American IV: The Man Comes Around

What an incredible and diverse set of covers thrown together. I’m never going to like songs about cowboys of days gone by, but I was definitely moved the rawness and emotion of his voice against this weird selection of songs that have been stripped back so far. All felt very vulnerable and poignant.

When I think of country music, I think of shit dancing and crap boots and hats. This does not evoke that particular vibe.The is the sound of someone coming to terms with their mortality. His voice is cracked with age and illness and it is quite a sobering listen, but also very wry amusing one. The song choices to cover were inspired, 'Hurt' is better than the original, but the same cannot be said of 'Personal Jesus'. 'I Hung My Head' and 'Sam Hall' made me chuckle and 'Danny Boy' made me cringe. I would give this a 5 stars, but it was quite a mixed bag, most landed well, but some songs did not fare so well with the Cash treatment.

Made the covers his own. Picked them to fit perfectly together.

Bueno, de chill. Interesante voz, me gustó escucharlo pero no lo volvería a escuchar. Buenos covers

I hate it

Already listened - a fantastic album, posthumous iirc.

As everything else that came from pen and guitar of this man, the mentioned album is quite amazing, with Hurt being the central masterpiece of it all 🖤

Woowz de hed megaaa vill tracks vo vu öperem ultra bekanntem covered wurde isch. Johnny cash immer devo ghört, nie richtig abcheggt. Aber richtig guet. $$$$

Tämä oli kyllä upea!

On hieno levy 👌🏼⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Gorgeous album. So rich, so emotional, and so beautiful. Amazing record for an amazing artist.

The perfect set of songs to close out Johnny’s long and stellar career. Hurt is famously been “given” to Johnny by NIN and I do prefer this version to the original. His voice is haunting as he looks back at his life. The other covers like Bridge Over Troubled Water and Personal Jesus are amazing but it’s In My Life that hit me hardest. The song that make me think of my late Dad and the way Johnny sings this beautiful song made me cry like a baby. RIP JOHNNY CASH. He will live on through his music

This is Cash's final album released during his lifetime. The fourth installment of his American series. This is a very distant and solitary record. Most of the songs here are covers, and many of them are even better than it's orginal. Johnny Cash was at a very low point of his life when he had recorded this album, and he had died less than a year after it's release. He sounds very disconnected and desolate throught the entire thing, and the production by Rick Rubin ties it all together very smoothly while still keeping it's original style. It is very depressing to listen to, with songs like Hurt really representing how Cash was feeling at the time. This album is a perfect encapsulation of his thoughts and feelings at the time. There are also plenty of guest features from Fiona Apple, Don Henley, and Nick Cave which add a sense of freshness. My favorite song here is Hurt, extremely emotional and there is plenty of intensity as it builds up to it's end.

One of my all time favorite albums that I haven’t listened to in a long time and it gutted me all over again. I’m a pretty big NIN fan, but this cover rivals the original in tone and context (don’t come for me, both can be good and legit). Rick Rubin really outdid himself on this one.

Alright

This is the last album Johnny Cash released during his lifetime, and the specter of death hangs heavy over it. It's almost entirely covers, but Cash manages to make every song here his own. His advanced age hadn't diminished his pathos as a singer, and in some way even amplified it. The strongest songs here are the ones that either engage directly with death or with some unspoken end. The most obvious one is his heartrending take on Hurt, taking the angst of the original and adding a healthy dose of quiet wisdom to it. Other songs that work in this vein include In My Life and the closing number We'll Meet Again, ending the album on an ominous note. Despite the collaborations with younger artists and the covers of newer songs, the sound is defiantly old school, sounded very in-step with the outlaw blues Cash made his name on in the 50s and 60s. It's a fitting send-off to one of modern music's most beloved and influential artists, both dark and defiant in tone.

country music might be the worst

I feel like sometimes when a musician gets older and they can’t delivery the same energetic performance as their youth, it forces them to make every musical flourish completely intentional. I feel like that’s the case here. Everything is so sparse, and yet it feels so much more complete than a busier arrangement. Maybe that’s just the magic of Rick Rubin.

This is truly one of my favorite records of all time. And one of my favorite artists of all time. He's one of the greatest orators of the American experience and American pop culture. The songs he wrote, were great, but the way that he sang other songs and told stories through his style and voice is unmatched. I remember when this first came out. Hurt was everywhere, then the Walk the Line movie came out shortly after. I was obsessed with all of it. I picked up this record again while I was on my mission and listened to it constantly. I love every song. Obviously, The Man Comes Around and Hurt are phenomenal album openers, but I really love Streets of Laredo, Hung My Head and Bridge Over Troubled Water. I love the way he sings Desperado and In My Life. He just has this old man Grandpa charm to his voice in those songs that feels cozy. I can't think of another perfectly recorded bookend to an incredibly complex and beautiful life. He nailed it.

This album feels like moments in time with Cash: penning letters to loved ones, reconciling a broken heart, grieving life changing mistakes. It's an emotional and raw and I really wish Cash was still alive today to make music for the world.

Love the album. Had heard it before and it's just as good as i remember

Cash delivers these songs, most of which are covers, with a wisdom that imbues them with new meaning. I love this album. Tear Stained Letter is my favorite, but there may just be no skips.

Love it. Old Cash has some serious passion in these songs in a hauntingly good way. His younger days have a bit more variety, but I don't think that's what he was going for here. Hurt will always be incredible but not as good as the original NIN version

This one came up on my birthday and I consider it an appropriate listen for the day as I reflect on my own past. Hurt was meant for Johnny Cash to sing and In My Life made me cry (it usually does), but the whole album is brilliant.

Incredibly poignant - his voice is starting to go but it the raw emotion makes up for it. Well worth a listen.

"Hurt" is an incredible song. The rest is Johnny Cash butchering songs after songs. "In my Life" is the worst offender. He couldn't even make a good Marty Robbins song.

Ah johnny what a legend. A mix of complete devastation & country bops. Wasn't sure if i was up or down. Enjoyed the ride.

I like his voice 👍 I like guitar 🎸

checked prior

Rick Rubin should get a haircut and fuck off.

Such a beautiful album. 100% the most emotional album I've listened to on this generator thus far. Such a powerful experience; I truly loved this. Hurt was my fav song of the album. Desperado (my fav first listen) and Personal Jesus were my other highlights

Good mix of song choices and interesting interpretations.

Depressing but ni slabo

The realest and rawest.

Every single song is a legit banger. Easily Cash’s best work.

Oh my glob the prophecy from nine inch nails came true

The Man in Black in excellent form. Some great recordings made in the American series. Not sure if this is the best for me but Hurt is a fantastic rendition here.

muy top

Man oh man the voice on this man. This is a musical funeral self-eulogy. The country music is strong, but what's stronger is the emotion in its delivery - very few people could sing about themselves while singing about other folks, other stories, other silly americana-myths the way Johnny Cash can. This album is already great on its own, but putting this out right before his death what makes it a complete masterpiece: an old guy, with a country guitar, the warmest voice possible, and no percussions whatsoever. I had never heard this album before - this became an instant favorite. Storytelling, the way most other artists can, is just a part of the whole album. We're not talking about a killer in Give my love to Rose, we're not talking about an "idea" of the wild west country myths, we're hearing the pain in the words of a man who knew his departure wasn't far off, with all his pain, his remembrance, his memories whispering to him about his mistakes, the pain he inflicted, and the pain he received. This album is perfect for what it is: the voice, the production, the soft yet necessary guitars, the sparse few additional instruments, the trip it took me on, the self-reluctancy with which it says goodbye to life and to his own career. These are not covers, this is the way these songs were supposed to sound since they were written, it's simply that we didn't knew it the first time around. "We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when, but I know we'll meet again some sunny day".

Of course I'd heard the cover of "Hurt" before -- it was impossible to miss. It had been a while, so this time through it gave me goosebumps. So does the original -- I think this one is slightly overpraised, especially by Trent Reznor. I've never been close to as keen on the Personal Jesus cover... a strictly-worse version of the Depeche Mode classic. As for those I hadn't heard before, I enjoyed this version of In My Life... but couldn't stand the Bridge Over Troubled Waters cover. All in all, there are too many of those old cowboy/gunslinger tracks here too. It would have been far more interesting if he'd chosen more tracks like Hurt and Personal Jesus to truly get his take on music popular long after his heyday. The Hurt cover was a massive success, but I don't think the rest of this is essential.

