Reviews (page 4 of 13)
Absolutely amazing, although the singing range a little diminished
so darned good. 5 stars.
I'm not usually big on country, but this album... It's an absolute masterpiece. The stripped back feel, the voice, the pure emotion that elevates these songs, the added context of it being the last album he released while living, it's just a truly incredible experience.
5 one of the most emotional, reflective, and haunting albums ever. You can feel that this is a man who is about to die and you can feel him reflecting on his life
Mostly covers but really good ones - includes Hurt, which is incredible
Love Johnny Cash’s voice, album sounds like one nearing end of life.
I love this guy so much, beautiful music. He mumbles a bit but its emotional🩷
Aagagagga edible as fuck
A great last album and statement on mortality.
Haunting
I LOVE THIS ALBUM. Didn't realise Johnny Cash did fantastic covers of my favourite songs - all in one album no less! A future vinyl purchase for sure.
Great album!
hiii nick cave
Swan song from the Man in Black. Poingnant and poetic. Perfection.
I can't imagine getting through this album without sobbing. I fell in love with this record when I was in elementary school and there's truly no skips.
johnny cash made some of my favorite music ever with the vibe of "i do lots of drugs and just shot my wife" and later in his career made some of the only music on this planet that can wrench tears from my lizard eyes. Damn your eyes!
Gear: Hifiman Arya Artwork: unbeweglich wie ein Monolith in \"2001\" Mix: Rick Rubin's recht reichhaltiger Recording-Raritäten Reigen Musik: Cash's Spätwerk mit Rubin, dieses krönende Finale \"American IV\" und darauf seine Interpretationen von \"Hurt\", \"I Hung My Head\" und \"Personal Jesus\" verbinde ich mit vielen besonderen Erinnerungen der letzten 20 Jahre. Damit auch einer meiner besonders persönlichen Favoriten. Wertung: ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛/5
I need to remind myself that time and perspective changes how you relate to music. Twenty years ago, I bought this album because I knew folks who told me I should appreciate Cash. I didn't and couldn't appreciate it then. Listening 20 years later, I see why everyone thought it was amazing. Beautiful songs, simple compositions that drive the storytelling and add to the lyrics. 5/5!
Awesome. Such power, such pain.
I am generally a huge Johnny Cash fan and this record was a pleasant surprise. I had heard a few of the singles from it, but hadn't listened to it all the way through, and it was great to see him revisiting some old material as well as the covers (which made all the press). The whole is greater than the sum of its parts!
Each song on this album, with maybe the exception of "I Hung My Head" and "Personal Jesus", has unmatched delivery. 80% of this album is covers and yet Cash manages to make each song uniquely his. You can feel the grief. Heartbreaking and masterful.
Actually pretty good
Oh sí. Esencial. Cash es probablemente el único artista Country al que tolero.
This is how you death album! Awesome
The best!!!!+
This is beautiful. I've been through the American recordings series with Rick Rubin and I think this represents the high water mark. They have managed to tease out the parts of the puzzle that make cash unique and build exclusively with these attributes. His growl, the drive of his guitar, his man in black American outlaw/Messiah complex. This album is like a minimalist painting from a painter in his later years who has learnt that less is more. A masterpiece and something everyone should hear.
I had this on CD. I loved it then and love it now. I love all the covers and love them coming from Johnny Cash.
We were only just discussing the American Cash records at our album discussion group last week. Lovely little bit of serendipity. I know there's a couple more after this one basically made from offcuts, but IV is Johnny's last album. I remember the gobsmacking video for Hurt, utterly heartbreaking. I know lots of this (and the other American albums) extremely well, and some not at all. I've never listened to any of them as a full album. Hurt as track 2 doesn't quite work though, hits too hard, needs to be deeper in. I am lead to believe the first American album beats the pants off all the rest. So I'll be stopping by that one soon. Some utter gems here. Some that take a little time to blossom (troubled water), some that truthfully, probably work better as a thematic idea than in practise (In my life). And a little filler. But it's Cash's swansong, and it's got Hurt on it. Trent Reznor saying 'that song isn't mine anymore' just says it all. So Top marks.
Hurt was the first Johnny Cash song I ever heard. I'm probably not alone in that. Other songs I discovered later we're his country songs and this made me utterly confused. After some research I could scratch an itch with his American recordings. With the aforementioned Hurt, Personal Jesus and the titeltrack ( cleverly used in Dawn Of The Dead) it has an all star tracklist allready. Other personal favourites are We'll meet again, Tear Stained Letter and in my life. A sublime last effort from the man in black
He’s goated, no one else in the genre has the same ear, let alone voice, as Cash
One of the most raw and powerful albums I've ever listened to. I don't really have any words that would do this justice. 10/10 Would I listen again? If I ever need a good cry.
Great album with a few covers, making them better than the originals.
Muito foda. Nunca tinha parado para ouvir um álbum do Jonnhy Cash, apenas algumas faixas soltas. Foi o último álbum em vida do cantor e isso pode explicar muito o tom melancólico do início. O que surpreende é como vai sutilmente ficando mais "alegre" conforme se aproxima do fim. Um detalhe muito bonito é que ele termina com a música "We'll Meet Again", e fecha com chave de ouro com um coro de vozes cantando o refrão.
Hauntingly beautiful. One of the best voices ever.
His age here adds a layer of melancholy to his voice (or maybe he's just fucking sad). Either way, this is a brilliant album, 4.5.
I have listened to this album many times. It is admittedly a playlist of covers but Johnny Cash recorded this after a lifetime of experience that makes his bare-bones, Rick Ruben-directed cuts memorable. Trent Reznor once said that ‘Hurt’ now belong to him; the Beatle’s cover ‘In My Life’ has a very different flare (I still like theirs best) but the Cash version is authentic. Everything on this album was sung from his experience in life. It is a classic!
Of all albums that contain cover songs, this album ranks the highest. The songs are sung in Cash's own way and bring new melody about it. That's the genius about it. Five stars. Period.
Loved it, but not my type of music
Favourite tracks: the man comes around; hurt; give my love to rose; bridge over troubled water; hung my head; personal jesus; in my life
A shining exclamation point to the career of The Man in Black, this album leaves its listener with no doubt that Cash deserves his place among the greatest of all time. His aged, haunting voice adds new meaning to every track here, most of which are covers of already legendary songs.
Johnny Cash 🤘 Ein paar richtig coole Tracks.
Great cover album. Personal Jesus and Tear Stained Letter were great.
This was hauntingly beautiful, top-quality covers with a couple being better than the originals.
Love Cash and loved all this. Every song was great, Hurt is amazing! I’ve heard Cash do Give My Love to Rose loads but hearing this version hit differently. Had a cry during Bridge over Troubled Water All good shit
Loved! Lots of fun re-makes
Sad, haunting voice- a but jarring hearing such recognisable songs as Cash covers but if you can get over it then it’s great
Oh wow, this is amazing. His vocals are so passionate, nothing like anything I have ever heard from Johnny Cash before. Even with such stripped back instruments, this album is still so dark and emotive, I never thought country music could be so emotional. And this album is only made even more haunting by the fact that he died less than a year later. Also that cover of Personal Jesus by Depeche Mode is fucking awesome.
