American IV: The Man Comes Around

Westerny

Incredible

Heartfelt with good and engaging vocals and simplistic yet at times intriguing instrumentals

omg this mans voice… I really didn’t enjoy any part oof this album, I kept wondering when it would be over!! not a fan at all.

Well this is unfair because I reflexively hate covers albums - fine, record a cover song here or there but an entire album... it couldn't be less in my wheelhouse. I hear a cover and inevitably feel like it asks the listener to compare/contrast to the original. Which to me is already a stamp, a statement; a record in time of the original artists' vision. Of course I didn't know that not *all* the songs are covers. Which surprised me when I ... liked? the first song (an original). And the next few were...kind of good? But then OK I cannot abide by his take on "Bridge Over Troubled Water" - it's lazy and completely misses the point of the original which should never ever be covered (even/especially by Paul Simon. It's an Art-vocal song and nobody else's and that's a hill i'll die on). Other big misses: "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" and "In My Life" - just do not work with this voice, yikes. "Desperado" sucked with the Eagles and sucks here.... Ehh... i think listing all the songs I don't like isn't serving me well. It's a majority. I enjoy the arrangements that stick to almost a traditional blues/country progression (e.g. "Tear Stained Letter" - an original!) I suppose the overall goal was achieved in that I'd never have given this a chance before this exercise (always keep an open mind!) and it wasn't nearly as bad as I'd feared. Still not a fan overall; a few songs were good but it's truly pick a few and move on. 4/10 2 stars.

pretty boring frankly. 2.

Johnny Cash is the only old man's country voice that I'll listen to.

Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: Yes I loved it, a long listing but doesn’t feel at all ling and blends together very nicely, a nice euphoric drive out in solitude would do this one justice Favourite song: a lot to choose from but, Track 14 - Streets Of Laredo

I mean, what can you say? Fantastic artist, fantastic album. Beautiful swan song.

Like probably everyone else, I loved this album. Everything from the original songs to the well-chosen covers, hurt being the most famous of them, are excellent and perfectly showcase johnny cash in his twilight years. The album definitely has a more modern, melancholy theme than anything else cash ever did and knowing the condition he was in when he recorded this makes it hit even harder. He also does everything from love songs to sad songs to modern pop songs on this album and doesn't falter in any genre.

An incredible swan song

Really enjoyed this. I'm a Johnny cash fan anyway but I liked his take on these songs. Hung my head and streets of loredo were my favourites

What a great listen

Such a powerful album, maybe it's his emotion that comes through or that he was near the end of his life but this album has an almost unexplainable weight to it. Cash is at his most vulnerable. You feel his grief, his regrets, and his passion throughout. It's a perfect album when life is it's most difficult and you need someone to share that pain with.

This album is ridiculously good. Cash's version of Hurt and Hung My Head are definitive. 5/5

Hot take: extremely underwhelming given Cash's reputation. Mostly plodding tunes sung well but not as well as I've been led to believe. His voice is distinctive, and memorable, but I think his singing is not. Sweet sentiment, nice simple storytelling, and a few impactful instrumental phrases are the highlights of a slow, forgettable album that is otherwise packed full of what I'd call "elevator music for sad people". At its best I think these are nice, wistful songs which anyone could enjoy hearing live if performed by friends or family around a bonfire or something, but I have a hard time believing anyone could consider this a culturally important album. It's all in one ear and out the other. Hated basically the whole thing. Highlights: We'll Meet Again; I Hung My Head, and (only) the chorus to Hurt. Lowlights: Danny Boy, Personal Jesus, Streets of Laredo, Give My Love to Rose.

Really not my kind of music but the album has a good flow if you listen to it in one go, songs offer some variety but it still all sounds somewhat same-ish. Hurt is a classic but nothing in here I would add to my playlist.

I've heard this one quite a few times because my parents played the shit out of it. Hurt is obviously legendary but my other favorite is 'I Hung My Head' 3/5

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

Notre ami est à deux doigts de rendre l'âme entre chaque piste de l'album, ce qui rend son écoute assez délicate et anxiogène. De plus, on peine à reconnaître notre joyeux luron et son emblématique cheveux sur la langue dans cet environnement non-carcéral. Était-ce vraiment Johnny Cash ?

