, the instrumental portions of this album are all very monotonous and dry. I feel if the backing track did a better job of supporting the vocals, this album could easily be a 5/5.
"Hurt" and "Personal Jesus" the highlights here but outside of those it seems like Rubin was trying to squeeze anything he could of of Cash's last few days on this planet. It's still worthy of a listen when your in the right mood.
Really enjoyed it but quite sad, don't think I'll go back often
It was good to hear this so far removed from the hype when it first came out. Very emotional.
Just a man slowly singin with some simple acoustic guitar to set the rhythm. There's something endearing about the simplicity of Cash's music paired with his one of a kind voice. The charm does wear off on me after a few songs though and I grow bored of it.
1. the man comez around - 1.5 2. hurt - 1.5 3. my love to roze - 1.5 4.troubled uuater - 1 5. my head - 1 6. your face - 1.5 7. jezuz - 0 8. in my life - 1 9. zam hall - 1 10. danny boy - 1 11. dezperado - 1 12. i could cry - 1 13. letter - 1 14 laredo - 1 15. meet again - 1
Des reprises originales, mais beaucoup sonnent un peut trop akward à mon goût (Ex : Personal Jesus). Sinon ça sonne comme un album de Johnny Cash. 6/10
It's cool that Johnny Cash got to end his career by absolutely styling on a bunch of younger musicians with incredible covers of their work. The originals are good too, particularly the opening track. Some of his covers of older material (like Danny Boy) are just okay, though Sam Hall rules.
Muito foda. Nunca tinha parado para ouvir um álbum do Jonnhy Cash, apenas algumas faixas soltas. Foi o último álbum em vida do cantor e isso pode explicar muito o tom melancólico do início. O que surpreende é como vai sutilmente ficando mais "alegre" conforme se aproxima do fim. Um detalhe muito bonito é que ele termina com a música "We'll Meet Again", e fecha com chave de ouro com um coro de vozes cantando o refrão.
i do like his voice , but i get nothing from this at alll .
I quite enjoyed his cover of Hurt but it is the spund of an old man at the end of his life, which I found quite depressing. The cover choices are interesting but not the Music however. I cannot relate to the lonesome cowboy thing st all.
Hauntingly beautiful. One of the best voices ever.
I didn't hate this as much as I thought I would and knew a lot of the tracks already. Solid.
He chose a lot of great songs. He didn't necessarily improve them, but it's a nice listen.
A lovely epitaph for a legend.
Eh, I like the sound but don't really care for it. But overall it's a good experience
Who would not want to hear Johnny Cash singing karaoke?
His signature baritone sounds as good as ever, if a little world-worn. His final album released when he was alive, has a mostly wonderful mix of songs I think Big Iron and Wichita Lineman should have stayed on this reissue, but it's easily found on the next album Unearthed. We'll Meet Again just sounds so wistful.
His age here adds a layer of melancholy to his voice (or maybe he's just fucking sad). Either way, this is a brilliant album, 4.5.
I have listened to this album many times. It is admittedly a playlist of covers but Johnny Cash recorded this after a lifetime of experience that makes his bare-bones, Rick Ruben-directed cuts memorable. Trent Reznor once said that ‘Hurt’ now belong to him; the Beatle’s cover ‘In My Life’ has a very different flare (I still like theirs best) but the Cash version is authentic. Everything on this album was sung from his experience in life. It is a classic!
This was like listening to a deity. Huge respect and admiration but not as entertaining as I hoped. Cash's version of the Hurt is amazing though!
Weird
There’s a lot of pain in his voice. He’s also old as shit when he made this.
Of all albums that contain cover songs, this album ranks the highest. The songs are sung in Cash's own way and bring new melody about it. That's the genius about it. Five stars. Period.
Loved it, but not my type of music
Some were bad, some were excellent
Solid.