The final works of an absolute legend. Sincere and heartfelt. The deathbed testimonial of one of the greatest to ever do it is a reckoning of his entire life. Cash was not in good health during this recording and you can feel that he knew the end was near.
I was familiar with some of this album already so I was excited when it came up. Holy moly. Johnny just put it all on the table here. Fantastic covers. Great collaborations. Songs added to Spotify: 5
I mean, this thing is a masterpiece, in the classical sense.
Awesome!
YES. I love music that makes me feel like a lonesome cowboy.
I actually could listen to Johnny Cash read more of Revelations. It won't make me a believer or anything, but there's something compelling about Cash's earnest faith and fear of God. I love how weathered his voice sounds, the gravity and grit in it. I didn't realize most of his knock-out late-career covers were on one album: his devastating rendition of Hurt (I love that the mix sounds blown out in the run up to the last lyric, like the mic is peaking just from the emotional intensity), the tenderness in his voice on In My Life, the Fiona Apple-assisted Bridge Over Troubled Water that makes me cry every time I hear it, and more--it's absolutely stacked. Cash aside for a moment, this is immaculately produced and mixed. The guitars in particular sound crisp and clean but still warm, like you're in the same room with them. Rubin was cooking on this one. This is a pretty somber record, but also full of gratitude and love; appropriate, given it was his last release before his passing. It's a beautiful work to go out on. Highlights: The Man Comes Around, Hurt, Give My Love To Rose, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Personal Jesus, In My Life, Sam Hall, Danny Boy, I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry, We'll Meet Again
could this have hit me any harder? could i write poetry to this? y
80% (5) ⭐
Amazing album of covers. So many of the lyrics take on new nuance when sung by an old man looking back on his life.
Chills every time. Name another artist whose last album is arguably their best, and isnt even original material? Maybe Ray Charles you could argue, but its still rarified air. Most rock legends peter out. Not Cash. I didn't fully grasp the gravity of this record when it came out in 2002, I think I just focused on the Hurt cover like every 10 year old, cuz we all got a giggle that this old guy would cover the likes of the band behind the song "Closer." Like Elvis, Cash is one of the great interpreters of popular music. This easily could have felt contrived in lesser hands. But like with Willie Nelson it soars. The arrangements are sparse, bringing the power of the lyrics (and his inimitable vocal baritone) to the fore. Comparing his Bridge Over Troubled Water cover to the one just released by Jacob Collier and Tori Kelly/John Legend with insane vocal runs - I think this version would bring me more solace if I were in a rough spot.
Chilling lyrics on some of the songs. Some songs are just okay but for the more part there’s incredible story telling
What a great collection of original songs and interpretations. Jonny Cash and Rick Rubin make a phenomenal team here. “Hurt” has to be one of the best covers of all time, with Cash’s grizzled voice fitting the secreting lyrics like a glove. Nothing flashy about this music at all, but it is captivating.
Fabulous
Cash with a last hurrah doing covers and smashing it out of the park. The Man Comes Around into Hurt has got to be up there with album 1-2s. Absolutely stellar!
Absolutely haunting … the goodbye album - you can really feel the heft of life lived and the sorrowful goodbye. I teared up multiple times
The master
I thought this was pretty great. Cash's voice is pretty compelling. I definitely prefer old Johnny Cash to the younger version.
Probably could be best album?
Creo que es un excelente disco para cerrar una carrera musical y puntualmente la última cancion. Con temas propios, covers y parte de algo más grande como la secuencia de los álbumes.
This record made a lot of waves when it dropped. Beyond the NIN cover that got so much buzz, there was a lot of cool shit in here. I was/am a massive NIN fan and Cash's version of Hurt just became a standard. Every other track just seems to fall into place.
The perfect collection of late-life sadness and regret. The felling of pressing on bruised, papery skin. Song selection and argument are perfect for lamentations on the darker feelings of being a human.
It feels like the quality of a “Greatest Hits” album
Classic modern Cash, enjoyed it thoroughly.
Legend hits it out of the park
This album dropped when I was in high school and was my introduction to Johnny Cash, so I probably have a bias for it. The stripped down sound and the mixture of fragility and power in his voice backed by acoustic guitar just really hits hard for me and several of these covers are on my list of favorite Cash songs in addition to him reworking some of his older material and providing it with a different tone. A run time of nearly an hour, but no single song taking over 4 minutes (intro to The Man Comes Around being cut puts it under 4) means it doesn't overstay it's welcome for me. Highlights - The Man Comes Around, Hurt, I Hung My Head, Personal Jesus
In My Life, Cash is still King!
A classic made up of classics
Now THIS is how to do an old man album.
Johnny Cash's last album is undeniably incredible. Although all but two of the songs are covers, Johnny proves he still had "it" as late as 2002 by delivering incredibly moving performances throughout. Wikipedia states that Cash was suffering numerous health ailments while recording this, including almost complete blindness and he still had more talent than most of us will have in our entire lifetimes. Somehow, his cover of "Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails stands out amongst everything else. Trent Reznor went as far as to say that he doesn't feel that the song is his anymore after hearing Cash's cover and seeing the music video and it's easy to see why. Not many songs can make me emotional just on a listen but Cash's performance, age, ailments and life struggles make you feel the hurt he's singing about. I was going to give this album a 4 because it is mostly covers but when considering the story of how this album came together and what Johnny was going through at the time, he gets my second 5 of the 1001 albums! Can't wait until next time The Man Comes Around.
This is absolutely music for depressed cowboys. I would listen to this again and again.
Love this album. Have loved it since its release - it was an instant classic and well-deserved all the praise it received. Johnny’s voice is perfect for the melancholy tone of this project. The production is simple and pure, letting the lyrics and his voice do the heavy lifting. It’s a masterpiece.
Versiones muy chulas.
Day 29 Apparently this is a cover album, but I haven't heard the originals - I will though, probably later today or tomorrow. But man this is awesome! This is an easy 9 or even a 10 out of 10. GG Johnny Cash!
5?
ICONNNNN 5
Masterpiece. Perfect covers.
Þetta er algjört meistarastykki. Ekki margir sem haldast svona ótrúlega góðir og hráir út lífsleiðina. Fyrstu tvö lögin eru sturluð. Titillag plötunnar er ótrúlega hrátt og fallegt. Alvöru folk americana eins og það gerist best. Svo tekur hann Hurt með Nine Inch Nails og gerir það að sínu. Frægt er að höfundur lagsins sagðist ekki eiga það lengur. Johnny Cash ætti lagið nú. Svo eru fleiri góð og viðeigandi cover ásamt fleiri frumsömdum lögum á síðasta hluta starfsævi Cash. Fjandi flottur kallinn og þessi plata er legendary.
Alveg stórbrotin plata og magnað að slútta ferlinum svona meistaralega. Virkilega þéttur og góður pakki sem maður hefur mikið hlustað á í gegnum tíðina. Maðurinn í svörtu fötunum er auðvitað magnaður sögumaður svo lögin fá einhvern vegin nýja merkingu í flutningi hans, eins og t.d. In my life. The man comes around og I hung my head ótrúlega sterk Cash lög, en það er samt alltaf Hurt sem stendur upp úr á þessari plötu.