Le cadavre de Johnny Cash se fout ici bien de notre gueule. Il ne se donne plus la peine de nous offrir ses transitions stand-ups, se contentant simplement de mauvaises reprises de Depeche Mode et autres artistes. Cet album n'est même pas enregistré en live ! Impossible par conséquent d'écrire le script du concert, à mon plus grand regret.

some good covers

I love covers and already know a few songs from this album 1. The man comes around - reminds me of a bright eyes song 2. Hurt - great song and I remember this music video 3. Give my love to Rose - sweet classic country sound 4. Bridge under troubled water - i just love a good cover; the swells are nice 5. I hung my head - I love this one and didn’t realize it was a classic till now 6. First time ever I saw your face - a little sappy and slow 7. Personal Jesus - also didn’t realize this was a cover till recently 8. In my life - never heard this before but love the original and this version 9. Sam Hall - I like the funny songs they remind me of camp 10. Danny boy - it’s fine but i think better original 11. Desperado - a classic 12. I’m so lonesome I could cry - not my fave version 13. Tear stained letter - boppy I like the piano 14. Streets of Laredo - fine nothing special to me 15. We’ll meet again - a nice one to end on

I love Johnny Cash, but this is not my favorite of his albums.

Love Johnny, love some of the covers, not an album for me though

Premium Johnny and an excellent late career move. Rock Rubin strikes again.

Amazing. So many emotions. Great storytelling. I Hung My Head is amazing

Cover songs done by an aged Country star. But done in a powerful way. Some work, some don't. And of course then there's Hurt....

American IV is the last Johnny Cash album released while he was alive. This fact makes the album even more somber. So many of the songs like Streets of Laredo, I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry, We'll Meet Again, and Desperado have such a different meaning coming from a man at the end of his life. This is a fantastic album, and I hope every music fan can at least appreciate it. Best Songs: The Man Comes Around, Hurt, I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry, We'll Meet Again, Streets of Laredo, Desperado Worst Songs: NA

Some really good covers here

As cover albums go really great love teh nick cave Collab there voices are beautiful together Bit I don't think I can give a disjointed cover album anything more than a 3 Or 4 arrrg DK

When I took guitar lessons as a 9 year old, the song Streets of Laredo was in the songbook. I should probably mention that to my therapist. I can't say Give My Love to Rose is his best jailbird song since it doesn't have lyrics about shooting a man in Reno, but it’s a beauty. Bridge Over Troubled Water is one of the songs that defines Art Garfunkles' prowess singing. Paul Simon tries to sing it when he tours solo but the song sounds terrible. I love how Johnny and his barely existing vocal range sounds so darn good. Fiona Apple, who could nail these vocals, adds lovely accompanying vocals. The First Time I Ever Saw You is a song that I always hated. Johnny takes the weenie out of the Roberta Flack version. Personal Jesus and In My Life are excellent. I could keep going on about the other covers on this album. Until the mid sixties it was common to make albums full of songs that others wrote but once 1970 came around this was no longer fashionable. Johnny may be the only one who could pull this off in 2000. RIP Mr. Cash

The handful of originals are great as is the Tex Ritter cover. The Reznor tune and the Sting tune I was not familiar with but Johnny does a great job on both of them. It's a surprising song for Sting, like he had Johnny in mind when he wrote it. I've never been a fan of mega-artists covering songs that were mega-hits for other artists, so Like a Bridge/ The First Time and a 1/2 dozen others are a disappointment - the exception would be In My Life, which is powerful from the perspective of a dying man who has lost his wife. I'm going deduct a point for the aforementioned mega-hits (1/2 the album), though what remains is probably my favourite Johnny album that we've received from 1001.

I’m not into Country but Hurt is by far the best cover song I’ve ever heard, this is a case of a cover song that surpasses the original. In my Life isn’t quite up there with Hurt, but it’s also very good. Given that this was his last album, this very sparse and stripped down album gives his voice centre stage and it captures years of pain and emotion with great poignancy. The other covers aren’t as effective unfortunately, Personal Jesus in particular just doesn’t work.