Favourite tracks: the man comes around; hurt; give my love to rose; bridge over troubled water; hung my head; personal jesus; in my life
Aso er cha halt ned wük singe aber ich find i hung my head mega schön i guess und s git no paar anderi bangers aber au mega depressing iwie
mag de erst song, s tüüfe klavier isch huere geil. de text isch geil, chli biblisch. aber d gitarre au hammer. hurt isch s erste mol dass en song uf schomol ne album gsi isch bi dere liste. ha das cover zerst kennt vorem original, und s isch huere schön. give my love to rose au cute. bridge over troubled water isch sooo en guete song du musch nöd unglaublich chöne singe daser würkt. und johnny alt. ah fiona apple singt mit? funi. arrangement isch haaammer. i hung my head au cool, uötra dark halt tod und so. first time i ever saw you isch au meega schön. finds aber musikalisch irgendwenn nüme speziell. personal jesus hani früener gmeint es seg vom johnny cash original. es passt extrem guet zu ihm. in my life au chrank guete song wo meeega zumne alte maa passt wo über de tod nohdenkt. nomel en song woni scho i dere liste ghört han. meega schöns cover. sam hall mega cooly honky tonk klavier i like. afoch danny boy?? schö? ich han en riese softspot für desperado. mega simpel aber schön. verlürt aber scho öppis ohni d harmonies. OU HALLOU DON HENLEY im so lonesome ou hallou nick cave, fast z ähnlichi stimme? streets of laredo isch sehrcute, cha nüt degege sege isch schön. well meet again isch glaub en country klassiker und slide gitarre und so isch cool i love it. ui s isch sogar usem zweite weltkrieg hoppla dark. aber mitem sterbende johnny au dark.
er het schono e cooli stimm the man comes around cool und nöd too much hurt isch halt würkli so unglaublich guet, au wenns es cover isch ich seg jz nöd zu allne lieder öppis will rein instrumental sinds jz nöd revolutionär, was ja au nöd de sinn isch, aber es tönt halt wie er nebet dier höcklet und echli für mich (und für sich selber) singt und das findi huere schön I hung my head heavy mengisch tönt er, wie wenner no mit vollem muul würd singe hahahah aber es stört eig nöd in my life gfalltmer d beatles version scho besser nick cave het wiedermal sini finger im spiel gha ts ts de zweistimmig gsang sehr schön bi desperado jaa iwenn verlürts sich au echli aber gsehn mich scho sehr, das ufem balkon bi sunneschii z lose
Very solemn and beautiful covers!
A shining exclamation point to the career of The Man in Black, this album leaves its listener with no doubt that Cash deserves his place among the greatest of all time. His aged, haunting voice adds new meaning to every track here, most of which are covers of already legendary songs.
The Man In Black’s legacy and mortality loom heavy over 15 haunting closing statements.
Johnny Cash 🤘 Ein paar richtig coole Tracks.
Well, super sad album. You have to listen it thinking that it was its last before dying. Overall it’s not exactly my cup of tea, but i get the appeal of it. I loved the covers: hurt, personal jesus and we’ll meet again. Cool interpretations of already really cool songs.
Great cover album. Personal Jesus and Tear Stained Letter were great.
Such a fascinating album to me. Cash’s cover of Hurt is a perfect statement on age. There are few songs from the perspective of a man his age, even fewer that are bound with such complicated emotions as he looks back on a life lived to the fullest. While I consider the Eagles original version of Desperado to be one of the greatest songs of all time, I’m glad Cash put his elderly spin on it here too. Don Henly comes in to harmonize the post-chorus and it could bring a tear to the eye. He knew how to pick ‘em for this record, because he picks a third song I’d consider to be one of the greatest written pieces of music of all time - with Danny Boy. Think we are done with good covers of the greatest songs of all time? WRONG! How about Bridge Over Troubled Water too! I’d seriously consider all four songs talks about above to be put on a record to introduce aliens to music, if we ever encounter them (although most of them as originals). That being said, I’ve always felt like Personal Jesus is overhyped and this cover doesn’t redeem it any more
Jolly Johnny at his best (and last).
Not my favourite
Oh Johnny so sad
Magistrale Cash, vlak voor z'n overlijden. De beste twee nummers (Hurt en Bride Over Troubled Water) zijn wel covers maar dat mag de pret niet drukken.
Zou het bijna heel hoog willen zetten in de top 2000. Dacht trouwens dat dat ene nummer van Samson en Garfield was
Some very good covers and the theme of death feels very poignant given it is Cash’s last album.
Thought I was going to like this, but really didn’t for some reason. Not sure there was a single cover here that even came close to the original. Maybe Hurt, but even then I much prefer the OG sad lad. I actually found Bridge over Troubled Water painful to listen to, he just took all the melody and harmony out of it. Simpsons: yes
Think I preferred the live album, but still a decent listen. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was hauntingly beautiful, top-quality covers with a couple being better than the originals.
Love Cash and loved all this. Every song was great, Hurt is amazing! I’ve heard Cash do Give My Love to Rose loads but hearing this version hit differently. Had a cry during Bridge over Troubled Water All good shit
Johnny Cash is the man! Some songs are much better than others though.