Go to any thread about times a cover was better than the original and you'll see Hurt as one of the most mentioned songs and for good reason. This is a phenomenal album by one of the greatest artist of all time at the end of his life putting everything he had into it.
Of course the cover of Hurt is fantastic, but the rest of this album is equally sombre and carries that emotional weight throughout the entire runtime.
The Man in Black goes out on his shield
Fuckin A.
When the man comes around. Better deal justly... Someone else is singing on "I'm so lonesome" - the contrast shows the richness of cash's voice. "Roses to deaden the clods as they fall..." I loved this album. 5/5
I had heard most of these songs as original recordings and just a few as first-time listens by Cash. A lot of the covers I like better. Cash’s voice and vocal style has a depth that you know comes from the pits of life that he, himself, has pulled himself out of, or been pulled out of by loved ones, by God. And that’s what makes these recordings just so good.
Great sounds, some awesome covers, one of cash’s best
Masterpiece
Best comeback album of all time. Perfection.
A modern classic
Having stuck with this project for a while now, there are a number of albums I wish I could go back and give a 5. But I think this one will be the first I properly give a 5. This is just a soulful album. So many songs I can feel his heart breaking. Some wonderful covers on here too. Hurt, Personal Jesus, and We’ll Meet Again were my favorites. It’s a very simple album too. Many songs were just the guitar and voice. So simple, yet so touching
I listened to this in full again at the gym last night. It's such a treat. Every song is perfect (except "Danny Boy", which has nothing to do with Cash - I find every version of that song insufferable). I'd almost forgotten about Rusty Cage being on this album. Could there be a bigger contrast in pitch between Cash's voice and Chris Cornell's? Brilliant choice of cover. 👌 I've still got this CD in my car. Fucking beauty. 👍👍
So very, very great. His interpretations of these songs make them brand new. I would listen to this album again and again.
That was a great album, listened to it while sanding down a plastered wall.
This is amazing.
Hadn't heard a few songs on this album before, but I really enjoyed it.
JOHNNY CASH!
Listened before, a personal favourite
this was a cool album, i love his voice, always lowkey have, i would give it a 5 but that one song just irritates me soooo much, i don’t care who covers it, personal jesus… i personally HATE it, so it brought down the whole feel of the amazing album for me; but i loved it so much overall, iconic.
Bara det att göra cover på Depeche Mode.
Amazing album, but it's really sad.
I really loved this. Most (if not all) of these songs are covers and they are very creative and unique covers that provide a different perspective and vision.
Love this album
Perfect
Man steals your song Man steals your horse Man steals your regrets Then dies. Fuck you. 5/5 - "We'll meet again, Johnny"
Mu' sentío, versiones que prácticamente superan las originales El tema con Nick Cave... Wow!
wonderful album!
Soulful. Sad. Amazing covers. Some are done better than the original artists.
It's Johnny Cash bro.
this album has Hurt. that is enough on its own.
💖 hurt 🗣️ 🔟
This album was so poignant. It was Cash facing his own mortality. I cried. Absolute artistry.
Amazing album. Hurt is possibly the best cover song of all time.
Covers but his best.
Love the "new" Cash. Haunting vocals, stripped down instrumentation, balanced modern sounding mixing, great covers.
It is awesome to hear such familiar songs, sung by a familiar voice. Cash’s voice is somewhat withered by life, but it adds to the authenticity of his performance. It is interesting to reflect upon what he chose to share with listeners as a farewell. You can consider what these songs might have meant to him as a person, what messages they held, and what they say about the universal meaning of life, death, love, remorse, and forgiveness.
5.0
Großartiges Alterswerk - diese Stimme ...
Fantastic album.
Versiones muy chulas.
Phenomenal easy listening with Standouts in every track.
Hér kemur tónlistarstefnuraskaði ég sem sagðist ekki fíla country en ég elska Johnny Cash. Þetta er ein af mínum uppáhaldsplötum. Hef hlustað á hana oft og mörgum sinnum og mun halda áfram að hlusta á hana oft og mörgum sinnum.
Like it
One of the most important albums in music history and possibly the greatest swan song to exist. Well produced for the tone of the anlbum and the songs picked were perfect for Cash at this time in his life.
Great album
Love all the American recordings
love
Awesome Man in Black
Has anyone ever presented the crushing weight of a life lived better than Johnny Cash? The potential of humanity was always a theme for Cash, potential both for good and for evil, and for the last album released during his lifetime, he chose songs that dealt with our potential for good. There are songs about love, both romantic and platonic, songs about showing simple kindness towards strangers, songs about guilt and songs about redemption. And as affecting as the subject matter is, it’s elevated tenfold by the strength of the performance. Cash is able to act and perform as well as he ever did, and with the bonus gravitas of being a frail 71 year old cowboy imparting the wisdom of the ages on us young bucks. The world is difficult, but unlike some who would tell you that life ain’t fair and that you’ve got to deal with that kid, Cash espouses simple acts of kindness and empathy. Life ain’t fair, sure. But we’re all in it together, and we can do our damned best to ensure we treat others fairly
Could do without some of the covers but Cash is still King.
Perfect, and extremely emotional album. Made us cry on a Marshrutka.
I cried on the mini bus
This is one of my favorite albums. I think I appreciate it more and more every time I come back to it. It’s funny, I remember being into Sting as a teenager (my dad had many of his records), and I found the Johnny Cash cover of “I Hung My Head.” “Why did he take out the 9/8 time signature from the original??” I remember thinking. What’s the point of covering this song if you don’t keep the cool, offbeat, disorienting and slightly nerdy features of the original song? I didn’t get it. Now I get it. And maybe it’s because I’ve become fascinated by the last albums of musicians in decline. Or at least, albums where it feels like the last. To hear Johnny Cash on “Hurt” is so powerful, so unexpected, and completely fucks with the fabric of space time. This is the man in black we’re talking about here! This is where it all goes? His cracked, broken vocal cords on some of these lines, man. It’s amazing that this project even happened. I don’t know if this is Rick Rubin’s doing, or Johnny Cash… but whoever picked the songs that he should cover is an absolute genius. The Roberta Flack cover of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face…” man. Makes you want to cry. Just perfect programming. We have standards and we have risky decisions, in equal measure. Great cover songs should do one of two things: 1) expose the brilliance of the songwriting that you might have overlooked from an artist whose writing deserves praise, 2) offer a moment of juxtaposition, contrast, between your world and theirs, like salty and sweet. This album doesn’t just do that, it seems to reveal the inter turmoil of Johnny Cash. While staying solidly in his world. Absolutely incredible. 5/5
One of my favorite albums of all time. This really cemented Johnny Cash could truly do it all. Had this on repeat for a good few months. Glad I get to revisit it.
Emotionally moving. sad AF.
8/10 - Classic Jonny Cash Album - A lot of great songs Great county songs to vibe to
This album hits hard. Initially it is easy to say an artist facing the end of his career; however, this reflects Johnny Cash looking at the end of his life. He and Rick Ruben find emotional perfection. What a tremendous way to put a cap on 35 albums. So powerful that he takes over some of the covers he performs.