As far as his more modern recordings go, this one is pretty good. I know this was one of his last albums released during his lifetime, but he still has the energy, spirit and that "voice", the quintessential performer until the end. This is what sets Cash apart from everyone else in the genre. Respect!

I hurt myself today

10/10

Folk/country really isn't my jam and Cash's voice usually bothers me but this album blew me away. What great storytelling and compelling musicality across all the tracks! It may be full of covers, but each is excellent; familiar yet perfectly matched to Cash's style.

the songs on III are better and Hurt is way over-played, but this is still pretty awesome

More soulful than earlier albums but not his best

Relies heavily on his voice, which is still killing it, lots of emotion in each song, some great covers.

Great album, but lots of covers

Always had a soft spot for cash's cover of Hurt, and I also like I Hung My Head, the rest of the album is okay

One of my favorite albums growing up. As well as one of my first CDs. Love what Rick Ruban did with this. Opened the door to me becoming a huge JC fan.

i like this album, but idk if i'd put it in the must pile

Full of raw emotion, and also knowing this was the last album recorded by the man in black, male this his greatest work in my opinion. An iconic voice not only covering other artists songs, but reinventing them and making them his own

This is probably the closest I’ve come to giving a five but I really want a five to be close to perfect and there are few moments where the album doesn’t quite work. But my god, this album is still incredible, it contains some of the best covers ever recorded. It is the perfect end to Johnny Cash’s career and a perfect companion to learning about the final years and months of his life.

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

A cover album where Johnny Cash practically made the songs his own. Unmissable.

Me gustan mucho las canciones narrativas. Su voz en este álbum ya no es lo que era, pero sigue siendo muy especial. Es muy emocionante oírle, a veces me entran ganas de llorar. La versión de Personal Jesus no ha sido un acierto.

Aunque mientras lo escucho pienso en que suena muy bien, que la emotividad es real, que me genera una gran empatía... Siento decir que me ha resultado un disco bastante aburrido. Pero creo que simplemente no es mi estilo.

Johnny Cash sounds old and that makes me feel sad.

Powerful. But it's still elder abuse.

Had this CD when I was younger, good covers

I’m convinced Johnny Cash killed someone and is ridden with guilt.

Lots of emotion, very different voice and vibe from his earlier years

I enjoy a bit of Johnny Cash, but this was a stretch - the first two songs were legitimately good (probably the two I've heard the most as well), but after that it really dropped a notch. Personal Jesus is a great song but this version didn't work too well imo. Cash has his place on this list for sure, but it's more the Folsom Prison stuff etc. 3/5.

A really strong release. He really makes the covers his own.

The cover of Hurt gets a 5, rest of the album not so much.

This is one of the saddest albums I've ever listened to. It's a man, who knows he's on his way out. All the covers are phenomenal. I love We'll Meet Again, Hurt, In My Life. Jesus it is really beautiful. We'll Meet Again, such a banging way to go out. I had to deal with me being very likely to die too, so I respect how humble Cash is feeling about it (I feel way better now thanks to treatement, it was never terminal, never even close to it, but I learned how fragile life is). 5/5. Without a doubt

Cool but fit with me :-|

4.5/5

Some covers of popular songs played mostly just on an acoustic guitar. I guess this would be interesting to people that are already fans of Jonny Cash, but for the rest of us, it's a pretty uneventful album.

Really nice collection of covers, cool stuff

The 4th album of Johnny Cash's American Recording Series, and the last one published during his lifetime, this record contains mainly sparsely arranged covers, most of which are just acoustic guitar and Cash's unmistakable gravelly voice that is second only to Leonard Cohen's. This affords Cash much room for singing, and he delivers. The album contains - for me - the definitive versions of Hurt and especially Desperado, because he sings them with an absolute authentic, heartbreaking sincerity. Sadly not every song is on that level, some lyrics are quite weak (eg. Sam Hall), and the theme of the condemned man is present in too many songs with too little thematic variation. But that shouldn't distract from how great this album is. 4/5

A huge impactful album. There are a lot of covers and in Cashs style and voice bring it to a different space.