Just an amazing voice
It seems personal considering it's mostly covers. Simple arrangements, Johnny warbling over them, and it works.
not the most upbeat
Of all the albums I expected to be in this challenge, a Johnny Cash cover album wasn't one. It started out OK but it made me wonder if he knew this would be his last as the majority were very depressing. His voice, which can usually be quite emotive was surprisingly flat... I just found the whole thing quite mediocre. It would be a solid 2.5 out of three - I'm rounding down to 2 because a day later I can't remember much of it.
Would give it 5 if not essentially a cover album. Great stuff Johnny.
Faves: Hurt, I Hung My Head, Bridge Over Troubled Water (Fiona!!)
Hey, Americans, country music isn't anywhere near as important as you think it is.
Solid
Lots of good songs here. Unfortunately I can’t enjoy them with his pacing.
Loved! Lots of fun re-makes
Dark and haunting...
Sad, haunting voice- a but jarring hearing such recognisable songs as Cash covers but if you can get over it then it’s great
Oh wow, this is amazing. His vocals are so passionate, nothing like anything I have ever heard from Johnny Cash before. Even with such stripped back instruments, this album is still so dark and emotive, I never thought country music could be so emotional. And this album is only made even more haunting by the fact that he died less than a year later. Also that cover of Personal Jesus by Depeche Mode is fucking awesome.
So bored...
Really good music, drags on a little at times but I love Johnny Cash and his end of life reflections and voice were still beautiful
The final works of an absolute legend. Sincere and heartfelt. The deathbed testimonial of one of the greatest to ever do it is a reckoning of his entire life. Cash was not in good health during this recording and you can feel that he knew the end was near.
Listened to some of these songs a lot back then. Great album.
On the one hand, it’s an album of covers. On the other, one of those covers is “Hurt.” With the context of these songs being sung by an artist at the end of his life, I found the album quite touching. 3.5 rounded up
When I first heard Hurt I was in high school and didn't know why we were listening to an old man trying to be cool. Listening now - there is just so much emotion - sadness, longing, love If you can listen to this without feeling something you are a sociopath haha
good set of covers.
I was familiar with some of this album already so I was excited when it came up. Holy moly. Johnny just put it all on the table here. Fantastic covers. Great collaborations. Songs added to Spotify: 5
I mean, this thing is a masterpiece, in the classical sense.
Goede zanger, heldere en duidelijke stem. Het hele album gaat toch wel vervelen op een bepaald moment.
Awesome!
#161. This is honestly way better than it has any right to be. 4/5: legitness Song added to playlist: Hurt I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link
MEGET modigt af mig at lytte til Johnny Cashs cover af In My Life ude i offentligheden. Græd ikke! Den er stadig siiiindssygt god dog, meget muligt mit yndlings Beatles cover. Enkelte misses (Personal Jesus, Danny Boy) men generelt et meget smukt og velproduceret album
Jeg er en berygtet cover-album-skeptiker, men av hvor er den her god. Fik kuldegysninger over det hele da det gik op for mig at "We'll Meet Again" er sidste nummer på sidste plade Johnny Cash udgav mens han levede.
Virkelig nogle gode sange med noget kød på. Jeg blev overrasket over "Hurt" - har hørt den mange gange før, men har aldrig rigtig lyttet. Gåsehud!
YES. I love music that makes me feel like a lonesome cowboy.
I actually could listen to Johnny Cash read more of Revelations. It won't make me a believer or anything, but there's something compelling about Cash's earnest faith and fear of God. I love how weathered his voice sounds, the gravity and grit in it. I didn't realize most of his knock-out late-career covers were on one album: his devastating rendition of Hurt (I love that the mix sounds blown out in the run up to the last lyric, like the mic is peaking just from the emotional intensity), the tenderness in his voice on In My Life, the Fiona Apple-assisted Bridge Over Troubled Water that makes me cry every time I hear it, and more--it's absolutely stacked. Cash aside for a moment, this is immaculately produced and mixed. The guitars in particular sound crisp and clean but still warm, like you're in the same room with them. Rubin was cooking on this one. This is a pretty somber record, but also full of gratitude and love; appropriate, given it was his last release before his passing. It's a beautiful work to go out on. Highlights: The Man Comes Around, Hurt, Give My Love To Rose, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Personal Jesus, In My Life, Sam Hall, Danny Boy, I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry, We'll Meet Again
could this have hit me any harder? could i write poetry to this? y
Mostly perfect. 4.5 stars.
80% (5) ⭐
Very poignant. It's mostly covers but Cash really makes his mark on these songs, his version of Hurt is especially moving and is in the same territory of Hallelujah and All Along the Watchtower in how much it's owned by the new artist.
Amazing album of covers. So many of the lyrics take on new nuance when sung by an old man looking back on his life.
So sad.