I listened to this album a lot back in the day. Hurt is by far my favorite, and of course Personal Jesus. I la-la-love cover songs, so this album is just a jewel!

It's a special album, and hurt is a 6 star track. I don't know if I'll listen to it again, but doesn't feel right giving it three stars.

Some interesting cover versions and originals- some work and some don’t so much

3.5-5 Bra, men rar mix. Noen skips. Veldig interesang historie bak.

2.5/5 good album, not my fave Johnny Cash album, and tbh Hurt by NIN is better, sorry, not sorry.

This album saw heavy rotation in my CD deck when released for the haunting version of Hurt alone. My grandfather listened to Johnny Cash when I was young and I never really fell in love with the style of singing. This is a solid album all the same. 4/5

When I was young, Johnny Cash was just about the worst thing you could imagine in music. His music was the epitome of bland American country. Anyone who listened to Johnny Cash was seen as an anti-rocker with dubious taste. His strange album with Bob Dylan did nothing to improve his reputation either. For a boy from Europe, Johnny Cash was far too American. It wasn’t until towards the end of his career that his image changed, and I plucked up the courage to listen to one of his albums. "American IV: The Man Comes Around" is the last album he released during his lifetime. It consists almost entirely of cover versions. Cash was ill and frail at the time of recording. You can hear that in the intimate interpretations. The songs about pain and grief are particularly successful, thanks in part to the subtle arrangements: "Hurt", "I Hung My Head", “Personal Jesus” and “The Man Comes Around” are the highlights; objectively speaking, the duet with Don Henley, “Desperado”, is a complete failure – poorly sung (by both of them!) – but it is impossible to escape the aura of the dying Cash on this album.

I never liked it. It came out when I worked at hmv. I couldn’t cross that country divide with the man in black. To me it’s slow, drags out and really lacks emotion.

Not my fave album in the American series but it's still pretty solid. He sounds so old and frail, kinda a bummer at times

Now that I have some distance from this record I feel like it's not as good as the other recordings Johnny Cash did with Rick Rubin. Give me back the Heartbreakers as the backing band.

kind of an obnoxious symbolic importance to bestow upon this deeply human and personal record, but if youll permit me to reduce this massive confrontation of mortality to Stuff About My Art Tastes, its stuff like this that reminds me that whatever impulse causes ppl to want, or think they want, a certain amount of Levity in their art, is not an impulse i generally share. in the post irony world i find it very healing to soak in 51 minutes of total undeceptive solemnity. the adaptations of the material here into something entirely expressive of one man's soul is the stuff of legends...credit to cash for his performances remaining so musical and emotive despite the limits of his aged voice, and credit to rick rubin of all people for giving the sound punch and character ...for as great as the arrangements are, its easy to imagine a different presentation of the same that is too slick and gaudy. every new detail, chord change, backing vocal hits like a truck, and u don't miss a single word that comes out of cash's mouth. a decadent experience achieved through austerity. just obviously untouchable.

Not bad, he's just really depressed

At times a 5/5, at times a 2/5. Walks a very fine line between sappy vs sincere. At the end of the day I'd probably rather my media be overly sentimental than ironic or emotionally vacant. Even still- I can't help but feel like I'm being emotionally manipulated listening to the chord progression on something like Hurt, but it works for the most part. If it were *any* other artist I would roll my eyes out of my skull.

4 stars instead of 5 because this is emotional manipulation. Beloved dying music icon sings about death, life, and love with the help of the friends and mentees he’s made throughout his life?? Like yeah it’s amazing and I’m crying but also how dare you.

Tiene versiones que son perfectas, como Hurt y In my life, la segunda no la había escuchado y es preciosa. Y vaya final con We’ll meet again ufffffff.

11/10

Masterclass from Johnny Cash in the last album he released before he died and beautifully produced by Rick Rubin. Although best known as mostly a covers album, the opener The Man Comes Around is amongst the best Cash songs. Hurt, In My Life and Personal Jesus are bittersweet and full of a sense of mortality and the fact that the end is nearly there for him and when he'll meet June again. Bridge Over Troubled Water and Danny Boy miss the mark a bit for me so the album, much like Cash himself isn't flawless. However it is most definitely worthy of 5 stars.

Although this album is a majority covers, Johnny brings so much emotion and grittiness that these stripped down versions are extremely enjoyable. Johnny Cash is easily one of the best of the old country singers.

A lot of covers of songs I recognize, not sure if I like these versions more than the originals. Top songs: Hurt, The Man Comes Around, Give My Love to Rose, Bridge Over Troubled Water, We'll Meet Again.

This album is so popular and highly regarded that whatever I say here might be taken the wrong way. It really is a beautiful album, but it is just not my taste. Also, some of the songs have become almost too popular over the years. Even just the "I hurt myself" intro has reached a meme-like status at this point.

Wow

This album is a 5 based on the first two tracks alone. The entire album is a beautiful, melancholy tale of accepting one’s mortality.

Oude lul geworden

2002 год. Кэшу 70, он почти потерял зрение, сессии записи прерывались на госпитализации. Рик Рубин продюсировал так же, как и всегда — минимализм, голос, гитара. Получился последний альбом, который Кэш успел выпустить при жизни. Wikipedia Большинство треков — каверы, но это слово тут не работает. Когда 70-летний умирающий мужик поёт "Hurt" Nine Inch Nails — это уже не кавер, это что-то другое. Трент Резнор потом сказал, что песня после этого обрела совсем другое значение. Фиона Эппл, Ник Кейв, Дон Хенли заходят на отдельные треки, но альбом держится на одном — на голосе человека, которому больше нечего доказывать и некуда торопиться. Он умрёт через год.

The new takes on old tunes by an old man near death sometimes work, but not often. Sometimes sounds forced and unnecessary in many cases. Can't help but compare to Leonard Cohen's final album You Want it Darker. Cohen's is much more powerful performing his own new music.

He rides a pale horse

I listened to this album over the course of an evening: I went for a late-night walk around the neighborhood, paused to work out under a spotlight white moon, then took a refreshingly cool shower. Similarly to when I listened to Blackstar or You Want It Darker earlier in this project, it is a uniquely haunting experience to hear someone so close to their own death reflecting on their impending passing, reflecting on mortality and looking back over their life in retrospect. Age lends Cash's voice even more power and gravel than it already had, only serving to amplify his usual gruff tone. Much of the tracklist consists of covers, but every one of them is beautifully transformative and feels like a natural fit for the album: Hurt is such a good cover, I assumed it was a Johnny Cash original for years. The downtrodden guitar and generally low register leave every song feeling dark and foreboding, even when dealing in more positive topics, which feels very true to the mortal spirit of the album: there's a bittersweetness to everything, and it completely envelops you from one song to the next. With a decade-spanning career and dozens of albums, it is wildly impressive how American IV somehow manages to stand as a more-than-fitting sendoff to the Man in Black. Highlights: The Man Comes Around, Hurt, Give My Love To Rose, Bridge Over Troubled Water, I Hung My Head, First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Personal Jesus, In My Life, Sam Hall, Danny Boy, Desperado, Streets Of Laredo, (Wichita Lineman, Big Iron), Tear Stained Letter, We'll Meet Again

Okay Mr cash. Let's see this. Mostly covers eh? You can hear the age in his voice it's doing a great service to this music I think. Very mournful tone. I like it. I don't think I wanna listen to it again. Favourite: Hurt Least favourite: Bridge Over Troubled Water

What a voice.

What an incredible album

Beautiful trent reznor classic american flat melancholy simple and heart stabbing

Even though this album is mostly covers, I really liked it. Very stripped down and simple. I understand that Johnny Cash and particularly his voice, may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I think that there’s some gold here. Four stars.

Can this get 4 stars? Maybe! I just think it is a bit strange with so many covers on one album. Are they all good though? Yes.