Maybe this is not considered the best Cash's work, even the maturest one, mainly because it's a covers album. But, without any doubt, it's my favorite! All songs and lyrics are unique, and Cash's interpretation is astonished. My first Johnny Cash on this list, and I consider it lucky

There's been a few times on this list when I encountered an album made at the end of an artist's life that serves as a kind of goodbye message to the people who loved their music. This album is a bit strange among those, since it's largely a cover album, but god damn what an exit. He did definitive versions of some of these songs, especially Hurt. Not every song on this album is amazing like that, but they're all good. His voice held up to the very end, and for that we can be grateful 4/5

This is beautiful, melancholy, sad and pure at the same time, a brilliant set of covers from a legendary musician at the end of a timeless and memorable lifetime. It's so good, it doesn't need much more justification than that. 5/5.

This is great - a solid 4 which is impressive given that so many of the songs are covers. Will very happily listen to it again, a great bunch of songs although it plays more like a collection of hits than it does an album. The opening track definitely my favourite, but it's a great opening 3 songs in particular.

I thought this was a complication but wiki tells me it's a cover album, its incredible and the cover of hurt is both haunting and beautiful

Wow. I am kinda stunned. I believe there are only three songs on this album that Cash wrote, while the rest are covers. How can someone perform others' work in such a beautiful way and create a presence like Cash does? You can feel in his voice that he's tired and weary, and that the end is nigh, but that doesn't keep him from delivering a performance for the ages. I've always liked Johnny Cash, but never got into him. I think it's time.

Pass.

I understand this was his last release before dying and generally didn't really enjoy the covers. I appreciate it for what it was though! There was a very funny one about being on death row Luke and I loved

I loved this. I prefer the older Johnny Cash stuff because I think his voice is more refined and the songs are more accessible

One of the greatest albums of all time.

Some amazing tracks, some stinkers. Overall a pretty good album, especially for a country album!

"The Man Comes Around" presents like the opening to a play, pretty simplistic in the instrumental and vocals but there's a story being told here. The narrative is made engaging by the music but it tips the ear towards the story to come. "Hurt" actually reminds me of White Rabbit quite a bit, the song is entirely a crescendo right to the end. What is particularly engaging is the build up of the story. These songs are stories just as much as music. Overall, Johnny Cash is solid. Makes me feel like i need a Horse, Ranch and sad love story

this band needed to get a different vocalist. they sound like that slightly sexist uncle that you try to avoid at family reunions. the instrumental parts of the songs were great, but i groaned nearly everytime that dude started singing. and it's a bunch of covers. why was this album made? and why is it on this list? i would rate this album 0/5 if it would let me.

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

I can see why this was added. A fairy spare recording of Johnny & guitar plus the occasional backup voice(s) & instrumentation. Feels very classic Johnny Cash & some nice interpretations of songs - I particularly liked Give My Love to Rose and Personal Jesus.

10/10 what a beautiful end to his discography I especially love that the last song was a cover of We’ll Meet Again beautiful stuff

What the fuck, I never liked this type of music but it was amazing.

Haunting in retrospect

I'm normally dubious about covers, but Johnny Cash nailed it

Wonderful.

Right on the money

Good album but dropped a star due to lack of new material. Mainly songs from previous albums or covers.

Pleasant listening, though the songs he covered were mostly so-so. Sam Hall was my favorite.

Although one of his last recordings, this is a great entry point to people new to Cash. A man in the twilight of his life producing a collection of covers that are super emotionally resonant. I don’t have much respect in general for covers, but these somehow have an aura of artistic integrity belying the fact that he’s just singing someone else’s work

Incredible reworkings of classic songs which Cash makes his own with his inimitable voice, now aged and fragile, which adds an emotive sense of wisdom and gravitas. Rating: 4/5 Playlist track: Hurt Date listened: 11/07/22

The first two songs were classics. Album dragged a little for me towards the end

One of my favorites. The visceral energy in his voice…

Way better than I thought it would be

"Hurt" is on here.