My main complaint is that “The Man Comes Around” is so knock-your-socks-off good that it outshines the rest of the album.
Chills every time. Name another artist whose last album is arguably their best, and isnt even original material? Maybe Ray Charles you could argue, but its still rarified air. Most rock legends peter out. Not Cash. I didn't fully grasp the gravity of this record when it came out in 2002, I think I just focused on the Hurt cover like every 10 year old, cuz we all got a giggle that this old guy would cover the likes of the band behind the song "Closer." Like Elvis, Cash is one of the great interpreters of popular music. This easily could have felt contrived in lesser hands. But like with Willie Nelson it soars. The arrangements are sparse, bringing the power of the lyrics (and his inimitable vocal baritone) to the fore. Comparing his Bridge Over Troubled Water cover to the one just released by Jacob Collier and Tori Kelly/John Legend with insane vocal runs - I think this version would bring me more solace if I were in a rough spot.
It must be tough to let Cash cover one of your songs knowing it can easily eclipse the original. If Cash wrote all these songs it would be a 5, but as it is it’s an excellent album of mostly covers. Hurt is more famous the Trent’s version and I think I like Cash’s version of Bridge Over Troubled Water more than S&G’s. Those two are the highlights for me but it’s all really good.
Chilling lyrics on some of the songs. Some songs are just okay but for the more part there’s incredible story telling
Interesting mix of covers with a unique take. Most of them work pretty well. All maintain Johnny Cash's unique sound and talk/sing style. I'm sure some of these introduced him to an entirely new audience.
What a great collection of original songs and interpretations. Jonny Cash and Rick Rubin make a phenomenal team here. “Hurt” has to be one of the best covers of all time, with Cash’s grizzled voice fitting the secreting lyrics like a glove. Nothing flashy about this music at all, but it is captivating.
I have not heard of this album as I don’t enjoy country or Johnny Cash’s music. However, this album wasn’t that bad compared to the other one I listened to from this website (At San Quentin). I liked the song hurt. I recognized In my life and I think I have heard of Bridge over troubles water before. Other than those songs I wouldn’t listen to this album again.
I am not a fan of country music but Johnny is an exception, such a great voice
Have you ever heard a voice that sort of left you in limbo? Johnny Cash did that for me. I’ve just rarely experienced something like it. The only other singer who has given me that feeling is Layne Staley. This album is proof to me that putting Rick Ruben on any project is going to improve it massively. This album was a huge comeback for Johnny, and it genuinely warms my heart that was the case. Because he deserved it, and to have this be the last thing he created before dying not long after is beautiful. And you feel that weight. This album is dark. It has an overwhelmingly heavy and foreboding sound. His voice resonates out into the endless cacophony of the universe, and he creates his own little world for 50 minutes. This is a double album of pretty much entirely covers. But if you want evidence on how to do proper covers, listen to this. Every cover becomes its own thing, and they are in no way derivative of the originals. To the point where Trent Reznor said Hurt wasn’t even his song anymore. Some might be put off by the simplicity of these covers. But I find it harrowing and melancholic in the most compelling way. The simplicity is where this album’s strengths lie. And on a gloomy, rainy day like today, I felt comfortable just sinking into the sound of this record. Don’t ever let your age determine what you can and can’t do. Because at 70, Johnny Cash created this. And that speaks volumes about what you are capable of creating even after you have been through everything life has to throw at you. Rating: 8/10
Never listened to an entire Johnny Cash album. It’s great. My only complaint is that a lot of songs sound too similar to differentiate. The ones that sound the most distinct had a backup vocalist or had a cool story like in I Hung My Head. The covers are great, didn’t think I needed a We’ll Meet Again cover by Cash. There are too many songs that were standouts, but here are a few; Standouts: Hurt, Give My Love to Rose, Bridge Over Troubled Water, I Hung My Head, In My Life, and Danny Boy.
Knowing this is his last album alive makes all these songs very haunting. There are more covers than I expected. But overall everything is very well done and a worthwhile listen
Overrated.... However, enjoyed the man comes around and song about accidentally shooting someone on a horse.
Really liking “hurt” Didn’t know Fiona would be on this what a coincidence Just finished pretty solid I don’t listen to much country and wouldn’t have listened ordinarily I’m excited for this project
Fabulous
I’m a sucker for these records. Some all-timers on this one. 4/5
I like Johnny cash’s hits but it felt like kind of a drag getting through the album.
Johnny Cash at his best, very intimate and personal. The album carries a sense of sadness and sorrow, but it's also powerful.
Cash with a last hurrah doing covers and smashing it out of the park. The Man Comes Around into Hurt has got to be up there with album 1-2s. Absolutely stellar!