Really is a good album. Can't give it complete top marks as the country elements are a bit beyond me. These elements seem to escalate a bit, the further the album goes But then again, there is just so much emotion, experience and gentlemanly lyricism that really drives this album so far This album could potentially be the most crisp-sounding album so far on the list. The production value is completely incredible. Either a reaaaallyy strong 3 or a weaker 4. Cash gets a: 3.8

Some good old American music. Probably liked this more than I expected. I liked the Lucy gray sounding song and it was fun hearing the original version of hurt. Probably close to a 4 but realistically a 3

Con este álbum Johnny Cash cierra su historia musical. Minimalista: una guitarra acústica, su voz quebrada y arreglos poco existentes. El hombre se muestra frágil ante la conciencia del final. Brutalmente emotivo.

As RYM dark, gloomy, sad, but yet still has uplifting chords uts a big contrast, Johnny Cash man its okay I smoked a doob w oscar for his birthday today :)

Meh

Not his original songs

A ton of bangers on here. Lags a bit through the "oh I'm a sad cowboy and I shot a guy" songs, but the covers hit with great force

This album breaks my heart. Johnny Cash was obfuscated with so much persona through his career that this final moment of sincerity feels so potent. It is made even more absurd learning that every song on this album is a cover. Because truly, with the emotive force on display they all end up feeling like songs of his own making. The most heartfelt moment for me on the album was the run from “Danny Boy” to “Bridge over Troubled Water.” The former was the first song I got to sing solo in choir, the latter, one of the songs my mom would send for bedtime. In this new form, Cash sings about him and the world he knows fucking dying. It’s a contrast, to say the least. But that is the risk/reward of a cover album, you must contend with the listeners original relationship with a song, either reinforcing its meaning, or reinterpreting it. “Hurt” is an amazing NIN song, it’s deeply intimate, letting us look how depression can still make you feel worthless and broken even if you have so much to show for your creativity and efforts. But, to me it has always felt more personal, a song sung to an individual. The Cash version sounds like a song sung to a nation. Cash was a multi-media American Icon, a man made into a symbol for masculinity and what it meant to be American. And as such, he was also forced to be scandalized when he went against those ideals. This song feels heavy, and the weight of his status seems to fill every word. Beyond every other reason to fell sorrow from this album, it is a reminder what a fucking pity every early loss of a great artist is. That there are so many who did not get to flaunt the talent and wisdom of an elder artist is a shame. This album is amazing 5/5

6/10 Esta bueno, medio raro por momentos pero sin ser malo

Somber and stripped back but very pleasant. Some of Cash's best.

5/10

I grew up listening to Johnny Cash so there’s a lot of sentimental value and listening to this on top of the fact it’s an extremely emotional goodbye album. Her is probably my favorite Cash song. It’s just so raw. This whole album is raw and vulnerable and a legendary goodbye for a legendary country artist.

I normally am not a huge fan of cover albums, especially when they're included in a list like this, but this deserves the exception. Cash's last living album, curated by Rick Rubin, and supported by many other artists makes this an exceptionally special and heartbreaking tribute to Cash's storied life. It's funny to hear he was unhappy with how his voice was sounding, because it's specifically that which makes this album so touching and I'm glad Rubin saw through that. In my opinion, most of the covers on this album are better than the originals. Hurt, especially, when paired with the beautifully made music video, hits extremely deep when considering this really was the end of the road for the legendary Johnny Cash, now a figure of history and an era bygone. The couple of original tracks here really remind me of Leonard Cohen's 'You Want It Darker,' another end-of-life reckoning album. There's so much depth and emotion in the writing, and I think it's something I will only fully understand once I've lived as long. So this is a long-winded review just to say: this is a very special and touching "goodbye" from our favorite country legend and marks the end of an era as no other will take his place.

Sombre and sad. Felt very melancholy whilst still powerful. You can get caught up in the music and suddenly focus back in on the vocals and get trapped by the melancholy again. Title track is excellent, as is Hurt (of course).

In a way Johnny's voice isn't fantastic in and of itself but is very comforting to listen to. Feels like a grandfather sharing a story or something. Can't say this is one I would listen to on repeat, but It wasn't too bad and I enjoyed the selection of covers as well.

7.5/10 - Country is not my genre at all but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this album. If I was a country fan then I imagine this rating would definitely be higher but it's a solid album all the way through.

This album is just beautifully soulful and poignant. Not every song hits completely for me, but the ones that do are sublime. 4.5/5

This was a good album but it definitely wasn’t great. I can see how people really love this album I am just not the hugest fan of Cash’s Music. However there were 2 very amazing songs in Hurt and I Hung My Head. The best part of the album is the emotion he displays in the songs. He really makes the listener feel the story he is telling which is always so fun to listen to. I think the lows outweigh the highs unfortunately. Sam Hall was a terrible song I have no clue what the vision was there. There was also just an inconsistency with the tracks that was hard to overlook.

the only country album i’ll give a 5

I'm a bit conflicted on this one. I honestly prefer old Cash to new Cash. But that doesn't make this bad. It's just older Cash doesn't have that attitude that younger Cash had, which is what I think I liked. On the other hand, Hurt here is arguably one of the best covers ever. So this one of those "on a scale of 1 to 10 my score would have been different" albums. A three ranking to me is just mediocre. This isn't that, so it's a low 4.

Good.

Very interesing mostly acoustic played album. Johnny's vocal is inredible - gives pleasant country vibe. Of course 'Hurt' is a type of song you knew before. But there are hidden gems there. For me that was cover of U2's 'One'! I didn't know that this cover exist! I was very surprised because U2 is my favourite band!

I guess I'm a Johnny Cash guy now. This was a nice mix of older and newer covers, headlined by Hurt and Personal Jesus, but also the older country songs were interesting to listen to as well. His voice and tuning may be a little crackly at that age, but his gravelly vocals are what makes him so great.

Really great. You can tell the age

Look, there’s some very good stuff here, but some of it veers a bit too close to Cash Karaoke for me. The version of ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ an example. ‘Hurt’ is fantastic, as is ‘I Hung My Head’ and ‘Personal Jesus’. ‘Danny Boy’ and ‘In My Life’ can definitely pass. A great document but perhaps could have been better.

American IV: The Man Comes Around was far more moving than I expected. The stripped-down sound and Johnny Cash’s effortless voice gave every song a sense of weight and fragility. My favorite track was easily Hurt, which is a genuinely beautiful reinterpretation rather than just a cover of NIN. I also loved Personal Jesus, originally by Depeche Mode, especially since the song sounds so different from Marilyn Manson’s version.

ok

I always love the opportunity to listen to the Man in Black. <3

the album that put him back into the limelight. stripped down production to expose his aging voice, warts and all to expose a naked haunted man for the world to seee. some redone Cash classics like, "Give My Love to Rose" and "Tear-Stained Letter" and some reworked classics like "In My Life" and "Bridge over Troubled Waters" and some present day tunes like Nine Inch Nails, "Hurt" and "Personal Jesus" by Depeche Mode. Classic Album. if you haven't heard his other Rick Rubin "american" recording series: American Recordings (I), Unchained (II), Solitary Man (III), and Hundred Highways (IV), i highly suggest them.

This album is an unbelievable example of how one person with one guitar can make you feel so many emotions. This is as good as Johnny Cash gets in my opinion, and he is doing it at the end of his days well, well after his glory days. Hurt might be the greatest cover ever, and maybe best music video ever. When the Man Comes Around easily a top ten greatest Christian rock song. Great album.

Really liked. It was good to hear the the non standard cash songs. Particularly like the covers of Bridge over Trouble Waters, Tear Stained Letter and Desperado.

I really enjoyed this one, but some remakes were hard to listen to.

Johnny Cash: It’s risky to take a lot of songs and cover them in a way that on another day I may call inspired. But Johnny Cash did very little with them so to accommodate his vocal range, and I think that helped the album land on its feet. I think the song selection was mostly very wise - to take timeless songs like O Danny Boy, In My Life, and Bridge over Troubled Water, you give yourself a great canvas. I chuckled when I put together that Personal Jesus was a Depeche Mode, because it made me think about old country Johnny Cash listening to Depeche Mode in his free time. Overall, I don’t know if I would listen to this full album again, but as a swan song (plot twist: he released another album after this one), I think it’s quite good. Johnny Cash’s voice carries it in a way only he could. 8.5/10.