Last words from the Man in Black
4.8/5 - I first gave this album a try in my early 20's when things were not good. It was too overwhelming to listen to the whole album. Of course, i could still appreciate some of the more popular titles. Now, quite a few years later and the bad times are over (for now) and i could be more moved by this album. It is hauntingly beautiful. "And the only way I could feel this sad now is if I felt somethin' really good before." - Butters Stotch.
Gold
the thing about johnny cash is that his voice always sounded like this, so the fact that hes on the end of his life doesnt affect the quality of the songs, it actually makes it better, for having more reflexive and wise about life lyrics.
I wasn’t expecting the Depeche Mode cover to be as good as it was
Never really llistend to JC before, and now I seem to find him inside my mind, singing his songs in his resonant voice often. A magnificent discovery. Is it 4 stars or a very high 4, or 5? I think I will go with 5 stars as I seemingly could go back to listening to him on repeat over many of my earlier similar male vocal rock singers.
Yeah, love it. Every song is full of such emotion. I really love Johnny Cash and this period of his career where he is looking back at his life. So sad, but so beautiful and a perfect selection of covers for him to add his own unique style to.
Sonzao do Mestre
Marvelous final statement by The Man In Black. Songs written by country greats work better rhan pop songs despite the novelty factor.
knew it would be good but holy shiiiiiiit this was amazing
Pared back, powerful, poignant
Incredible. Johnny cash was an excellent artist and it’s encompassed in this album. Love love love
Simply beautiful. I would like a physical copy.
4.5/5 I'm surprised I've never listened to this before. Everyone's heard the cover of Hurt, which is brilliant, but the rest of it is all great. Best track: Hurt, of course, but In My Life is a very close second
Good playlist, added 3 of them to my liked, personal favourite is Give My Love to Rose
Still a classic which shows Johnny cash’s ability. Hurt is still one of the most touching tracks you can listen to.
Of all the "American" albums this is the best - some gentle, haunting versions of songs that just feel like Cash letting us know what we would miss. The genius of Hurt is summed up in changing one chord from the original that takes it to being a masterpiece of painful recollection.
This is a mood. I love this record if I’m feeling dark or in my feelings. It’s banger after banger. Cash’s voice is so good, and all the music is great. You can really feel the pain in him as he is singing. Not the best record to put on for easy listening but if you’re feeling blue, give it a spin fo sho
A great album from a legend in his twilight. Obviously, there's a lot of covers on here, but some of them are so good that they've transcended the genre entirely. There's a pathos to Cash's vocals here which is so powerful.
This whole experience was worth it just for an album like this to come along and blow me away. First album on the list to make me cry (“In my Life”), and I think I genuinely liked every single track. I knew of this album because of “Hurt” but oh boy there are so many other excellent covers here. Johnny Cash’s aged, gruff voice resonates with regret throughout, in an almost concept album like production of an old man looking back on his life through song. Absolutely loved this one and will definitely be looking to add to my collection.
One of the greatest "final" albums ever made
Such a great one. I listened to this a ton when it was new. Hurt is one of the all-time great covers.
This album is hauntingly beautiful. A wonderful tribute by a man at the end of his life to a life well lived. His revisiting of some classic Cash songs sound just as good as they ever did but with a slight more tinge of tiredness and sadness in his voice. The covers feel like someone who dug in to what made these songs special, pulled that out and twisted it to fit his own experiences to tell one last tale. An all-star cast of supporting musicians that seem to be helping give the old man one hell of a send off. One of this best albums, covers or otherwise. Big fan of the entire series of albums but this one in particular. Standout tracks: Hurt, Give My Love to Rose, Desperado
Good Album, it’s even better when you find out that his wife died and he died 4 months later it makes it really hit home
Great
I loved this so much
Really good album
nostalgia. dwell. comfort. a common sadness. life.
In an extremely biased review of this album, Johnny Cash receives a perfect rating for his effort on American IV. If I tried to be more objective, I would not go lower than 4 stars. Johnny excels at what he is best at in this long play, and delivers some of his most iconic songs. The whole album is in perfect harmony, mixing his cowboy-esque style and profound depression. Loved the album, great listen.
És que ja des del principi és increïble. The Man Comes Around molt bona manera de començar l'àlbum, però Hurt després és com una punyalada al cor. Bridge Over Troubled Water increïble. Personal Jesus no la reconeixia per títol i és molt bona. I The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face també tremenda. AH VALE QUE A SOBRE ESTÀ IN MY LIFE JA ESTÀ 5 ESTRELLES. Nah tot l'àlbum en general és boníssim, l'estic gaudint de pe a pa. No té cap cançó dolenta o que m'avorreixi. I el final és una despedida perfecta.
Less sparse then the earlier American recordings but either mode works great. I especially like his huge cover of Hurt.
Cash just casually putting out a double album with no week tracks. Bridge over Troubled Water with Fiona Apple is SO GOOD.
johnny cash was a musical legend, but towards the end of his career he had fallen on hard times. his albums weren’t selling as well as they used to. rick rubin, producer extraordinaire, had the idea of johnny in the studio with a stripped down approach with a few guest musicians, and it worked. it helped to revitalize his career. i would argue that the albums that johnny cash recorded for american recordings (there were six in total), were amongst the best of his career. this particular album was the last album johnny released during his lifetime (the last two american albums were posthumously). it is mainly a covers album with songs that deal with love, loss, death, and mortality. the stripped down approach really brings forward the frailty in his voice and adds depth and authenticity to the words sung. it is a gorgeous album, the best of the american series in my opinion. highlights: “hurt”, “bridge over troubled water”, “i hung my head”, “the first time ever i saw your face”, “i’m so lonesome i could cry”.
One of the most emotional voices to ever sing. A genuinely chilling experience and yet it's still one of the most beautiful albums I've ever heard.
One of my all time favourite albums! This is in my Top 5!
The late-era cover album has become such a cliché for aging artists, and it’s always weird and awkward. Go look at Ozzy’s, it sucks. This record is truly about as perfect of an execution you can imagine for the concept. It’s not just Johnny Cash singing songs he likes or thinks are thematically viable, he OWNS these songs and makes them his own. The lyrics take on new meaning as Cash gives them not just his literal voice but works them into his musical voice as well. Even maybe the two biggest swings back-to-back (the genre mismatch of Personal Jesus and the impossible task of covering The Beatles) connect because of his complete commitment and sincerity. Obviously the best example is his redefining take on Hurt, but I feel each track really works. Desperado sounds better than it ever did with The Eagles. Great stuff. What doesn’t work for me? Probably his take on Danny Boy. Probably the general difficulty he has actually carrying a tune at the literal final months of his life. But I mean…still, incredible execution. Probably the best front-to-back album of covers I’ve listened to. I wouldn’t even say it feels like listening to a cover album. It sounds like a great Johnny Cash album, because that’s exactly what it is.