Surprisingly good. Didn't expect I'd like this at all. Very specific mood, but excellently captures that rural america feeling.
Es innegable el talento de este señor, pero no hace falta versionar canciones que son perfectas tal y como son
Jesus Christ this album is so sad and so good.
It's all a bit morose, particularly considering that the entire record was recorded before June passed away. The arrangements are nice enough, and Cash's voice aged with uncommon grace, but this album is only notable because it was his last, and because of "Hurt"
In her 70s, Loretta Lynn embraced contemporary rock sounds from younger collaborators to make arguably the best album of her career. Johnny Cash did 80% of that.
I'm kinda over Hurt. Overall, it's a solid album from a great voice of classic country music; the arrangements and instrumentation are sparse, but that works for his almost spoken word singing. The duets with Fiona Apple and Nick Cave are good. Frusciante wrote the acoustic arrangement for Personal Jesus, and the barroom piano is great, but the vocal delivery here is almost like pulling teeth. It's an album I think is really good, but I don't really like late era Cash because it feels almost tiresome and plodding.
is this good or just notable? bro's got delivery for sure but this is just a covers record
Well...
womp womp
nine inch nails cover enough to kill a grown man
Jesus that was sad but good. Hella reflective made me think about aging as I approached my bday
I hate Johnny Cash. I didn’t like the way this sounded at all. Every song sounded like Cash was singing with cotton mouth through a set of dentures. The only redeeming thing about this album is the lyrics, and even then, these songs were mostly covers.
So mad respect for Johnny Cash - and lot of great covers here - but again - is this an all-time album that simply must be heard??? No, it isn't.
Like the album, some of the songs are not for me though.
Absolutely haunting … the goodbye album - you can really feel the heft of life lived and the sorrowful goodbye. I teared up multiple times
beautiful, moving album
The master
Harrowing album. A man in the end of his life, with all the pain and memories that come with that. Truly beautiful
I thought this was pretty great. Cash's voice is pretty compelling. I definitely prefer old Johnny Cash to the younger version.
great storyteller
Quite like the first half. Some world-class songs, some seem like better ones could have been selected. hurt, hung my head, bridge over troubled, man comes around are soo good in Cash's versions. Not sure why we'll meet again or danny boy (which is so much better here than you'd think it had any right to be) are on this. I'll listen to them all again though. Cash is amazing
Some of it is better than I remember and some of it is worse. Overall it is, in my considered opinion, good.
Probably could be best album?
Creo que es un excelente disco para cerrar una carrera musical y puntualmente la última cancion. Con temas propios, covers y parte de algo más grande como la secuencia de los álbumes.
This record made a lot of waves when it dropped. Beyond the NIN cover that got so much buzz, there was a lot of cool shit in here. I was/am a massive NIN fan and Cash's version of Hurt just became a standard. Every other track just seems to fall into place.
I thought this was going to bore me to death but wasn’t as bad as I thought. Still got bored about a third of the way in but there are some proper epic tunes on this.
I never realized his last (or very much later) album was the best. It was enjoyable, but nothing I ever feel the need to revisit. It's nice to hear something that isn't just "Hurt", as good as it is.
Wohl (auch) Coverversionen 3*
I enjoy this album
The perfect collection of late-life sadness and regret. The felling of pressing on bruised, papery skin. Song selection and argument are perfect for lamentations on the darker feelings of being a human.
Mainly giving it a 4 because it's Johnny Cash. But it's Johnny Cash!
5 stars for Hurt, but the rest of the songs don't come close. The album as a whole kinda just feels like an exhibition for funsies. Much love for Johnny tho.
Probably Cash’s most notable entry in his American saga. It’s certainly the one that brought him more fully into my sphere. Before this album I really didn’t know enough about what an important figure he was in music - but his covers of songs that I knew and loved made me realize that he crossed over into and influenced other genres in ways I never fully realized. An album like this makes his duet of “Redemption Song” with Joe Strummer seem less bizarre. I love the paradox of the way this album begins and ends. It almost imbues “We’ll Meet Again” with its own kind of darkness. I’m pretty sure that “Hurt” was the big moment on this album, but for me, it’s the cover of “Personal Jesus.” The whole album is really an important entry in the career of one of the most important musical artists.