This started well with When The Man Comes Around. I don’t like Hurt as much as other people. And then a bunch of unnecessary covers. And then We’ll Meet Again. Sigh.

This might be one of the best albums of all times. Johnny Cash out does himself and America and the world was never the same after.

Not a fan of country music, I appreciate the interpretation of well known song but I care about creation 2/5

Some of his best stuff!!

What a moving and beautiful collection of songs. Cash really makes the covers on here his own, and his voice is perfect for this style of music. I love the simplicity of the sound on this album, and honoring all the artists on here is a great way to bookend your career. This definitely sounds like a classic. Favorites: Give My Love To Rose, Bridge Over Troubled Water, I Hung My Head, Sam Hall, Desperado, I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry, Streets Of Laredo

Mixed feelings on Rick Rubin, but he really did something special with these American recordings for Johnny Cash. All culminating here in a powerful musical statement that is impossible to divorce from the context of Cash's image, stature, and point in his life. The curation of covers and old Cash tunes is incredibly strong, the instrumentation does just the right amount of embellishment, and everything is in service of that voice that only seemed more powerful with the grit and the waver that age brings. Sign offs don't get much better than this.

Listening to this first thing in the morning. Fucking brutal tbh.

I really enjoyed this. He’s at his best in familiar territory (country or country-adjacent music), with the exception of Hurt and the old standard We’ll Meet Again. I didn’t love the inclusion of back up or duet singers.

Legend Johnny Cash's voice was getting a little bit shaky but I'm glad that he did this series of albums before he passed away. Overall this volume was an enjoyable listen but I didn't care much for about half of the songs. I get that they were pushing the envelope with their song selections but the effort was met with mixed success. Many of the songs sounded like trying to put a square peg into a round hole. This would have been better as a single album with some of the chaff having been removed. (For me: Bridge Over Troubled Water, The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face, In My Life, Danny Boy, Desperado, We'll Meet Again.)

Haunting, melancholy, slightly iconic

This album is a mixed bag for me. The Cash originals and lesser known covers are the strength of the album. The Man Comes Around is an amazing start to the album, and Give My Love to Rose and I Hung My Head are excellent also. The more famous covers are either mediocre (Hurt, Bridge Over Troubled Water, In My Life) or bad (Desperado and especially Personal Jesus). A shorter, tighter collection would have been more effective. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Overall not bad but not the best, I don't think I will get hung up on any song. It has some covers I wasn't not expeting like beatles cover (but beatles original is better.

3.8

I remember when Johnny Cash died, I argued with my friend that John Ritter's death the day before was more significant. I was bullshitting, but didn't really know much about Johnny Cash so it was easy to throw it out there. Obviously, I was wrong (sorry John Ritter). Just don't tell my friend I said this.

These albums made by a legend who knew this would be his/her/their last definitely hit extra hard.

Rien à dire 5

Comme disait un (pas si) grand homme « Go Johnny, go... Johnny be cash » Playlist pick : Hurt

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

Wow, did not expect to get this album, but I’ll take it! Third country album out of the last five. Honestly, I really enjoyed this album and I thought it was different than other albums I’ve heard so far. In that it is mostly covers, which some might see as lazy, but I look at it almost as Johnny Cash’s Final Mixtape: He’s using songs that he admires or even his own work, and repurposing them and sequencing them in a way where it feels like he’s writing his own eulogy out of a scrapbook of other works. Reflecting on everything that has happened in his life. His cover of Hurt is definitely the standout track, but other songs such as his cover of Bridge Over Troubled Waters with Fiona Apple, a rendition of Streets of Laredo, and his cover of We’ll Meet Again as a fitting album closer and a punctuation mark at the end of his career. While not all the covers stack up in comparison to the original songs, their uses on this album still worm in serving a thematic purpose. Cash’s voice and acoustic guitar playing are definitely a standout, with Cash’s world-weary voice being a standout on the aforementioned Hurt cover. Overall, this album is a solid statement to end off the career of one of country’s best and brightest.

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

Less poignant now, sometime after Johnny passed but these versions still stand up for themselves

This album sounds so, so good. The production is incredible. That's before we even get into the music. And the music is even better. Cash interprets the hell out of songs that shouldn't work and yet. His original songs stand proud. Goosebumps all round.

IV stars - great, melancholic reimagining of songs

Está bueno. Un blues chill. La mayoría no son obras de él, sino covers.

Honestly got me kinda emotional. Not my usual type of music, but such a beautiful set of songs.

In its execution and context, Johnny Cash's final living release is an admirable farewell lap around the field. The themes of death and the imminence of such lingers heavily throughout the track-list. It's a fact that freezes me up, but knowing that he got to write a worthy end to his story is pleasing. You always want legends to be paid their respects before they go (think about Ozzy). Plus hearing Fiona Apple on Bridge Over Troubled Water was such a treat (why isn't she on this list more). A worthy walk into the sunset for the man in black. Rick Rubin's greatest achievement as well (8/10, 4/5 on this scale)

I love a cover album

Hurt is one of the greatest cover songs that i heard

Amazing album. First Johnny Cash album and I understand the hype. Though I didn’t add many songs to my library. I enjoyed every single one I heard. Songs I liked: the man comes around, hurt, I hung my head. 4/5

Brilliant album, mostly good, a few duffers but worth a few bob just for "Hurt" and "Personal Jesus"

Bleck

A good album but not really my cup of tea

Phenomenal album, Hurt still hits like the first time I heard it.

Love the guitar !!! Storytelling songs <3

Super album!

Quite possibly Cash’s best work just for the title track and “Hurt” alone. If it weren’t for the few originals it would likely be the greatest covers album ever. “Hurt” still gives me chills every time.

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

- So much power and emotion from a man who will die 2 months after the release of this - Thats gotta be one of the best we'll meet again covers I've ever heard

Whiny, draggy, and sparse. Intentionally so, but bored me to tears. At least Johnny is decent at being emotionally evocative with his mournful sound. Just not my thing. He did at least do Big Iron, which is a bad cover, but a song I like.

Some great covers weighed down some not so great ones, but overall definitely a legendary farewell album. Even on the songs that don't land as well as others, Cash's legendary voice still saves the day. 8/10.

8.5/10 Johnny Cash's voice is great as usual, but for some reason the duet with Fiona Apple was what really got my attention. I think it was pretty great overall.

A really good album for remembering the power of Johnny Cash. 5 stars or A-.

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

fuck :D

beautiful, beautiful stuff, mostly covers and his own stuff. he breathed new life into the covers and his own songs were amazing. His voice was something else despite his age. Hurt is the best cover ever made.

a nice collection of songs here. will be returning to this album

10/10

Todella kaunis albumi. legenda käytti viimeisetkin hetket musiikin tekemiseen. Tiedostaa että aika on lopussa ja kappaleet kyllä reflektoi sitä todella paljon. Hurt on kyllä yksi lyyrisesti kauneimpia ja surullisimpia kappaleita mitä olen koskaan kuullut.

Hurt is a Johnny Cash song now.

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

3/5 cash covers

A raw voice like sawdust makes this pretty much unlistenable, though I can see why others might find him appealing. Can't identify with the subject matter, so this is a no for me.

howd he get away with making ts in 2002

yo why am I crying at every song - so fucking peak

Incredible production. Amazing voice - Rick Ruben did an awesome job on this

Very very slow and solemn

Really love this album, while most (if not all? I'm not sure) are covers I think his mark he puts on each song makes it more than just that. I heard when Trent Reznor heard Johnny's version he flew into an angry jealous rage and sued him straight into the poorhouse, SAD! Favorite Track: Give my Love to Rose

Saved? ✅ Would listen again? ✅ Would recommend to anyone? ✅ Would buy on Vinyl? ✅

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

There are some amazing songs and covers on here, but some are also pretty suspect. However it's still a great album and reinvention of the great man.