Cowboy spoons of regret
Album #32 A man towards the end stages of life is not going to sound as strong as a man in his prime. But that really works for this album. I don't know if it was intentional or not, but this album sounds like Johnny Cash's farewell to himself. It's clear that he's saying goodbye to his audience, but the raw visceral delivery on some of these tracks sound like his acceptance of his approaching death. There are some lighter tracks too though, almost as if he's saying, "I've had a damn good life and one hell of a ride" and is simply reflecting on it. I listened to this album several times when it was released, but haven't touched it in at least 10 years. It hits me a lot harder now. I've lost people since then, including very close ties. I am nowhere near his age when he recorded this, but I am at the middle of life. The song choice, arrangements, and delivery are almost perfect. 5*
The final album Johnny Cash put out during his lifetime. This has to be one of the best cover albums I’ve ever heard. Cash makes all of these songs his own and the emotion that he exhibits while performing them is amazing. Essential tracks: Hurt (Playlist) All other songs!
Epic, strong timeless masterpiece 5/5
5 Quoi d’autre ? Un classique
Genius
Not much else can be said about Johnny Cash. The good tunes on here are excellent and the bad ones are still ok.
Johnny’s rendition of Hurt has made me cry many times, this whole album was so beautifully painful. I’m a huge Beatles fan, but this is now my favorite version of In My Life.
9/10
Really lovely and powerful
Great collection of songs that Cash makes his own. What a sendoff
-starting off this week STRONG with johnny cash -one of my favorite songs ever is by him (folsom prison blues) so im very excited -LOOOOVE his voice -the man comes around is SO great -THE OTHER VOICE IN BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER -so effing beautiful. this whole album. -these are all covers which is INSANE johnny makes them sound like his OWN -god that was SOOOO GOOOD his voice is so good that is an easy 5 stars for me
I rate a lot of these albums on the order of 4 or 5 stars because they are really great! However, I think the real measure of an album quality to me is the review length itself. Personally the truly great albums weave a beautiful text that strike at some essential being in humanity. Cash does this in spades throughout his career, but especially in this album I feel like he epitomizes the Masculine in America: vibrant and flawed with morals only driven by terror of a higher power. In this album, of course the two leading songs are incredible, but the standout songs to me were the ones that told stories ("Give my Love to Rose", "I hung my head", "Sam Hall"). His covers of Desperado and Personal Jesus made me literally stop and sit down. The muted church organs of Danny Boy brought me back to my youth in my local Methodist church and invoked images of polyester church pews, repurposed-office room chapels, and sliding dividers. Similar to how Method Man's Tical imprinted a picture of NYC in the 90s, this album paints a picture of the American West in all of its Christian, agrarian glory punctuated by bursts of violence and redemption. That tapestry is so compelling that I'll be thinking of this album for a week if not more.
It's just brilliant. Every track is either heartbreaking, hilarious or interesting. Completely rehabilitated his image after 30 years of doing gospel albums on the cheap to pay off his dealers. It only needed Hurt to be great, but it gave you so much more.
The timing of this hitting my list is interesting. It marks the 20th anniversary of my father passing away. He was never a Johnny Cash fan but he sat and listened to a few songs of this album that I had downloaded, Hurt and the title track. It was one of the last moments we shared before he went into hospital for the final time. I lost count of how many times I played Hurt and this whole album in the days and months after. After all this time it still hits me hard, especially with it also coming up on 20 years since Johnny Cash passed away.
I grew up in a country-gospel-rock household. Johnny Cash was a favorite of my ma's and my grandfather. I was listening to the Man in Black when I was in diapers. I loved the work from his early days but something about the American albums makes them my favorite Johnny Era; I got really into these albums when I was in high school and college. While they are largely just covers, I wish Johnny had done more before he passed. His huskier, gravelly voice is haunting. Hurt, in particular, stays with you, transcending genre; the bridge gives me chills to this day.
Not much to say
This is going to be incredibly biased. My love and admiration for Cash is large. On his final album you feel and hear his distinguished sound while also getting a glimpse of his previous life. An old school rockstar in his final years.
Just fantastic.
One of the best American singer
One of my favorite cover albums
CASH
OUTSTANDING
Title track, Hurt... and I forgot about I Hung My Head being on this one... Oh and the Personal Jesus cover is cool too! Definitely one of his best. There are some really great songs, it's recorded a little hot... and there is \"filler\", but definitely should be on the 1001. In My Life is one of my favorite songs, and I do with they got a little better take, but I still love that it's on here. Last thing released when he was alive. That outgoing message on We'll Meet Again. Hate to be sentimental, but I'm leaning towards 5.
I think this is the most emotional album I've ever listened to. Calling it hauntingly beautiful doesn't do it justice. Hurt is clearly the best track, but there's not a single bad one on the album.
Transcendental music, connecting to a higher level of spirit. The veil is thin on this one. A truly special record.
Holy fuck this is so good. I adore Johnny Cash’s voice, and there are some excellent covers on this.
Like David Bowie's *Blackstar* or Leonard Cohen's *You Want It Darker*, this is as much an album as it is a musical last will of sorts. And just like those other very late masterpieces, it's a devastating experience to go through. In the case of *American IV: The Man Comes Around", 90% of the LP is made out of covers, which is what Johnny Cash had performed for most of his life anyway. But the selection of songs is so pristine and *à propos*, and it resonates so much with who Johnny was at the time, that it's hard to imagine how you can't repond to it in an emotional manner once you've dug into those tunes... Interestingly, it's the sort of emotional response that Trent Reznor--one of the songwriters behind the tracks covered here-- expressed when this album came out. Reznor said that the song "Hurt" doesn't belong to him anymore when he first heard Cash's version of it, and that was so gracious of him to say so. Because, hell yeah, as good as the original was, Johnny's version indeed turns this sadcore junkie anthem to another sort of transcendent experience about old age and death, driven by acoustic guitars, the man's famous deep voice--here turned gravelly--and a relentless note played on the piano. Devastating, as I already said. Likewise, the use of Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus" is another brilliant move. Here Johnny's version turns the synth-blues anthem into a tender moment that's as lighthearted as it can be under the circumstances. The musicians playing with the old country singer are all top-notch--those piano flourishes are lively and even tongue-in-cheek. But somehow the irony of the original version becomes something different here, more akin to a sort of straightforward statement about Cash's faith at the twilight of his life. And it's like that for many other tracks--they are (or feel) "appropriated" by Cash--they become as "personal" as the Jesus in that song, and sometimes go a long way from their original universe to seamless integrate the one of this record. The world of music can't thank producer Rick Rubin enough for initiating this "American" series with Johnny, of which *American IV...* is the crowning achievement. Highlights abound everywhere: the artists covered go from countey luminaries such as Hank Williams and Marty Robbins to The Beatles, Simon And Garfunkel, The Eagles--plus, as stated earlier, quite recent artists at the time the record came out (Depeche Mode and Nine Inch Nails). Cash and Rubin even manage to make Sting look good: their version of "I Hung My Head" is a gem, and sounds as if it had been written by an outlaw cowboy a century ago. And then there are Cash's original compositions--his old "Give My Love To Rose" and "Tear-Stained Letter", plus a great new song opening the LP: the apocalyptic "The Man Comes Around", about the devil and our devilish times. Add the stellar guests--a (very young at the time) Fiona Apple for a touching duet to perform "Bridge Over Troubled Water", or Nick Cave, or The Eagles' Don Henley--and you get not only an essential album from Cash's looooooong discography, but also an essential album for music per se--and even a historical document, along with a personal retrospective on 20th century music. Now, you can't get more "essential" than that, can you? Number of albums left to review: less than 500 (I've temporarily lost count) Number of albums I'll include in my own list: half so far, approximately (including this one, of course) Number of albums I *might* include: a quarter, approximately. Number of albums I'll never include: another quarter (many others are more important to me).
