American IV: The Man Comes Around

What a job Johnny Cash does here. In truth, most songs here are either not my sort of thing, or not my sort of style. But every track wrings-out as much feeling as is humanly possible and it's impossible not to be moved. Johnny's dying gift to us. 4*

Zijn stem is echt een cheat code. Het zijn bijna allemaal covers en ik heb een paar originele geluisterd, hij doet ze allemaal beter

There are a couple of slow songs, but a true country masterpiece, with several covers better than the original.

*Sad cowboy noises*

Given the story around this album, it all makes a lot of sense. As if he's compiling an album so he can sing at his own funeral. Not all the covers are the best technical performances but they are all vulnerable and relatable. Two elements that a lot of country music lacks, mr Cash uses very well.

Decent cover album

Absolutely love this, however not even Johnny Cash can make me like "Danny Boy".

really beautiful renditions of some classic songs, i think his version of hurt is better than NiNs and im pretty on the fence of his vs the beatles of in my life second half of the album does fall off a little bit though 4

Крутой альбом с потрясающей атмосферой, звучание подчеркивает настроение, минималистичная гитара, клавишные Минус это каверы, они хороши, но это каверы Альбом человека, которому нечего доказывать

What a legend. Hurt and Desperado and We'll Meet Again are three of my favorites. Hauntingly beautiful stuff. 7/10

Hurt and Personal Jesus are terrific covers.

Final albums by major artists, especially released in such proximity to death (Bowie's Blackstar for example), are hard to hear as something other than auto-mourning - and this one especially leans hard into the dark - glacial pacing and sparse arrangements mean JC's has nowhere to hide, the whole thing hangs on his voice and we hear it's fragility and its force in equal measure - a final, tender, intimate, parting gift, he's bearing his soul, offering it up, waiting for a higher power to take it in its hands.

It sounds like a quite complete and coherent album. Standouts: Personal Jesus, We'll Meet Again

devastating

The fact this is mostly covers is a huge knock for me. I get the tradition of doing "standards" and can take it or leave it depending on the singer. But on this album, Cash does anything but standards. Yet it's still commendable that an artist near the end of his life can put together an album this good. There's no denying how good his cover of "Hurt" is and many others on this album are just as solid. It IS distinctly Cash, so I think you have to appreciate the Man in Black to enjoy this one. I'm not a huge fan, but I still thought this was damn good.

Kaunis album. Nagu Johnny isiklikult istuks kamina ääres ja mängiks sõpradele pilli. Tekib endalgi tahtmine mängida ja esitada ilusat muusikat. See, et Cash suutis seda 70-aastaselt nii hoolekalt teha, on muljetavaldav. 4.4/5

Americana, easy listening covers

Excellent album

Highlights: - The Man Comes Around - Hurt - Give My Love to Rose - Bridge Over Troubled Water - I Hung My Head - In My Life

Nice soothing album from a legend. Awesome final song. 8.1/10

Made me emotional. A great album. 4.5 stars

I never owned this but I have heard it before and whilst I probably wouldn’t usually agree with the inclusion on the list of an album comprised mostly of covers, I can make an exception for the legend Johnny Cash. His version of Hurt takes on a whole new meaning and emotion for the song and is a standout.

LEGEND

Morbidly, I am a big fan of art made by older people looking directly at their own mortality. I can see that most of these are covers would disappoint some, but it plays into the whole mortality thing. It is like he is reminiscing on all the music he has loved throughout his life.

A phenomenal cover album. And Cash is obviously one of the most influential artists in American music. I only knew Hurt going into this. But When the Man Comes Around, In My Life, Desperado, I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry, Tear Stained Letter, and We'll Meet Again were all good.

A more somber cash album. Enjoyed the song about loneliness the most

This is a very good album, but I don't think all of the covers work. I feel like Rick Rubin said I like this song and then forced Johnny Cash to perform it for him (I have no idea if that is true, but that's the vibe I got from some of these). The Depeche Mode cover made no sense, and I don't think Johnny Cash should ever do anything remotely close to new wave. The Beatles cover was also a little iffy, he did a good job, but IDK, something feels wrong about it. Besides a couple of covers that felt weird this album is really good. I do wish anyone else besides Rick Rubin produced this, because the production sounds like ass. High 4.

4/5

Lots of religion. Storytelling based. Sings like he’s talking. Everything is very sad. Makes me not understand how people dislike Taylor swift if this is considered great

It’s pretty old timey sounds like dad music I like it

There are some impressive covers even beyond Hurt, like Bridge Over Troubled Water & Personal Jesus. Impressive last effort from the Man In Black.