Liked this, but it’s more like a nostalgic feeling than it is a groundbreaking album experience. I’m a huge NIN fan so it’s great seeing hurt get the recognition it deserved through this cover, and there’s a bunch of other great renditions here. I think the whole album is pretty moorish and fits a certain vibe I’d be happy to come back to.

Fantastic album, The Man Comes Around, Hurt, and Sam Hall are standouts.

There must come a time in a man’s development when Johnny cash suddenly becomes good. It probably correspondes with frontal lobe development. I remember listening to him occasionally when my dad would play him and thinking “I don’t get it this is boring”. And now listening to this I’m so grateful it came back around when I can appreciate and enjoy it

Love this album. Johnny Cash is amazing, and this album at the end of his life sounds world-weary and wise, covering songs with such assistance as to make them his own.

Was already very familiar with this one. It's beautiful and sad. And his covers of hurt, personal Jesus, and desperado are better than the originals. Amazing voice.

Comforting and cozy.

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

Неплохо, но скучно

Brilliant. Cool to hear Mr. Cash sing different songs. Loved it.

Johnny has such a raw, emotional voice. He has covered and made his own some really good songs. I don't like all the songs on this album so not quite 5 stars

I think it would have been a 5 but I didn't like some of the songs on second half, so 4.5 stars from me. His voice has a resonance and pathos that comes with age and experience much like David Bowie's in later years.

Got to love a bit of Jonny Cash, and some of his covers are so good u can mistake them for the original songs

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

Album 210. American IV: The Man Comes Around (https://open.spotify.com/album/17k01Y7uKSVOrnyEZPOqKR?si=WKJzbYrAR0aCjV01owk2sg) — Johnny Cash (2002) Well, it was actually hard to write anything about this album. This album feels like a Leonard Cohen's You Want It Darker (https://t.me/falton1001/316). And like a lot of pre-death albums. It's not the last Cash album, but the last one that was released during his lifetime. It's dark, old and with the weight of a life. It feels like a really old cigar with a history. I don't know: like the cigar itself or the vibe of sitting with it and listening to these outrageously great covers (majority of songs) on a vinyl. Both. The voice of Johnny Cash is ultimately unique and authentic. And the album is great. Looking forward to listening to his earlier works from the 60s. 4/5 Liked: — Hurt — Bridge Over Troubled Water — In My Life — Tear Stained Letter — Streets Of Laredo — We'll Meet Again

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

Solid 4.5. Tem uma seleção bem específica de covers, e todos funcionam, alguns até mais que as músicas originais. Cash performa de uma forma melancólica, e gera arrepios ao lembrar que esse é o último álbum lançado em vida.

"It's hard for thee to kick against the pricks."

4.5/5

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

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

Talk about gravitas—this album exudes it, with a pun on heading toward the grave (I think Johnny Cash would embrace this pun). Rarely do you hear a piece of mainstream music that confronts mortality so viscerally, but there is joy and humor to be had here too. Not every song hits, but almost all are worth the listen.

Quand on a passé une partie des années 90 enfermé dans le studio d'une radio libre, puis derrière le comptoir d'un disquaire indépendant à trier des imports de chez Touch and Go, Southern Records ou Mute, on développe une certaine exigence absolue en matière de tripes sur la table. Et sur ce point, l'année 2002 nous a offert la claque ultime, le truc que personne n'avait vu venir sous cette forme-là, une déflagration acoustique qui a renvoyé tous les petits corbeaux du rock gothique et les théoriciens du post-rock à leurs chères études. Je parle bien évidemment d'American IV: The Man Comes Around de Johnny Cash, un disque qui n'est pas seulement un chef-d'œuvre, mais un véritable monument funéraire érigé à la gloire de la musique populaire. Ce quatrième volume de la série des American Recordings est le son d'un homme qui regarde la mort en face, avec pour seules armes sa guitare acoustique et une voix brisée qui fout littéralement les jetons. Le coup de génie de Rick Rubin, ce producteur barbu qui a pigé avant tout le monde que la lourdeur d'un morceau ne dépend pas de la puissance des amplificateurs mais de la charge émotionnelle qu'on y fout, a été de sortir Johnny Cash des griffes d'un Nashville industriel et clinquant qui l'avait abandonné comme un vieux chien pour le foutre à nu dans un studio de Los Angeles. Le résultat est d'une sécheresse biblique, un truc rêche et lourd. C'est l'antithèse absolue de la pop formatée qui commençait déjà à gangrener les ondes au début du millénaire, un témoignage brut d'un vieillard agonisant qui s'apprête à enterrer toute la scène rock mondiale avec une dignité royale et terrifiante. Le cœur de ce disque, ce qui en fait un pilier indestructible de ma discothèque est cette capacité hallucinante qu'a Johnny Cash à s'approprier les morceaux des autres pour en faire ses propres psaumes, ses propres confessions nocturnes. Quand on a bouffé du rock indépendant et du post-punk toute sa jeunesse, on connaît la version originale de Hurt par Nine Inch Nails, ce morceau craché par Trent Reznor avec des larmes de métal et de l'héroïne plein les veines. Mais quand Cash s'en empare, la chanson change de dimension géologique, elle se vide de son apparat industriel pour ne laisser que la carcasse, la poussière et le regret absolu d'un homme au bout du rouleau. On entend chaque respiration difficile, chaque frottement de corde comme si le spectre de l'Homme en Noir était assis là, dans la pièce, à nous raconter sa déchéance physique et sa quête de rédemption. La force de cet album réside également dans son morceau-titre, une composition originale de Cash qui ouvre le bal et qui pose les bases d'un folk apocalyptique d'une puissance biblique rare. Avec ses références directes au Livre de la Révélation, ses quatre chevaux de l'Apocalypse et son rythme de marche militaire, le morceau avance comme un rouleau compresseur. C'est du grand, du très grand Johnny Cash, le genre de titre qui vous donne l'impression que le ciel va s'effondrer sur votre tête à la fin de la chanson. Ma culture musicale, forgée dans les caves des musiques sombres, me pousse à chercher la tension dramatique partout, mais je dois bien avouer que rarement un morceau n'a atteint un tel niveau de ferveur et de noirceur sans jamais avoir besoin de hurler ou de monter le volume. Le silence entre les notes est parfois plus lourd à porter que la musique elle-même, et c'est là qu'on reconnaît le génie absolu de la production de Rubin, qui a su capter la vérité nue d'un artiste en train de s'éteindre. Je souris encore en repensant à la manière dont il s'approprie le Personal Jesus de Depeche Mode, transformant un hymne de stade synth-pop en un blues de bayou poisseux et féroce, où la guitare acoustique claque comme un coup de fouet sur le dos d'un pécheur. Il y a une irrévérence totale et une liberté absolue dans ce disque qui me rappellent les grandes heures de la radio indépendante des années quatre-vingt-dix, cette époque où l'on pouvait passer un morceau de néofolk oppressant juste après un vieux blues crasseux sans que personne ne vienne y trouver à redire. Cash fait sauter toutes les barrières des genres musicaux avec la décontraction du vieux parrain qui n'a plus rien à prouver à personne, et certainement pas aux critiques de rock pédants de la presse spécialisée. Qu'il chante Sting, les Beatles ou des vieux standards de la country chrétienne des années cinquante, il unifie tout sous sa bannière de deuil et de ferveur. Ce disque est un voyage sans retour, une expérience immersive et douloureuse dont on ne ressort jamais tout à fait indemne, surtout si l'on a passé sa vie à chercher la vérité cachée derrière les larsens et les mélodies dissonantes. On sent que le bonhomme est fatigué, que ses mains tremblent sur le manche de sa guitare, que sa voix vacille sur les notes les plus hautes, mais c'est cette fragilité qui est sa plus grande force. C'est le triomphe de l'humain sur la machine, de la sincérité absolue sur le marketing foireux de l'industrie du disque qui tentait déjà à l'époque de tout lisser, de tout corriger à grands coups d'Auto-Tune et de compressions numériques dégueulasses. Ici, rien n'est propre, rien n'est poli, les imperfections sont laissées de côté pour privilégier l'émotion brute, celle qui vous remue les tripes à deux heures du matin quand vous êtes seul face à vos démons dans le noir. Je me refuse catégoriquement à dresser une liste clinique des réussites de cet album car ce monument ne se découpe pas en morceaux choisis, il se prend dans la gueule d'un seul bloc, de la première à la dernière seconde. C'est une œuvre testamentaire universelle qui transcende les époques et les goûts musicaux, un phare de noirceur lumineuse qui continuera d'éclairer les amateurs de musique authentique bien après que notre génération ait passé l'arme à gauche. Si vous n'avez pas ce disque chez vous, si vous n'avez jamais frissonné en entendant le final de Hurt ou la gravité de We'll Meet Again, vous passez à côté de l'essence même de ce qu'est le rock 'n' roll dans sa forme la plus pure et la plus noble. American IV est un chef-d'œuvre impérissable, et son statut de monument est désormais gravé dans le marbre de la liste des "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".