Classic. Just shows what interpretation can deliver

Touchant Prefs: The Man Comes Around, Hurt, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Personal Jesus, In My Life, Sam Hall, I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry, Tear Stained Letter, Streets of Laredo Moins pref: Danny Boy

A brilliant cover and end of the career album. Hurt is one of those covers that blows the original out the water Cash makes it his song. When the man comes around is also a brilliant song. Such a raw album deserves to be on the list.

Truly, an album you have to listen before you die! The lyrics, the guitar, his voice, all perfectly combined in this piece of art.

It's not terrible.

Good classic stuff but not my thing personally

Beautiful!

Country for people who don't like country, and everything that needs to be said about the Hurt cover has already been said. Astonishing song.

lite bland

A number of covers, which I didn't know but Cash's haunting voice always delivers

Lovely

fav track: i hung my head

Pretty good. "The Man Comes Around" is a total rip-off of "The Claw" by Ten Benson though.

Such a special record. Cash's world weary voice is ideal for this selection. What an epitaph for the master

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

Hurt and a few others are amazing, but in some places it just sounds like an old guy talking.

God Bless Johnny Cash!

Masterful, and so late in life. "Hurt" is haunting.

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

really enjoyed this one, Hurt gets a hell of a lot of press but there's some great covers on here

Similar to the past Johnny Cash albums...just ok but ultimately more underwhelming than not.

kinda boring - prefer johnny singing country

Genre: Americana 4/5 In one of the biggest surprises so far throughout this exercise, American IV is a true triumph for Johnny Cash. A man known for pioneering Outlaw Country, the kind of music men sing to pass the times while locked away (Folsom Prison Blues, Orleans Parish Prison, etc.), pares it back to his roots. Those old country folk tunes he's sung for years, as well as some incredible renditions of a few non-country folk tunes, are given new life in the shape of a 70-year old crooner fighting to keep his career afloat. Rick Rubin produces one of the most heart-wrenching records I've listened to in quite some time. The recording sessions that birthed this album also birthed what may be one of the best covers of all time, Cash's rendition of Trent Reznor's Hurt. His voice writhes with age, but his emotions are felt with every passing lyric. A man who has lost a lot in his life, singing a song about losing it all and fighting to rebuild from the "empire of dirt" before him. Breathtaking. But that song isn't the only tearjerker in the setlist, as Cash's renditions of In My Life (Beatles classic) and Danny Boy are given the same tragic context as Hurt, a man reaching the end, pining for those he's lost and searching for life's purpose, and examining his own mortality. There were some songs on this that didn't reach the mark emotionally or thematically (Sam Hall, Streets of Laredo), and sound as though Johnny and Rick were just having fun with it, but considering Cash died very shortly after this was released, it was probably something he desparetely needed. I really enjoyed this album, and I hope those with close-knit families and those with a little bit of heart enjoy this too.

A real mixed bag. When The Man in Black picks the right tunes he's untouchable, however, some of the standards on here are a little cloying - even in the stripped back state. Best Tracks: When The Man Comes Around; Hurt; I Hung My Head

Hurt is great, and he is an icon but not much musically

Hurt is absolutely amazing There's no happy note in there The rest is super melancholic but not bad. It's definitely a very sad album, which is so weird - A popular guy with a successful music career writing a negative toned album? Love it. Interesting that the best songs on this are covers. They're mostly also acoustic versions of those songs which are just wonderfully produced.

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.

This album has me welling up with tears on so many tracks. I'm not sure if Well Meet Again is supposed to be a happy, hopeful song, but I know this version of it makes me tear up. So many tracks on this album are emotional. I know Hurt got a lot of deserved attention, but tracks like First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and Danny Boy are equally great and emotional.