I wasn't sure about this when I saw it was all cover songs. But when Hurt came on it sent chills down my spine. Other faves would be I Hung My Head and Personal Jesus. Being his final album We'll Meet Again seems poignant as the closer.
Yup yup, pretty affecting stuff. Like Bowie's "Blackstar" and Cohen's "You Want it Darker", it's a fair well, an introspection, and a demonstration of skills developed over a life time. Fave track - "Hurt" is epic, and kudos to Trent Reznor for spiritually signing the song over to Cash. "I Hung My Head" and "Big Iron" were stand outs, too, though I could probably comfortably add about half the album total to this list...
simple and sublime. johnny’s voice is weathered with a heavy weight, yet soothes. sheer brilliance. i love tear stained letter. shoutsout to rick rubin for producing his most iconic single too!!!
I don't usually care about cover albums (I know this isn't all covers) because I rarely find that they improve upon or add much to the originals but this is a really amazing one. First, it's so interesting to hear the songs that Johnny Cash at this time in his life felt were important to compile and do his own way. On top of that, I feel like the quality of his voice and the production add another level of depth and a new perspective to songs I've heard a hundred times before. This is a really beautiful album and I'm really glad Johnny Cash made it before he passed away. Standout Tracks: The Man Comes Around, Hurt, Give My Love to Rose, I Hung My Head, First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Personal Jesus, In My Life, Sam Hall, I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry, Tear Stained Letter, We'll Meet Again
I'm a big fan of Johnny Cash's later work and the American series in general. This is one of the best entries. People talk too much about 'Hurt' but there are so many other great tracks on this album. Check them out please!
I never cared much for Cash until his later albums. Like many in my generation, the first I heard of him was "Hurt" (a masterpiece). This album haunts you, he conveys sadness and vulnerability as I've rarely heard before or since. Every song feels raw and deeply personal, like the ghost of a voice that has lived a thousand lives.
It is a wonderful album. The American series albums always seem to me about a man who knew his final chapter was being written and who was determined to show his depth and scope. Tear Stained Letter is the low point, but it's not that bad and the rest is simply so good, that it really can't be denied a 5. Hurt is the track that amazes. I know it well from Pretty Hate Machine, an anthem from my adolescence. Personal Jesus and In My Life are also incredible. This album reads like a love song for Gen X, and I appreciated that a great deal. It's been in my rotation since it was released and I listed to it often.
It's amazing how we as humans turn off entire sections of the world based on single decisions. Never a country fan, but somehow became a Cash fan and this album only exacerbated appreciation and love for this guy. Who would've thought jumping to the American label would work to create a whole new audience for a guy that'd been making music for almost 50 years? An album of covers... should this be on this list? Should we make exceptions for the Man in Black .. ? Evidently, yes and I'm glad to have an excuse to listen to this again. Wow.
A seasoned master finds new life at the end of his career with his collection of brilliant versions of timeless classics.
Och, wat houd ik toch van Jan Centje 😍. Prachtige stem, prachtige liedjes. Dat een mens er niet zo vrolijk van wordt, neem ik op de koop toe.
Fina tolkningar
Damn it! I liked this a lot more than I thought I would.
This album deserves all the stars.
I thought it was beautiful. Johnny Cash is a treasure
This was one of the saddest albums I've ever listened to. It feels like Johnny Cash was very much expecting and accepting that he would die soon. I cried to "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" but that's mostly because I have a personal connection to high school with that song and I was clearing out games I used to play with my ex boyfriend when it came on. "Desperado" also really got me but that's a song that my mom really likes the original and I think it just hurts that it's on one of his last albums. That being said, it was really well put together. I think all the songs on this album belong there, even the covers deserved their places.
A beautiful and haunting album that caught me on a really dark day. It definitely brought me to tears at points. As much as I say I generally dislike American male-vocal country music, Johnny Cash is one such exception to that, from my limited knowledge of his work. A true swan song. Favourite: I Hung My Head
Such beauty, sadness, grace, humility. So many things that rarely come about when an artist covers a song. Johnny Cash is raw and vulnerable and his voice is cracked and full of emotion. I heard this album a lot back when it came out and naturally it means different things to me now. I cried listening (while cycling which isn’t a good look).
Genuinely one of the most crushing albums I've ever heard. Jesus Christ. Right up there, if not the peak of the greatest swan songs ever created. Each song has such an air of grief and solemnity to it, yet also each one is nostalgic in a way too. He makes every song, despite some of their recognizability, into his own. The beginning stretch of songs are some of the best collection of music I think I've ever heard. His old-age voice is perfect for the stripped back, contemplative vibe of the production, and the song selection is just perfect for the old man looking back on life thesis. Highlights include the title track, Hurt, I Hung My Head, First Time I Ever Saw Your Face, Personal Jesus, and the finale, We'll Meet Again, which might be the perfect sendoff song. Made me tear up a bit. Essential listening.
I have never heard this album and I am glad I could rectify this. I enjoyed the first half of the album more than the second half of the album, with "Bridge Over Troubled Water" being a highlight for me. "American IV" is a necessary album because it shows how well Johnny Cash can interpret and re-interpret songs to make them his own. "Hurt" is now his song and his voice adds gravitas to so many of these songs. Wonderful.
Cracking one to start with. Very bleak and sorrowful but somehow full of a quiet peace. The Nick Cave and Fiona Apple cameos were delightful. Almost like he knew it was his swan song, as it feels like a love letter to music itself.
Absolutely love the American series from Johnny Cash. Rick Rubin really brought out something special here.
This is a goodbye message. Johnny's saying sorry, goodby, thank you, and he loves you. This album was a masterpiece when released and after some time and a relisten after the loss of a loved one has left my keyboard sopping wet. Country music is underrepresented on this list and Johnny Cash isn't necessarily Country, nor is this album, but it's place here is well earned. 5/5.
There should be a separate genre for old artists who make a final swansong album and absolutely knock it out of the park, using their age and wisdom to their advantage. Think Bowie's "Blackstar" and Leonard Cohen's "You Want It Darker". But the album that really kicked it all off was Johnny Cash's "American IV: The Man Comes Around". Here Cash is completely spent. A lifetime of touring, debauchery, and drugs have finally caught up with him, and he makes no attempt to hide it. He has nothing else to give but his soul, which he thought was long since lost. But not with anything new. Every song on this album is a cover. But not a single song sounds like a cheap cop-out. Cash's deathly croon gives the songs a special kind of energy that are completely detached from the original songs. From the anti-drug anthem "Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails to the melancholy "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon and Garfunkel to the resolute "We'll Meet Again" by Vera Lynn, Johnny Cash wheezes like an old gramophone, wearily singing over a raw production of a backing band. This is Cash at death's door. Reaching the end of the 5 stages of grief after living the lives of many men combined. And at the end of it all, he still has a story to tell. Standout Songs: "Hurt" "Bridge Over Troubled Water" "I Hang My Head" "We'll Meet Again"
Unbelievably powerful - incredible mix of songs.