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

Classic set of covers by a classic voice and artist

This one is hard for me. On the one hand, the context of this album makes me appreciate just how hard it hits and sometimes that did win me over, especially near the end. On the other hand, I was struggling to enjoy this album. I just found it was mixed poorly, with Johnny's voice sounding to close. While some say this helps with the sombre tone of the album, I just found it takes away from the experience. Covers are fine but some of them didn't seem to fit. Moreover, the original songs were just confusing to me, especially the first song. Overall, I think this might be more a dig at Rick Ruben but I wouldn't want to listen to it again.

The novelty of Johnny Cash covering modern songs wore off 20 years ago.

Johnny es un artista único, logra transmitir con una gran facilidad el sentimiento que va por medio de la canción que esté tocando Este álbum tiene Hurt, que es un cover bien sentido, el elemento de la voz que tiene para este momento de su carrera, hace que sea una nota altísima en el álbum A la vez hay otras canciones que no son tan llamativas o memorables, pero siempre con mensaje o historia que entretiene Honestamente es bastante difícil de calificar, porque me parece que tiene de todo un poco, siempre manteniendo su voz como la parte más característica de sus canciones Lo que reitero es que el logra hacerte empatizar con la emoción que está transmitiendo por medio de su canto y eso es mucho por si solo 3.7

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

Suena a que se le va la vida al Johnny Cash. Country suave y con sonido a nostalgia constante. Relaxing y triste.

Iconic songs covered by a legendary performer, what more could you want.

Nice, chill, sad.

Let's be honest, if you had no idea who Cash was and didn't know his music or history would you give this album such high praise? More than a few would just call these bad covers. Still a 4 for me.

In this more or less country album Johnny Cash covers a lot of different well known songs. At its best his deeply weathered vocals feel like reading someone’s final handwritten letters by firelight: haunting, deeply human, and emotionally overwhelming. At its worst, it feels like a sorrowfully painted clown stumbling through tired cabaret routines while the audience waits in a mix of pity and discomfort for the curtain to finally fall.

Злой старый дед жжёт напалмом, как настоящий американец Когда заиграла песня Битлз я наконец осознал что тут присутствуют каверы

Ну что за гений Рик Рубин. Вытащил из небытия еще далеко не сказавшего свое последнее слово, но уже забронзовевшего и хорошо всеми забытого Кэша, дал ему гитару, посадил в своей гостиной и сказал: "Играй". И тот наиграл на замечательный альбом, положивший начало целой серии American Recordings. И к четвертой части просто все сошлось: Кэш подошел в прекрасной форме, приглашенные звезды внесли существенный вклад, а Рубин в очередном порыве гениальности дал ему такие песни, какие кроме него вряд ли бы кто-то додумался дать. Ну да, в сотый раз перепевать фолк-стандарты и народные песни конечно хорошо, но что если вместо этого исполнить на акустике Depeche Mode, Стинга и Nine Inch Nails? Хотя стандарты с альбома никуда не делись, но именно перепевки более современных хитов сделали не только эту часть, но и всю серию такой цепляющей и запоминающейся. Даже каверы на Beatles, Eagles и Simon & Garfankel, которые и так в оригинале акустические, настолько мощно и душевно исполнены, что для меня затмили оригиналы. Ну а про Hurt стоит ли вообще что-либо говорить - в копилку каверов, настолько удачно переосмысленных, что сами авторы оригинала признали, что теперь это не их песня. Нежно люблю весь альбом и с огромным удовольствием переслушал

Тооооп, его гли-момэнт!

Каждый кавер кратно хуже оригинала

💔

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

Fantastic late career album from the Man in Black. The choice of covers is great and arrangements and production by Rick Rubin is perfect. I could have done without "Desperado" and a couple of others but his aged and weary voice conveys all kinds of emotions. And that opening 1-2 punch of "The Man Comes Around" and "Hurt" is stellar.

A lovely swan song from a singular American artist, perhaps the greatest country singer to ever do it. People always talk about how he made hurt his own, and he definitely did, but I also feel that way about his cover of Sting's I Hung My Head, or Depeche Mode's Personal Jesus. Definitely the best of the American recordings, and the stark nature of Rubin's production makes it feel like Cash's Nebraska sometimes. Big fan of this one

Despite being mostly covers, Johnny Cash owns most of these songs (ok well not Personal Jesus). A pretty great final album

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

Surely an album of mostly covers can’t be that good? Yes it can. Weirdly the version on Spotify does have Big Iron as the final track unlike the original release I had.

Really great cover album. Many of the tracks I either didn’t realize were covers or thought were the original. Cashes voice is so classic, can’t be beat for the vibe he goes for.

the last album johnny cash released during his lifetime. a slow and sad country album performed by an elderly cash, looking back at his life and having more than enough thoughts about... well, the end. the lyrics and the symbolism are as clear as you could make it. the album is composed of music from all sorts of people, yet they share a common theme... reflection, regret... it's one of the few albums out there that feels very genuine when it comes to how sad it's supposed to be. his life was long, and he's had at least a few thousand mistakes... but it was a life well lived. and maybe someday... he'll meet his friends and family again. the album is very powerful.

Fantastic listen, very enjoyable covers and always worth a listen

hungover this morning. fuck

Honestly, I’ve heard some of the songs before, but didn’t realize how hugely emotional this album is. There is one or two songs. I didn’t necessarily care for the overall this one is an amazing project, amazing. Five stars.

Hurt alone gives this album 5*.

"I don't like Country and Western" "What about Johnny Cash" "Obviously that doesn't include Johnny Cash"

Phenomenal album.

medio embole che

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

I absolutely love this album. Pure, raw vocals from old Johnny Cash. I really want to give it 5 stars, but I can't completely overlook its limiting factors. First, they're covers. Incredible covers that redefine the song ("Hurt") but still covers. Also, there are a few "meh" songs here, and "Danny Boy" is... not very good. Personal highlight: "Streets of Laredo"

Probably rate is 4.5/5 There were a few places that dragged a bit, but otherwise amazing and very emotional

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

Mixture of tracks. Very heart felt and can hear the reconciliation of his life in his voice and music.

I came into American IV already balls deep in the Cash cult, ushered in by Granny Mackey like some tiny disciple of doom-country gospel. Anything remotely country-western repulsed me as a lad, but Cash SPOKE to me. Bias declared, laminated, and buried in a shoebox with a black shirt and a Werther’s Original. But man alive, this record is devastating. The song choices fit Cash so perfectly it feels less like covers and more like the universe backing a dump truck full of mortality directly into my stupid gullet. His voice is cracked, weather-beaten, and absolutely not done kicking ass. Most artists hit this stage and the performances can feel like a dry saltine wearing a sequin vest, but Johnny still sounds like he’s got hellfire in one pocket and hard-earned mercy in the other. Instrumentation is stripped down, beautiful, and smart enough to get the hell out of the way. It lets every ounce of ache, regret, faith, stubbornness, and old-man BDE thunder come through clean. American IV isn’t just a late-career victory lap. It’s Johnny Cash staring down death, cracking his knuckles, and saying, "who would like a slice of daddy?"