Kinda appreciate more given that this was his last album when he was alive. Although he doesn’t have the greatest voice he sounds good to me

Album with cover songs. It had Hurt so automatic 5 but I was pretty indifferent about most of the others. So minus 1

On his final album Johnny covers lots of music some is heightened by the passing of the artist, cant beat the cover of Hurt and the last track is a nice send off too. But as a whole is it something I have to hear before I die? Maybe. Hurt is a song you should listen but as a whole, I dont think so.

It was great. Honestly every track was gas.

Very moving, emotional album. The features are amazing too.

Sparse country, memorable voice. Apparently this album was released the year before he died

Some good stuff, really enjoyed it.

I feel that context is a very important part of this album, although I agree that some songs are just another cover. His voice being more withered than his earlier work is absolutely brutal, especially closing with we'll meet again.

Forgot about this one and how good it is.

Some classics

I got all Johnny Cash albums generated over the last month, and this is definitely my favourite. Though not all of Cash’s renditions are better than the originals, I liked almost all songs better than the ones on his other albums. Maybe less country-ish.

I have made a playlist of all four of the American albums. I just listened to one and it was fantastic. I am giving this a 4 in anticipation.

Oh man, the covers that he made entirely his own here are fantastic.

another clanger from the man himself

Favorite of the American series. Iconic cover of Hurt, video is one of the all time best.

One too many songs about prison tbh but personal jesus cover is great

Some were exquisitely sung and felt, some I didnt feel suited him ir the moment

Kinda good but can i get rock pleasessss

a literal warm hug by your grandfather recommended

This was very different than I’m used to for cash - Rick Rubin really brought out the vulnerability in his voice. The rendition of hurt is just outstanding. Better than the original.

Standouts The Man Comes Around Hurt Give My Love to Rose I Hung My Head Personal Jesus Sam Hall

Immaculate vibes Hurt is so much better than the original NIN version. Almost every song makes me feel things, some immense covers and classic Cash vocals. Can’t go wrong

Sound 8.5/10

Good album to sit by the fire or listen with my parents.

começando pelo 4 o.O okayy FAVS (top 3): hurt, i'm so lonesome i could cry, we'll meet again mençoes honrosas: give my love to rose, i hung my head, in my life, sam hall, danny boy compraria o vinil: TALVEZ esse album me passa MUITA vibe de over the garden wall, se ele n tivesse ido de base em 2003 eu teria CERTEZA q ele faz parte da soundtrack. muito bom, acho q se eu tivesse prestado mais atençao na letra eu poderia ter gostado mais, mas oq eu prestei atençao ja foi o suficiente nota final: 4/5

Ruhig, emotional, tollen Stimme. Fand ich super! Alle Songs relativ ähnlich, nicht so besonders

Not the biggest fan of it, but it's classics

Annoyed that I hadn't given this the full listen it deserved. Heard a few of the tracks that hit the airwaves (HURT and PERSONAL JESUS) but should've sought out the album. Subtlety juxtaposed with choice panache. Feels like the perfect collection of songs to repurpose for him, especially at that moment of his life.

This album is a wild ride of is this cover going to be brilliant or insane

A very unique and specific album. You don’t listen for the vocals but for the haunting vibe. Kind of a goodbye to old country music. We had the Bowie and cohen Swan song albums and I like this significantly more. My mind also went initially to yeezus. Rick Rubin also used the stripping down to bring out more in that album.

The Man In Black's last album is a tough but beautiful listen.

Favs: The Man Comes Around Hurt In My Life Least Fav: Danny Boy

Good, but boy is it sad.

I enjoyed this for the most part. “Hurt” is obviously the best track. Some of the other covers are decent, some I could do without (looking at you Desperado). I think this is another case where a 10 point scale is needed. Giving the round up just because I think this shows his artistic ability to perform music that crosses such a broad spectrum of styles and generations. 3.5/5

I bought this when it came out almost entirely on intrigue alone. How was a producer like Rick Rubin gonna bring out the best in Cash? The result is pretty admirable. Some obvious standouts here (Hurt, Personal Jesus), but also some other decent representations. Probably all proof that good songs are good songs regardless of how stripped down or changed they are. Shave off 3-4 filler tracks and it becomes a bit tighter. Still an enjoyable listen that fits a mood.

Probably giving an extra half point here, a fair amount of filler on this but the album undoubtedly serves its purpose and features an obviously iconic song.