Okay, covers in Cash's voice is a cheat code. This is amazing.
Pause. Long slow bow of my head. Pause again. Thank you so much.
Such an iconic album.
Rick Ruben is a genius. He did the world a favor by letting us hear Johnny Cash in such a vulnerable and open way. Thanks, Rick and Johnny.
5/5. Absolute Classic I don't give 5/5 ratings often. These, in my book, are reserved for the top 5% of the albums I've listened to. This is an exceptional work. I usually do NOT like cover songs. Johnny knows how to make them his own. You have never heard anyone else sing the Nine Inch Nails track Hurt like Johnny does. Absolute genius. I listened to the full album for the 1st time just after Johnny had passed. Before this I always thought he was good - he had a handful of great songs and most of the time his live albums were entertaining. This, on the other hand, is near perfection - start to finish. It is so amazing. This is truly an album that I feel everyone should listen to before they die. Favorite tracks: Hurt, I Hung My Head, Give My Love to Rose, The Man Comes Around, In My Life, Sam Hall, I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry, Streets of Laredo, Big Iron, and We'll Meet Again. Least Favorite: None really, but if I HAD to pick a couple I'd go with the cover songs that he really didn't do much with, other than sing it in only the way JC could: Bridge Over Troubled Waters, First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. Songs like Personal Jesus is ok, I think someone probably told him that If he sang this he would reach out to a new generation of music fans. I think it's pretty good, but probably the song that I feel least fits the rest of the album.
Sometimes, an album's truly special. Sometimes, the words feel like they REALLY mean something. Like the artist knows something we don't. Like the artist knows they're going to die. And we're privy to their last hurrah. Their last call. The last songs they want to sing. Even though it's covers, this album makes me feel the weight of life and the weight of death. It's sad, like you want to weep, but the album feels kick-ass enough that you know that it's an okay kind of sad. The man uses his voice and his song choice to say more than I think he could've done with original songs. Shit, Johnny, I wish you could've lived forever. I wish we all could. But then it all wouldn't mean as much.
I had written this album off previously as an old washed up country star trying to cling on to a past life. When I actually sat down and listened to it, I could hear that I had it all wrong. He knew he was close to death and was trying to reckon with his demons, and that comes through on every song. Hurt is now his song. I loved his version of in my life.
Brutal. Versiones de canciones grabadas poco antes de morir. Vinilazo.
Versiones muy chulas.
Just an old man singing (old) songs. But what a unique, incredible voice, and a great selection of songs.
Reading a phrase like "sixty-seventh studio album" is pretty incredible. The album itself it pretty incredible. It drew a tear more than once. Cash's original recording of "Give My Love to Rose," for example, might come across as just sentimental and maybe corny. This version conveys all the emotions of a really heartbreaking song. This is true throughout the album, whether it's "Streets of Laredo" or "In My Life," or "Personal Jesus." I love this seemingly random collection of largely familiar songs that have become something entirely different and filled with meaning. "The Man Comes Around," the song Cash wrote for this album, is quite epic, and of course "Hurt" is beyond perfect. It's got to be one of my favorite albums ever.
This is a beautiful album. I had heard some tracks from it, but never as a whole. I didn't love every cover, but I loved the passion throughout.
Mathematical fact: the set of all people who dislike Johnny Cash is a subset of the set of all people who are actually monsters. This is divine.
This last recording from Johnny Cash was a real gift. It's pretty amazing to hear someone of such talent embrace their vulnerability as they near the end of their life. Such a variety of song selections! Some of these were obvious choices, but others like Hurt, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, and Personal Jesus are real surprises. They work incredibly well here making it is easy to forget what remarkable choices they are for Johnny Cash. This was incredibly moving to me when it was released and was an even more emotional listen today. This is a tear-filled journey that I am grateful to have made.
As an aspiring musician, this is how I want to go out. This album has so much finality to it, from the heartbreaking (‘Hurt’, ‘I Hung My Head’) to the bittersweet (‘Give My Love to Rose’, ‘First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’, ‘In My Life’), and it all culminates in ‘We’ll Meet Again’, which, while a cover, is a fitting send-off for one of the greatest country artists to ever do it.
All time great album
It's weird, I love Cash's albums but I never want to add them to my regular listening. They're better appreciated as a complete package, experienced in its entirety in one go, than thrown in the general shuffle.
This is going straight to my favourites. So much raw emotion of a man at the end of his life reflecting on what he's been through and what remains ahead. It made me tear up multiple times, especially at Hurt, First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Danny Boy (those church organs!) and the last song. Think of it, ending the last album issued during Cash prolific life with "we'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when.." is just so beautiful and sad, but at the same time hopeful, it makes me cry. 5/5 rarely do I get so emotional from listening to an album.
The cover of hurt alone gives this album five stars
Love, love these covers.
I forgot how good this album was. That voice is perfect for those songs.
This is for sure a masterpiece.
"Hurt" feels like getting hit in the chest with a baseball bat but in a good way
Great album; perfect to turn on and get lost in, Rest In Peace Mr.Cash -5/5 ⭐️
This album was really good. I don't know what the history is behind it, but I'll bet Johnny hasn't committed as many murders as he likes to sing about.
Perfect. No artist has or will have a final album like this. From The track list, to the production, to the cultural environment, it was a perfect storm. This note from the wiki sums it up: Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor admitted that he was initially "flattered" but worried that "the idea of Cash covering 'Hurt' sounded a bit gimmicky," but when he heard the song and saw the video for the first time, Reznor said he was deeply moved and found Cash's cover beautiful and meaningful, going as far as to say "that song isn't mine anymore."
I remember when Hurt came out with one of the saddest music videos shortly before Cash's death. I never listened to the full album at that time, but listening to it now it's a beautiful conclusion to his career and life. The first half of the album sounds like him coming to terms of where he's been in his life, with the second half sounding a bit more like his older catalog in a good way. Finding out that Rick Rubin produced the record was also a bit mind boggling as it's such a departure from his usual work, but still works fantastically.
even the weaker tracks are transformed by the Old Man’s depth of spirit and experience
One of the most influential albums in my musical taste. This is forever a 5-star album.
Absolutely fire
What a way to go out legend
Some absolute classics on this. Great listen
Great album, I like some of the covers more than the originals!
It took Johnny Cash an entire life and meeting Rick Rubin to find his best form. The result is stunning. The voice, the production, the harmonies, the songs that are picked. Absolute masterpiece
Love this album. I listened to enough Johnny Cash growing up to like his voice and his style, but this older version of Johnny Cash is my absolute favourite. There's so much weight to these recordings. His cover of Hurt is one of my top songs of all time.
9/10. Great, great selection of songs.