It feels like the quality of a “Greatest Hits” album
01) The Man Comes Around - 9,0 02) Hurt - 10,0 03) Give My Love To Rose - 8,5 04) Bridge Over Troubled Water - 8,0 05) I Hung My Head - 8,5 06) First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - 8,0 07) Personal Jesus - 9,0 08) In My Life - 9,0 09) Sam Hall - 8,0 10) Danny Boy 8,5 11) Desperado - 8,0 12) I'm So Lonsome I Could Cry 8,0 13) Tear Stained Letter - 7,5 14) Streets Of Laredo - 7,5 15) We'll Meet Again - 8,0 TOTAL: 8,37 (84/100) Mr. Man in black... Some songs work better than the others, but as a whole, this is a very good farewell album by a great artist.
Not quite sure what I was expecting with that one.
Classic modern Cash, enjoyed it thoroughly.
Favourites: -The Man comes Around - Hurt -I Hung My head -Danny boy -We'll Meet Again Honorable Mention: -Personal Jesus -I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry -Streets Of Laredo I haven't listened to much of Mr. Cash, but this was memorable. It was moving, It was Folksy, Bluesy; the covers were done well. The low points were fairly low although the high points make up for it very well. The one-two combo of the first two tracks absolutely breaks you down, it allows you to experience the rest of the album in a sort of somber/desperate way. 3.5/5*
Great. Brings back memories!
When this album came out the only song I payed attention to was ‘hurt’, a cover of a NineInchNail’s song I bumped pretty hard in 9th grade. I enjoyed listening to the whole album. Very minimalistic and not suuuper musical so not quite my personal taste but a stand out for me was Personal Jesus.
Obviously the cover of hurt is amazing, but I hadn’t heard his cover of bridge over troubled water and it’s incredible. The whole album is hauntingly beautiful.
Great studio recording that emphasized the dark, fragile vibe of the tracks and Cash’s vocal performances.
Lovely, croaky old Johnny. No interest in listening to this regularly, but it's clearly very good.
Legend hits it out of the park
the man comes around hurt bridge over troubled water i hung my head personal jesus in my life tear stained letter
It had its moments for me.
Covers
Final album of an illustrious career but it’s so on the nose it hurts, no pun intended. Some good covers and of course his voice is good but I just can’t make it into the cathartic can-you-believe-how-deeply-emotional-I-am-OMG-I’m-crying.
This album dropped when I was in high school and was my introduction to Johnny Cash, so I probably have a bias for it. The stripped down sound and the mixture of fragility and power in his voice backed by acoustic guitar just really hits hard for me and several of these covers are on my list of favorite Cash songs in addition to him reworking some of his older material and providing it with a different tone. A run time of nearly an hour, but no single song taking over 4 minutes (intro to The Man Comes Around being cut puts it under 4) means it doesn't overstay it's welcome for me. Highlights - The Man Comes Around, Hurt, I Hung My Head, Personal Jesus
This album is unquestioningly beautiful and a love letter to many other artists whose tracks feature on the album. Cash has such a distinct style and sound, and even in these sparse renditions, that style drips from every word and chord.
Not my music
In My Life, Cash is still King!
A classic made up of classics
Now THIS is how to do an old man album.
Love Johnny Cash. Loved the covers. It’s wild to hear the age in his voice compared to his earlier recordings and I love what it does to songs like Hurt and In My Life.
Nothing hits the same as twangy guitar storytelling tunes. Like listen to Johnny Cash and still tell me you hate country music, I dare you. Similar to many other iconic musicians, I have not listened to a full Johnny album until now. There is a reason this man was an icon and I will dive deeper into his discography because of this.
Dude's a legend, but I felt myself wishing this album was over sooner than I cared to admit.
Johnny Cash's last album is undeniably incredible. Although all but two of the songs are covers, Johnny proves he still had "it" as late as 2002 by delivering incredibly moving performances throughout. Wikipedia states that Cash was suffering numerous health ailments while recording this, including almost complete blindness and he still had more talent than most of us will have in our entire lifetimes. Somehow, his cover of "Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails stands out amongst everything else. Trent Reznor went as far as to say that he doesn't feel that the song is his anymore after hearing Cash's cover and seeing the music video and it's easy to see why. Not many songs can make me emotional just on a listen but Cash's performance, age, ailments and life struggles make you feel the hurt he's singing about. I was going to give this album a 4 because it is mostly covers but when considering the story of how this album came together and what Johnny was going through at the time, he gets my second 5 of the 1001 albums! Can't wait until next time The Man Comes Around.
This is absolutely music for depressed cowboys. I would listen to this again and again.
So these aren't the best versions of these songs. Like we're def not talking "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston or "Hallelujah" by Jeff Buckley levels of good, but there is something there. And I think that something is giving the rooster from the Robin Hood cartoon. 3?
Love this album. Have loved it since its release - it was an instant classic and well-deserved all the praise it received. Johnny’s voice is perfect for the melancholy tone of this project. The production is simple and pure, letting the lyrics and his voice do the heavy lifting. It’s a masterpiece.