Johnny Cash went out on a high note with this record, after a long run on middling records. That's my understanding of the importance of this record. I think its a great record. His voice is obviously shredded by years of abused vocal chords and the fact that he was in and out of hte hospital during the making of the record. I remember hearing the NIN cover and thinking it was cool. But I definitely wasn't paying attention to country music at this time (never really have). I revisited this record when Cash was en-vogue again due to the "Walk the Line" movie. Another subversive musician. Love him. And this is an objectively great record.

I'm not real familiar with Johnny's catalog, but I went in to this thinking, "Oh, it's from 2002 - probably a crappy last-ditch grab at relevance" - but I was pleasantly surprised. For the most part, he stayed true to his roots, not straying from the formula. Most of the songs are about killing someone or finding someone about to die. It's odd, but I appreciate that storytelling is a big part of this genre. Also I didn't know that "In My Life" was from this album. It's probably my favorite Man-in-Black song and I assumed it was real old. That speaks to the timelessness of his work I suppose. Still, I'm wavering between a 2-3 only because I suspect some of his earlier (better) work to be on the list as well. Oh, to hell with it.

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.

Excellent. Definitely a hidden gem!

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

"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

Noice! Love the Beatles cover

It's Johnny so it's getting a 5. While I'm not usually one for the sadder music, this album is very beautiful and knowing that it was after the death of his wife you can feel the emotion coming through. A great epilogue, from one of the all time greats.

meikaði ekki alveg að hlusta hun er svo sorgleg

maybe 4.5/5

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

Hurt: Director's Cut is the most deserving of 5 stars.

Hit and miss. have had two Johnny Cash country albums and hated them. This had some memorable songs reinterpreted and properly produced. Hurt a standout.

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.

A quality listen, just not my favorite style of music. Also they are mostly covers, where the original is just better. I mildly enjoyed most of it. 6/10

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

Really good covers of songs I don't much like in the first place = 2 stars. Bonus star for Hurt and Sam Hall, though.

Context. It's all about context. Give this album to a teenager and she'll think it's someone's granddad doing karaoke. Whereas 40something me, getting older, the album has more grounding, reflecting on a life of love, loss, regret and wisdom - albeit through the medium of selected cover songs. Hurt and Personal Jesus are the stand-out tracks for me. I appreciate the rest, but they aren't as powerful.

Discazo

The oldest saddest bastardest music

Miehellä mustissa on hetkensä ja nää uran viimeiset levyt on kyllä yksi hieno sellainen hetki. Rick Rubinin siirtyminen tuottajaksi oli käsittääkseni aika iso juttu sillai että kukaan ei uskonut enää että JC vois olla kiinnostava. Mut sit ku kehään laitetaan ihminen joka on aikaisemmin tuottanut beastie boysia, slayeria ja rhcp:ta niin jotain tässä tapahtu, En oo suuri cover-levyjen diggari mutta onhan tää tylyydessään jotenkin hieno. Riisuttu. Ehkä tää on countryksi jotenkin vähemmän countrya niin tätä on helpompi diggailla. Ja sit samalla onhan tää jotenkin niin vitun väsynyt. En oikein osaa sanoo mitä tästä oon mieltä. Tavallaan rakastan tätä ja sit tavallaan tää on aivan paska. 3/5

Mjaah, ihan miellyttävähän Cashin ääni on, mutta en tiiä kolahtiko oikeen mikään. Hurt oli ihan jees, Personal Jesus kohtalainen (varmaan johtuu siitä että se on niin kova biisi alunperin), mutta muuten aika tasasen tylsää.

Eka biisi oli odotuksia herättävä, mutta alkupuolen covereista en nauttinut ollenkaan. Niinpä kiinnostus lopahti ja loppulevy meni vähän sivukorvalla.

Aluksi tästä pitää, mutta aika nopeasti alkaa vähän toistaa itseään. Ehkä jokin tässä Cashin äänessä kertoo siitä, että se tietää itse olevansa nero tekemässä Tärkeää Levyä ja tämä tunnelma tekee kaikesta vähän luotaantyöntävää. Levyn isoin hitti Hurt on oikeasti hyvä laulu (vaikka nykyään vähän meemettinen jo onkin), ja avausraidasta tykkäsin myös. 3/5.