When this poetic career retrospective album was released, I remember the collective chatter, the pomp and circumstance, the reverence and respect and awe and outpouring of support from the music community and fans for Johnny - and I have to agree, this album has some heavy, heavy hitters that are brought to life through Johnny's aged vocals and perspective. What a fucking legend. Stand-out tracks: The Man Comes Around, Personal Jesus, Hurt

*Vulnerable cash Hurt Personal jesus Desperado

This was fine

A cover album so well done that you would think that Cash wrote all the songs himself

🖤

More sad songs and less songs about running from a sheriff, but his style always brings out just the right emotion for the song

Bob Dylan was upset by these records because he felt like you could hear how sick Johnny was. You can, but also it shows one of the greatest who ever did it still spinning masterpieces on their way out the door. The title track is one of those songs that makes one a believer.

Fantastic renditions of classics

A man in total control of his performance. Suprising variety. Some definitive covers. A highlight in an excellent series.

This is one of the best cover albums I have ever heard. From a legend. He makes the songs his own, he has so much emotion and feeling, it’s just wonderful.

I love old country music, back when it seemed like actual country music and not hip-hop or dance music like today. I was really into Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams Jr., and to a certain extent, Johnny Cash. Cash, though, seemed to be an older generation, but by the end of his life, he was kind of the David Bowie of country music. He somehow was able to make it through all the decades by changing his style, or if not changing his style, at least updating it. Even at the very end of his life, he was still garnering love and support for his American recordings with producer guru Rick Rubin. In fact, I’d imagine more people under the age of 30 probably know Johnny Cash more for his rendition of Nine Inch Nails’ Hurt than Ring of Fire or Folsom Prison Blues. I never got into the American recordings because I just wasn’t interested in watching Johnny Cash like that, you know? He seemed old and frail, and it was like watching your childhood die before your eyes. I wasn’t ready to face that, seemingly. I wanted to keep the Johnny Cash form 1965, and before, in my mind, I guess. Truthfully, I also got a bit weirded out seeing a frail Cash singing and recording. It made me wonder if maybe his people pushed him to record songs right up until the end, rather than allowing a legend to live out his days as he wanted to. I assume it wasn’t like that because I never heard even a whisper about it. Today, I’m going to dive into at least volume IV of his American recordings. This was the 67th and last album released by Cash, and it came out in late November 2002. It was the fourth volume of his American recordings, and many believe it to be the finest work of his later years. This album has quite a few “celebrity” guests on it, including Nick Cave, Don Henley, Fiona Apple, John Frusciante, and others. The original album is 15 tracks and around 51 minutes long. I’m sure we’ll get a super deluxe edition at some point with songs recorded from the grave. Track 1 is The Man Comes Around and it starts out with Cash reading from Revelation. The song is an acoustic guitar playing a very Johnny Cash-type rhythm with Cash sort of singing/talking. Cash’s vocal style was about half singing/talking. When we get to the chorus, Cash does some singing. For a song about the man coming around, it’s a pretty peppy-sounding song, but very good. Track 2 is the big song off the album, Hurt. Trent Reznor, who wrote the song, said he was flattered they chose Hurt as a song for the album, but was worried how it might come out. After he heard the final version, he said the song was Cash’s now. This song is one of the saddest songs ever written. It’s about pain, regret, addiction, and death, including the singer’s. The video makes the song even sadder. It’s an all-timer. Track 3 is Give My Love to Rose and Cash won a Grammy for this song. Unlike most of the songs on the album, this was written by Cash and had already been recorded by him in 1960. It’s a true Cash song as it has his signature musical rhythm, and it’s quite macabre as the singer listens to a dying man’s last words. Of course, the man had just gotten out of prison and was going to see his wife and son. It’s a beautiful song. So far, this album is worth the hype. Track 4 is Bridge Over Troubled Water with Fiona Apple. I can’t imagine this improves upon the Simon and Garfunkel original, as that’s truly an all-time great song. But I’m interested in hearing the interplay between Cash and Apple’s voices. Cash sings the first couple of verses, and Apple comes in softly at the end of the first verse. Oooh, I got chills hearing them sing the chorus together. I don’t know if it’s just that the song is so beautiful just on its own, or that I’m really getting into this, but I’m feeling that swell that usually comes on before I start tearing up. I love this arrangement. Great song and probably the best cover version I've heard...well, besides the Sweeney Sisters version on SNL. Track 5 is I Hung My Head and it’s a sad song about an accidental killing that leads to the hanging of a regretful man. It’s Cash, a guitar, a piano, and maybe some strings, but it could be a keyboard. It’s a beautifully written song lyrically. It feels like Cash is speeding through it, but you get so tied up in the story that you hang on his every word. Oh, Sting wrote this song. The Policeman, not the wrestler. Track 6 is First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, which is a beautiful love song and performed at its best by Roberta Flack, who won a Grammy for her performance. It’s so soft and slow with a couple of acoustic guitars and, later, a beautiful organ creeping in. I’m actually shocked at how great Cash sounds. I half expected his voice to sound as frail and old as it did on Hurt, but I think he was doing that on purpose to fit the song. He sounds very strong on this song. I think I had heard that there were times Cash was so weak they had to sometimes go line by line with some of the songs to record them. This song was beautiful. My favorite on the album thus far. Track 7 is Personal Jesus originally by Depeche Mode. I love this song. Rubin has arranged the music like a little rock song in a juke joint. The piano is taking the lead…Holy crap! Billy Preston is playing the piano on this song. No wonder it sounds so great. There are also a couple of acoustic guitars, with one being a slide guitar, it seems. This song rocks. In addition to John Frusciante from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mike Campbell from Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and Randy Scruggs also played guitar on the album. Marly Stuart, too, played acoustic guitar on this album. Those are some fine pickers. As an aside, Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives have put out some of the best music of his career and of the last 20 years or so. It's music that takes you back, but sounds fresh and new. Track 8 is In My Life. I assume Rubin picked these songs for this album, and he certainly wasn’t afraid to pick all-time greats. Cash so far is knocking everything out of the park. Just an acoustic guitar, piano, and Cash’s voice. Each song is so sparse, but so beautiful. This was a great rendition. Track 9 is Sam Hall, written by Tex Ritter, and this is one of those songs Cash sings with some bite, but also a twinkle in his eye, especially when he yells out, “Damn your eyes!” It’s a fun song, which is needed on an album full of sad and slower songs. It’s a great song to allow the listener to take a breath. Track 10 is Danny Boy and it’s the Danny Boy you all know. They have a pipe organ to accompany Cash on this song. This is the first song in which Cash’s voice doesn’t quite seem up to the challenge. Though he does have his moments. Not my favorite on the album. Track 11 is Deperado, and yes, it’s that Deserado. In fact, Don Henley plays drums and keyboards and sings on the track. After listening to the song, I just didn’t think it was as good as what’s been on here so far. It was just okay. Track 12 is I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry, the legendary Hank Williams song. I assume Cash will be back to form for this song. Oh, and Nick Cave is on this track with Cash. Hmmm, Cave is putting a bit of a Southern affectation on his voice. I don’t much care for that. He’s Australian. If he were Irish or Scottish, I might let it pass because I think a Southern accent isn’t that far off from an Irish or Scottish accent. Much of Appalachia was settled by the Scots-Irish. The song was fine, but it didn’t stir anything inside me. Track 13 is Tear-Stained Letter and we’re back. It’s a more upbeat-sounding song, and Cash is really singing well. It’s no wonder, it’s a Cash original. He originally recorded it in 1972. Again, Preston is playing the piano on this song, and his playing really levels up the song. Now they let him get a solo in, perfect. Great song. Track 14 is Streets of Laredo, which doesn’t have a writer attached as it's one of those songs passed down and changed through generations. The song is reminiscent of Give My Love To Rose as the singer comes across a dying cowboy and listens to his final words. “Get six jolly cowboys to carry my coffin, Get six pretty maidens to bear up my pall. Put bunches of roses all over my coffin, Roses to deaden the clods as they fall." Wow, what great lyrics. The song isn’t very special musically, but the lyrics tell a beautiful story. Track 15 is We’ll Meet Again and the Whole Cash Gang is on this track. I’m not sure what that means, right away. Ahhh, yes, I’ve heard this song. I think I’ve heard David Lee Roth sing this, maybe? “We'll meet again Don't know where, don't know when But I know we'll meet again some sunny day" I love this song. It’s very old-timey and has a clarinet playing. It does remind me of the Van Halen song “Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now). I know some Van Halen purists dislike that hokey DLR nonsense, but I love it. This song was a great way to end a record and to end an incredible life. , I stand corrected, this album was really great and I should have gotten into it back in the day. I think any country music fan, especially Johnny Cash fans, should hear this album. Younger country music fans should listen to this and just more Johnny Cash altogether. I’m sure there are better albums from him in his prime, but you can’t go wrong beginning at the end with this one.