Johnny Cash’s voice may be hoarse and tremulous with old age and illness (he died just under a year after this album was released), but it is no less powerful and achingly sincere than it was in his prime. American IV’s greater moments come in Cash’s interpretations of songs like Hurt and In My Life; while staying true to the original spirit of these pieces, he adds the hindsight of the joys and trials of his own life, which results in a tremendously moving listening experience.
7/10
5 Before I even listen to it today, 5 🌟 on my love for the man, and this collection in particular. After listening, I am reminded of the fragility and power of his voice, often in the same song, and the genius of the song choices and production work by Rick Rubin. I has also forgotten Fiona Apple shows up, and fits in perfectly with the mood and tone. All in all a virtually perfect album, and one of a very small number that my dad and I would both have in our top handful of albums.
Brutal. Versiones de canciones grabadas poco antes de morir. Vinilazo.
Good covers all around. He has such a good voice
One of the most beautiful albums I've ever listened to. It's almost hard to believe that he was able to produce such a beautiful album with the myriad of health issues he had at this point. Favorite track: I Hung My Head
Redemption album
Amazing. Am already a massive Cash fan (and disagree that this is his best work, although it is amongst the best). But this series builds beautifully on his legacy. The song selection, the story and the performances all work together beautifully. And that’s before we even start on THAT voice. Uplifting and moving, this has one of the most compelling closing tracks on any album. First Time probably my favourite here, but Cash has even made Sting sound good, which takes SOME doing. Top drawer throughout.
Approaching death's door, The Man in Black showed us the beauty in finality with the fourth installment of what brought his name back to legendary status, giving us his interpretations of modern classics and having them be shown in a whole new light, thus forever changing how they'd be perceived by those who wouldn't take a second look beyond the first. A hell of a way to go out.
I bought this album it when it first came out, so it was shortly before Johnny Cash died. I listened to it a lot after he passed, so some of these songs still hit me quite hard when I hear them now. It's definitely a pretty dour album, but listening today I also hear subtle moments of brightness, sweetness, attitude, humor. It's a final album by a man who is ready to meet his maker, but it also has a retrospective feel. It's like Cash is contemplating not only his mortality, but his career and his place in country music. Much has been said and written about Johnny Cash's collaborations with Rick Rubin, and rightly so. This is some of the most vital and surprising music of the past 25 years. The songs chosen for the album are an interesting and inspired mix, mostly covers of other artists, plus remade versions of several of Cash's earlier recordings. All are fitting for a singer of Cash's particular vocal abilities and for a man considering his life and career in retrospective. The title track sets the mood for the whole album - somber and jarring, but also jubilant in its way. The covers are a masterclass in how a singer can interpret the work of other artists without losing an ounce of their own musical vision. Some of these original songs are so well-known and hard to imagine as covers. But Cash makes them his own with a stark, yet expressive style that is so compelling. I mean, can you hear even NIN's version of "Hurt" anymore without recalling Cash's version? Backing Cash is a deep and surprising bench of musical talent. I don't think anyone but Cash could have inspired such a diverse group of artists to work with him - Don Henley, Fiona Apple, Marty Stuart, Nick Cave, Billy Preston, John Frusciante, Mike Campbell... it boggles the mind. What could have become a bloated production is instead a stripped-down masterpiece. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Hurt, Personal Jesus, In My Life, The Man Comes Around, I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry, First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Desperado, Sam Hall, I Hung My Head, We'll Meet Again, Danny Boy, Streets of Laredo, Give My Love to Rose, Tear Stained Letter
Such depth and nuance! This was such a marvelously deep aged feeling. Will definitely be on my playlist!
His 67th album??? And he created this piece of art while having health issues??? Simply beautiful, a masterpiece from a mastermind.
5/5 Brilliant!
Great album. The covers are well done and fit with Johnny's voice perfectly. The duets are great. Hurt is no longer a Nine Inch Nails song, its a Johnny Cash song!
This is an excellent album and it amazes me that at the age he was and with the amount of music he had already released he came out with this. 'The Man Comes Around' is one of the best album openers I've ever heard in my life. 'Hurt', a Nine Inch Nails cover is so good that the cover has pretty much become the original. 'I Hung My Head', a cover of a song I'd actually never heard before is beautiful. Johnny Cash has a way of making powerful and poignant lyrics hit even harder then they usually would. The album ends very strongly with 'We'll Meet Again'. This album is an experience man. I highly recommend it. 4.5/5
So many good tracks. Easy 5/5 for me. His cover of "Hurt" is one of the most heart-wrenching songs of all time. I also particularly love the cover of "Personal Jesus". I think he did an amazing job at taking other songs that he didn't write and elevating them in his own way. This was an album I listened to a lot with my brother as we grew up big Cash fans and knew that with every release in this time period he was getting older and closer to death. So sad that his wife June passed less than a year after this was released, and then he passed a few months after her. Two absolute American icons!
T3B 1. Hurt 2. The Man Comes Around 3. I Hung My Head Perfect album! Amazing sorry behind it involving Rick Ruben. 5!
Vihajaat sanovat että kovereita.. Cash laulaa tunteella.. Biisit omakseen.. Vanha cash.. Äänessä jotain tuttua.. mutta myös kuolemaa.. Kuunnellessa tämä tuntui viideltä tähdeltä... Katson allmusic rating.... 2 ja puol...... kerro se kahdella..... Allmusic ei olekkaan kaikkitietävämusiikki - päinvastoin - kaikkea ei hän tiedä, cash tietää ja laulaa!
Wow, I can't believe they removed this from the 1001 albums. Such a poignant album - Johnny died less than a year after its release. While you can hear the pain and age in his voice, he still sounds amazing. In fact, that's one of the reasons I love "Sam Hall" - despite his age and illness he's still got some fun energy to share. The most well known track is his amazing cover of NIN's Hurt. Trent Reznor famously said it was no longer his song after Johnny Cash covered it. The video is painful to watch - June Carter Cash looks on at Johnny in his pain and illness, yet she predeceased him - they both died within the next year. The track is powerful enough without that fact - it becomes devastating with it. Every track is fantastic, but the standouts for me are The Man Comes Around, Hurt, Bridge Over Troubled Water (Johnny's voice makes this and In My Life sound so much more powerful than the originals, both of which I love), I Hung My Head (better than Sting's original - notice a trend here?), First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, In My Life (hearing John Lennon sing it with the Beatles is nice, but he was a young man - it means much more coming from an old man near the end of his life), Sam Hall, Danny Boy (beautiful rendition), Desperado (again, better than the original), I'm So Lonely I Could Cry (I thought it was Bonnie Prince Billy singing with him - listen to "I See a Darkness" on American III - but it turned out to be Nick Cave), We'll Meet Again (what a great song to end the last album released during his lifetime. Great touch that the last song is an optimistic song that sounds free of pain). Did I just name almost all the tracks on the album? Yes, yes I did. Absolute 5.
This album is so great, not only because it's such high quality, but it's amazing to listen to his final work. One of the best albums every in our opinion.
Still such a great listen.
Westerny
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
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.
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
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.
Relies heavily on his voice, which is still killing it, lots of emotion in each song, some great covers.
A cover album where Johnny Cash practically made the songs his own. Unmissable.