8/10
Versiones muy chulas.
Day 29 Apparently this is a cover album, but I haven't heard the originals - I will though, probably later today or tomorrow. But man this is awesome! This is an easy 9 or even a 10 out of 10. GG Johnny Cash!
i usually enjoy johnny cash, but i unfortunately don’t like this album.
An already exceptional voice gaining character with age. You can feel Johnny and the Rick Rubin experiment winding down.
Hurt Personal Jesus We'll Meet Again
I love Mr Cash, this album was extremely sad though!!
This is the kind of country I like. A lot of covers that were done tastefully in my opinion 3.7*
very good, a lot of covers but some very lovely songs
An album of covers done in the Johnny Cash style.
Honestly like listening to a Cormac McCarthy novel
Bridge over troubled waters caught me!! Everything else was meh.
Fantastic album. Love his covers of hurt and personal jesus.
5?
This album raises the question: how much talking can one get away with while “singing” ?
Aw man I’m all out of Cash
Gotta respect it ngl
niks voor mij, IIIII HURT MYSELF…… today
Lovely covers of classic songs. Johnny sinks his heart into them
ICONNNNN 5
Loved this guys since I was a kid. Great album for sure.
Some great takes, some misses.
The American recordings were closer to a songbook than an album. Varying tracks showcasing either Cashs ability to write or perform. What makes it interesting is the song selection for his covers. A mixture of tracks that influenced him or that he likely influenced. People easily anchor onto his cover of Hurt; however, the two covers that stand out to me are his cover of Stings I hung my head and Hank Williams Im so lonesome (I could cry). Two tracks that nearly bookend his fabled career. There are a few weak spots in the album, no doubt, but it is nice to hear Cash be Cash.
Masterpiece. Perfect covers.
Super nutki 4/5
Þetta er algjört meistarastykki. Ekki margir sem haldast svona ótrúlega góðir og hráir út lífsleiðina. Fyrstu tvö lögin eru sturluð. Titillag plötunnar er ótrúlega hrátt og fallegt. Alvöru folk americana eins og það gerist best. Svo tekur hann Hurt með Nine Inch Nails og gerir það að sínu. Frægt er að höfundur lagsins sagðist ekki eiga það lengur. Johnny Cash ætti lagið nú. Svo eru fleiri góð og viðeigandi cover ásamt fleiri frumsömdum lögum á síðasta hluta starfsævi Cash. Fjandi flottur kallinn og þessi plata er legendary.
Alveg stórbrotin plata og magnað að slútta ferlinum svona meistaralega. Virkilega þéttur og góður pakki sem maður hefur mikið hlustað á í gegnum tíðina. Maðurinn í svörtu fötunum er auðvitað magnaður sögumaður svo lögin fá einhvern vegin nýja merkingu í flutningi hans, eins og t.d. In my life. The man comes around og I hung my head ótrúlega sterk Cash lög, en það er samt alltaf Hurt sem stendur upp úr á þessari plötu.
Go to any thread about times a cover was better than the original and you'll see Hurt as one of the most mentioned songs and for good reason. This is a phenomenal album by one of the greatest artist of all time at the end of his life putting everything he had into it.
Pretty insane that Johnny cash still puts on great performance at his age. His cover of Hurt is one of if not his best song. His vocals are definitely at center stage for the entire album. It is somber listen but all things considered a solid album. 3.05
Of course the cover of Hurt is fantastic, but the rest of this album is equally sombre and carries that emotional weight throughout the entire runtime.
Some good cover, some worse than the originals
The Man in Black goes out on his shield
Fuckin A.
Cash is a true legend, and maybe singlehandedly kept country music alive in America. That said, he transcended nearly all genres. This album is a terrific compilation of covers for the most part with only a couple exceptions. The tones of the newer cuts are hauntingly beautiful and feel as if Cash knew his time performing was nearly up ... and perhaps his life also. I was left wishing I'd heard "Streets of Laredo" sung by him when he was young ... and hoping I never again heard his rendition of Roberta Flack's "First Time I Ever Saw Your Face". This album seems a fitting tribute to his legend and also a soulful goodbye to his mortal life.
Not my music really, I can appreciate the take on some famous songs. Lots of covers
When the man comes around. Better deal justly... Someone else is singing on "I'm so lonesome" - the contrast shows the richness of cash's voice. "Roses to deaden the clods as they fall..." I loved this album. 5/5
I had heard most of these songs as original recordings and just a few as first-time listens by Cash. A lot of the covers I like better. Cash’s voice and vocal style has a depth that you know comes from the pits of life that he, himself, has pulled himself out of, or been pulled out of by loved ones, by God. And that’s what makes these recordings just so good.