Beautiful covers- Jonny Cash style as well as nostalgic rendetions of his old songs. My favourite were hurt and hung my head. But the album finishes stunningly with We will meet again almost like a goodbye and a stamp on his legendary status and legacy. 🙂

4.25

Spartan in a deeply religious way, but not puritanical or ascetic. Just simply spiritual. When the arrangements can't pull the song through, Cash's gravity and grain does. When Cash can't pull the song through, the arrangements offer a hand. When neither pulls the song through, well, good thing they've chosen great songs.

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.

this made me cry. a lot.

Great album some of his best work

One of my favorites from cash. Beautiful album

Very sad, excellent.

Qué aburrimiento de persona

Oh wow, I thought I knew a bit about his music but this was just amazing.

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.

Cried. Loved. Absolute genius.a

i wanted to like this more than i did. i love the concept of the album, a legendary musician coming to terms with his impending death by recording a covers album of his favourite songs. Sadly it spaffs its load after the first two tracks. the man comes around is huge and hurt is one of those rare tracks where the cover is better than the original and combined with the video it makes for a sad time.

Oooooh a big bag of milk leaking on my face. My needle dick jabbing her minge. Heaven.

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

Cash & Rubin, an unlikely pairing that just works, like peanut butter & jam or SHACK & cable cars.

I only knew of the Hurt cover before listening to this. That cover is fine. The other covers are just bad. Bridge Over Troubled Water is especially grating. His voice just took the soul out of the song. Personal Jesus was also pretty bad since I just got the Depeche Mode album with that song on it a few days ago. When Cash isn't doing modern covers / his own songs, it's great. 2.5/5

Forgot how fucking good the American albums are

I am not sure if this is controversial, but late Johnny Cash (American I - VI) is my favorite Johnny Cash. 5 stars for hurt by itself, but Blackbird is on point, too. This is one of the first albums I reviewed for the radio station I worked at in college.

Hurt et personnal Jesus ça marche full, le reste est correct, je m'attendais à plus de diversité dans les arrangements et l'instrumentation. C'est dépouillé et minimaliste, ce qui est tout à fait louable, mais c'est un peu redondant... Si ce n'était pas mr.Cash avec tout son vécu et son charisme ce serait tu aussi intéressant?

À moitié bon. Y’a des tounes qui. sonnent « faites vite ». On dirait qu’il lit les paroles parce qu’il ne connait pas les chanson. Il y a tout de même « Hurt » et la majorité des tounes country au départ qui sont plus authentiquement senties. L’album est enregistré alors qu’il a 70 ans, mais il sonne comme 80.

Quelle voix. C'est l'album qui m'a amené à m'intéresser à Johnny Cash. La façon qu'il s'approprie les chansons est fantastique. Rick Rubin a fait tout un travail pour emballer le tout et que ça cadre bien avec l'artiste. Sa reprise de Hurt est hallucinante. Même Trent Reznor après avoir entendu la reprise et avoir vu le clip a déclaré que cette chanson ne lui appartient plus. Un gros coup de coeur pour moi.

Ég hlustaði talsvert á þessa á sínum tíma. Fannst allt tal um Cash sem mikinn spámann ósannfærandi, en platan þótti mér góð. Og hún stenst algerlega tímans tönn, þvílíkt lagaval (fyrir utan Desperado) oftast útgáfur sem eru næstum jafn góðar originallinn (First time I ever I saw your face) eða toppa hann (Hurt). Fyrirgefum honum Bridge over troubled water.

-"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

Pleasantly surprised

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

Countryn är ju inte min grej va, och alla låtarna är ju covers, men jävlar i min lilla lådda vad han lägger känsla i dem

sämst piss

Simply brilliant

Classic Cash but with some odd songs for me.

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 enjoyed this, hadn’t heard it before but had come across a few of the songs before. A lot of covers, changed to feel and sound like he wrote them. Emotional and poignant. A bit more country than I'd normally like but still. 5/5

- "Hurt" is probably one of my favorite songs ever.