I can see why people like Johnny Cash so much. His voice is great and his songs have a lot of emotion. Excited to hear more of his albums!

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

The man comes around - 4 Hurt - 5 Give my love to rose - 3 Bridge over troubled water - 4 I hung my head - 3 First time ever i saw your face - 3 Personal jesus - 5 In my life - 4 Sam hall - 3 Danny boy - 3 Desperado - 4 I'm so lonesome i could cry - 5 Tear stained letter - 3 Streets of laredo - 3 We'll meet again - 3

crack my heart right open

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

Me and my friend hated this. We liked Sam Hell tho. DAMN YOUR EYES

A little hit or miss but the highs (Man Comes Around, I Hung My Head, Personal Jesus cover) really great

Legendary

Fantastisk och så himla sorglig! Hans röst är så märkt av livet, vilket är fint. Gillar att han gör covers och blandar med sina egna låtar. Det blir ett djup som blir så bra. Hans version av Hurt är ju det bästa jag hört! Temat på albumet är det sorgliga, ett avsked av livet.

i’ve never been a fan of country music but this is so good favorite song: give my love to rose / bridge over troubled water least favorite. desperado

Johnny Cash - American IV Rating: 4/5 Favorite Song: Tear-Stained Letter Least Favorite Song: First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

Awesome cover album by the legend!!

[NEVER LISTENED BEFORE]

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

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

Great return to form album from Mr Cash

Yo ni cash

I love me some Johnny Cash. This album is done very well, and the song selection is very good.

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

This is an album that I've been meaning to get around to listening to for a very long time, so I'm happy that this project forced me to do it. Of course I was familiar with the masterful cover of "Hurt," as well as the cover of "Personal Jesus," which is butchered with inexplicable regularity at my local karaoke bar. The emotion given to each song by Cash at the end of his life is so powerful. All the covers just make sense, and after "Hurt," my favorite is "I Hung My Head." I was very much looking forward to hearing this version of "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," but unfortunately the addition of Nick Cave nearly ruined it (something I wouldn't have believed were possible).

Too American

I tried listening to this in the past but I was in a dark place and it was difficult to get through. It's easier now. I'm a fan of JC and this is a good collection of songs that he made. I wouldn't want to listen to it again, as its poignancy outweighs its entertainment value.

Hurt ist immer noch nen banger, der Rest ist eher solala, Johnny war schon mal energiegeladener und besser, die coversongs sind dann so bisschen mittelmäßig.

Wonderful album. Listened to it from front to back 3 times the day it came out. Lots of ups and downs.

Bien.

Chill

I'll be honest, I am not a true believer on the “Hurt” discourse. I think Cash does an interesting cover. I think it frames the song in a vastly different way, as a recording by a man a year from death. I don't think it's better. To me, the biggest intrigue is simply the idea that a man so separate from the culture and distant in age would connect. It is a big thumbed nose to the yuppies and boomers freaking out about youth culture in decline. That's a huge bit of Cash. Imagine a modern country boy confronted with What is Truth for the first time. They'd be ripping shit over the audacity. Cash was never really an outlaw for the sake of it, but he was always in opposition to the worst bits of “western” culture. It's another small protest at the very end. Damn their eyes. But Cash is at his best when he is at his more Cash. The opening track (and album namesake) is a perfect storm of this. Cash as dark preacher, Cash as divine arbiter of justice, Cash as exuberant strummer and inveterate storyteller. His energy here, even in his speaksinging, is just as interesting a contrast as the tiredness of “Hurt”. While Cash's choices in covering the extended terrain of an American songbook (and the British, i guess, given the Depeche Mode song), he feels more tentative in most of these than when that aging but robust voice reverberates on his own compositions. Not in a bad way, just a different one. Something like “We'll Meet Again,” of course, feels right in that wheelhouse. Is this really the first recordings of him doing it? And having Fiona Apple rippling through what is already a strong Bridge Over Troubled Water is a nice touch. But the real standout of those songs is I Hung My Head, to me. Probably the big surprise on the album, and double surprise that it was written not by Johnny, but by Sting. All in all tho, this is probably the genesis of the Critically Acclaimed Twilight Album. It's a few years before Genius Loves Company, the Ray Charles album that really ushered in dozens of Old Dudes With Modern Duets albums. It is long long before the mindful and nearly prophetic Blackstar and You Want it Darker. And if I think it is a little overblown in praise, and if I think that there is no ethical reason to subject someone to Desperado, it doesn't make this any less than 4* and an eventual addition to the collection

Truly beautiful covers on this album. Cash aged like fine wine before his time had come. What an American master.

Amazing raw and gritty album. Johnny Cash really stripped everything back on this album. You can hear his age, melancholy, and complexity of emotions of a life lived in this album. I had heard Hurt before which is better than the NiN version and his version of In My Life is hauntingly beautiful. The Man Comes Around, the album and song is classic Cash near the end of his life.

Álbum potente. Una voz que conmueve.

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

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

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

Aburrido y muy americano

Very slow. Relaxing, but boring at some parts. Beautiful all together, though. Most captivating part of the music is the guitar.

Good

CUTE pero no se si lo escucharia mas

Prefer early Johnny Cash personally but he's great

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

Cash comes out swinging with a devastating cover. I heard this version before the original, as a teenager, and Johnny pouring out the wine of his life has stayed with me ever since. The emotional hits just keep coming after that. Mostly covers, but deeply felt. An elder statesman of music, of highs and lows, invites us to his funeral. Simple arrangements and a voice that resonates to the end. What makes this album work is the emotional, thematic End. "If I could start again a million miles away, I would keep myself, I would find a way."

I liked it. Confident and consistent sound.

Damn, so good and solid. Simple but not sparse, very clearly heartfelt. First album in this project that I immediately queued up for a second listen, as soon as I was done with the first. The last track about made me cry.

Fantastic album. This cover of Hurt is really what brought me to Cash in the first place and I have loved and listened to this album many times over the years. Another five stars for Johnny.

Not my jam.

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

Stripped back yet so full of life; Johnny’s voice shines through in his life’s final work. Existential crisis at the gym.

first listen it really is an instant classic

incredible. gonna need to spend some more time with this one...

Brilliance

Good covers by the legend

An excellent encore of an album, after a phenomenal career. I loved the Cash classics and the covers. So entertaining. 8/10

I got this one when it came out. I love it. It's amazing. How dark it is but also you het some of the Cash gusto too.

I love this record, all songs are strong and memorable, and that this was his last adds something.

not my vibe, but incredible lyrics

A legend till the end.

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

4.5 rounding up. A couple covers that I wish were left off. But this is an incredible album. Hurt is the hit and highlight. Emotion that rarely comes through on record.

Im not into country but this album is definitively special. Covers by a legend from other legendary bands. A master songwriter paying tribute to other master songwriters and using his deep depressing dark voice giving the songs a new darker rendition. Loved it. If I commit suicide this will fldefinitively be on the CD playing with a few others

I'm glad he got to sign off with a great record

One of my favourite stories in musical history and an outstanding testament to a graceful final bow. as a heavy admirer of the works of Rick Rubin, what himself and Cash achieved with the American series is breathtaking. The album represents what it means to be the last one standing in the end, where all you’ve ever gathered or earned is decaying around you - you look back on you life with heavy regret, a slight sense of glory and the grace and dignity that comes in the end of an imperfect but legendary legacy. Also wherever figured out Fiona Apple would sound good with Johnny Cash deserves a special medal.

Come back to this one. Didn't finish it. He's got a great voice. Really smooth,,, it works well with the music itself.

Incredible, pressing, and melancholic. A masterpiece from Johnny Cash.

Its impolite to make a man cry at work, and yet this album did so anyways.

it's a cover album