Good songs but I got kind of bored listening to the whole thing, a lot sounded the same. Dang he's got a deep voice
I liked it! He has a cool voice, and I like his guitar. I don't know like any Cash, so good start 👍
Bad ass. 3/5
For masse covers, like bedre da fengselsalbumet hans
Damn
Some covers on here are enjoyable, others are not so much but I appreciate Johnny doing what he wants
As far as legends making albums in their dying years, this one is okay. Hurt is an all time great cover. I enjoyed personal Jesus too. But his version of Bridge over Troubled Water is a crime against humanity.
What can you say that hasn’t already been said about Johnny Cash. Legend, icon. This album just proves how he can take covers of other songs and make them his own masterpiece.
Great sounds, some awesome covers, one of cash’s best
Several great songs and no bad ones but it maybe could of lost one or 2 of the less great ones.
Masterpiece
Best comeback album of all time. Perfection.
A modern classic
3.5 really
A cover album where all of the originals except Hurt are better.. shocking.
good album, but it's kinda: \"shut up and play the hits. . or someone else's hits even, idc.\" but there was novelty to it at the time making it hugely popular to the mainstream. you had people who never before listened to johnny cash or NIN telling you how great it all was. but that's not Johnny's fault. he just showed up and killed it, even at 900 years old.
Very nice and chill Johnny Cash album, I enjoyed having this as my background music during the duration of all the songs.
Having stuck with this project for a while now, there are a number of albums I wish I could go back and give a 5. But I think this one will be the first I properly give a 5. This is just a soulful album. So many songs I can feel his heart breaking. Some wonderful covers on here too. Hurt, Personal Jesus, and We’ll Meet Again were my favorites. It’s a very simple album too. Many songs were just the guitar and voice. So simple, yet so touching
I listened to this in full again at the gym last night. It's such a treat. Every song is perfect (except "Danny Boy", which has nothing to do with Cash - I find every version of that song insufferable). I'd almost forgotten about Rusty Cage being on this album. Could there be a bigger contrast in pitch between Cash's voice and Chris Cornell's? Brilliant choice of cover. 👌 I've still got this CD in my car. Fucking beauty. 👍👍
Hearing Johnny with the power of age inspires great pride in being a human being. The song choice is the great songbook of the end of a century.
So very, very great. His interpretations of these songs make them brand new. I would listen to this album again and again.
Did not realise how many BANGERS were on this album! Never listened properly before today, will be listening again. Great bloke great music.
I've never really listened to a lot of Johnny Cash but know he's a legendary country music artist. I was pleasantly surprised with this album. Some interesting/different covers on the album with Danny Boy, Desperado, and In My Life. I prefer a bit more upbeat than Johnny's deep baritone dirges but all in all an enjoyable listen. 7.5/10 (3.75/5)
That was a great album, listened to it while sanding down a plastered wall.
Same exceptional tracks on here (Hurt is overplayed but sure, it's the best version - LOVE the Sting cover I Hung My Head), but there's filler and the "We'll Meet Again" singalong at the end is cringe
A good introduction to Cash's voice via a cover album with some familiar songs. I have heard some of the more popular Johnny Cash songs before but have never listened to an album. The renditions of Hurt and We'll meet again are real tearjerkers and you can hear the pain in his voice knowing that he didn't have long left.
Great covers of some unexpected songs for him to do.
I’m not really a fan of country, it’s actually one of my most disliked genre so I would put have put a 2. But this album is mostly reprises in a decently done country style. I didn’t particularly hate listening to it, but it’s still a low 3 for me. I’m sure in this genre Johnny Cash is very talented but it’s really not my style.
3.5- hurt and gi e my love to rose are my favourite.
This is amazing.
Great renditions of classic songs. A testament to the legend Johnny Cash was. Enjoy this one from time to time! Standout tracks: The Man Comes Around, Hurt, First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, In My Life, Danny Boy, Desperado, Tear Stained Letter, We’ll Meet Again 8 out of 10
Really interesting stories in each song, too depressing to listen to all in one sitting though
Hadn't heard a few songs on this album before, but I really enjoyed it.
The covers range from good to exceptional, but it's a cover album
JOHNNY CASH!
Listened before, a personal favourite
Mostly excellent, I'm not a church going person but the bible verse before the song The Man Comes Around was eerie in the right way for myself. Loved Sam Well but I like when Johnny swears and is animated. Didn't care for Danny Boy, but one review said that a tradition of bad covers was upheld and that was true.