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

Прослушано

Lightning in a bottle

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

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

Good deep voice as always. Interesting to hear the modern covers, but a bit weird like your grandad singing Radio 1 or 6 Music! Some work brilliantly (Man comes around, hung my head, hurt, Sam). Powerful, but not essential.

Awesome. Hurt. These American recordings albums with Rick rubin are amazing

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

Respektvoll ob der Todesnähe entsteht etwas zutiefst menschliches, verfangendes. Musikalisch empfinde ich nicht jeden Song in seiner Interpretation gelungen. 2.9

Probably would be upped to a 5 if I had a nice glass of whiskey with me as I listened. Really great stuff.

puts perfeito

Solid.

I tried so hard to like this, but I couldn't really get into it. There were a couple of songs I liked, but that was it.

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

Ihan komia soundi ukkelilla ja kivoja versiointeja.

Harvemmin oon diggaillu Cashista, tää kuitenkin toimi hyvin. Hauskoja covereita ja iltapäiväkävelyllä huomasin fiilistelevän tät kuunnellessa.

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

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.

I wanted to like it. The version of Hurt is outstanding. The rest is really not.

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

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

Just don’t let the tears water my whiskey.

Manages to even makes Sting sound good. A classic. Best known for Personal Jesus but Cash’s version of Saw Your Face seals it for me.

It was a good listen

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

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.

Incredible country album. The second song is featured in the Logan movie soundtrack.

I'm so sad

Great listening

Will admit to some trepidation before listening to this. I do not like Johnny Cash's music. "Heresy", I hear you shout. But you know what, I just don't. His genre, his semi-spoken, semi-sung delivery. I don't like it. But I have to admit that "when the man comes around" is genuinely a work of exceptional greatness. Reznor himself has said that Cash now owns Hurt. And I kinda agree. Cash sounds broken in a way that Reznor wasn't, physically. The slightly off-key spoken monotone just works so well for this track. I mean, the Nine Inch Nails original is better produced, has more layers and nuance, but Cash's voice and delivery fits so well that you can overlook it. Unfortunately things go rapidly downhill. Bridge over troubled water does not fit. At all. The same can be said for everything up to Personal Jesus, which is an intriguing take on Depeche Mode. Sam Hall is actually quite a fun track, I'll give it that. Danny Boy is just hideous. It's the indulgence of someone who is way past his best, reminiscent of an elderly uncle who insists on singing at a funeral. It might be touching, it might mean a lot to the performer, but it is objectively awful. The same can be said for I'm so lonesome I could cry. Tear-stained letter thankfully picks up the pace, which is genuinely a relief. Finishing up the album is a surprisingly upbeat and swingy tale on We'll Meet Again - which is immeasurably better than Very Lynn's cloying version. After the initial hesitancy, an I glad I listened to it? Kind of. The highs are high. But the lows are really low. Would I listen to the full album again? No. I'd absolutely not. There is no way I would subject myself to Bridge or Danny again, except if maybe I was wallowing in a Hurt-amount of masochistic anguish. Would I listen to the best tracks from this? Absolutely yes.

Absolutely brilliant Album - loved every track.

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

4/5 it won me over!

Overall mood of the album is great, great songs for sure just not really my music type for everyday listening

Cash rules everything around me

great listen, and covers. Was surprised how much i enjoyed this album.

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

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.

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

Gran recopilación de canciones para un estilo muy personal con una gran voz. Inconfundible estilo.

dobar album, par odličnih pjesama

-Bridge Over Troubled Water -I Hung My Head -Personal Jesus -In My Life -Desperado -Tear Stained Letter -We'll Meet Again

The man the myth the legend. Chills the entirety of the album. Hurt is the biggie but in my life is tremendous as is desperado

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

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

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

Boring, uninteresting covers of songs.

3,5

Excelent album and songwriter.

Containing both "Hurt" and "The Man Comes Around" this seems like a good end to Cash's career, he brings a lot of sadness and sincerity to these covers, but some still fall flat. 2 Great songs then the rest are okay but not too striking. 7/10

Like this album, not the cheeriest but I like it

Great great album

Mawkish and just a bit..... well.. boring!