Really liked this album when it came out. Hurt is obvi the standout. Amazing rendition. Rest is pretty solid. Some swings and misses, but overall a compelling listen. 3.5/5

I sincerely do not care that he covered Hurt by Nine Inch Nails because he covers Bridge Over Troubled Water and Personal Jesus on the same side of the album. That being said, the vast majority of the songs on this album are covers. That's besides the point, other than the fact that I feel like a few of the covers are more for novelty than anything else (namely, Personal Jesus and Hurt). The majority of the album is really good. I've always been a fan of albums that artists write when they know they're dying, like Blackstar by David Bowie or The Wind by Warren Zevon. This album is no exception, although I think it's weaker than those two. The backing vocalists don't really add much and like I said, some of the covers are more novel than good. His version of Danny Boy is incredible and it was a good idea to cover Bridge Over Troubled Water. This is a very emotionally heavy album, that's something it does better than Blackstar. More than anything, the fact that he can still write albums this good when this was his sixty-seventh is really something to behold with him.

Album No. 0105 on my list. I was looking forward to this! Haven’t listened to this album in a while. To me, “American IV” is the best of Johnny Cash’s American Recordings albums. Possibly tied with the first one. You can really tell that Cash was nearing the end of his life here, but that only adds to the atmosphere. Not all songs completely stand out, but many of the songs to, especially the famous covers (“Hurt”) first and foremost, but also “Personal Jesus”). I’ll add “The Man Comes Around”, and “Streets of Laredo” to my playlist as well. 4/5 stars!

Really great! So good. Very touching hearing his age in his voice, not diminishing anything at all only adding to it. Really liked it.

Very poignant - full of reflection and some level of remorse - a number of excellent cover versions

His rendition of Hurt by NIN is almost better than the original. You really feel the actual Hurt of the song and the artist and who wrote it. Pretty cool to hear a legend from the country/blues genre take on these classics in his own way

Classic sounding Johnny Cash. The title track was outstanding. All the vocals are incredible and it definitely scratches the urge for deep, dark, moody country and storytelling. It stays in one lane and probably isn’t something I’d listen to often, but only because it isn’t my favorite genre.

Some great hits. Very melancholy with songs about death.

Some of the covers have rightly become classics (Personal Jesus and Hurt). Others took me by surprise (Bridge over troubled water). Sam Hall sounds like exactly the sort of song I expect from Johnny Cash. We'll meet again and Danny Boy very much seem to be his farewells. Low 4.

A tale of two halves. The first seven songs are just excellent - in particular the two original songs and hurt. Some of the covers on side 2 just don’t match that quality. It’s still Johnny Cash’s voice though. Low 4/5

And this is getting a low IV from me. Some of it is stunning, esp the first two tracks. It gets my usual covers deduction and I don’t love all of it but it’s all strong.

Very emo

Thoughts before listening: Late career resurgence album produced by Rick Rubin. I haven't spent a ton of time listening to these albums although I'm a huge Johnny Cash fan. I know there are a lot of covers (is "Hurt" on this one?) and in general more of a dark, somber theme to the music. Should be a good listen. Review: Man, I just love Johnny Cash's rich, deep baritone voice so much. I also love that these American albums matched the voice with cool production values and arrangements as opposed to the radio friendly sheen found on many of his original hits. Still though the star here is Johnny's voice which is front and center throughout the album. "Hurt" is the true standout here and 20 years later it is still often highlighted as one of the best songs of its era. Overall this was a fitting swan song to Cash's career and life as his health was in decline and he would die the next year. 4-stars

Beautiful way to go out. A tribute to Americana and his significant role in it

Me parece interesante escuchar álbumes nuevos completos sin saltarme canciones que al principio me parecen aburridas o no de mi agrado y tener la experiencia completa de principio a fin. Quiero para los próximos álbumes ser más consciente, y tener una hora dedicada para escuchar sin distracciones, donde somos solo la música mis pensamientos y yo. No es mucho mi estilo a primera escuchada algunas de las canciones, pero en algún momento quiero volver a escuchar con más atención a la letra y a la emoción. No hacer lo por obligación, si no por placer.

holy shit I didn’t expect to hear a cover of NIN’s Hurt in here that’s awesome. Cash’s voice doesn’t sound particularly good on this but it’s also very inviting and fits with the songs. also having heard some of these songs before it’s really weird hearing this type of cover (personal Jesus) but not bad necessarily. Some lend themselves to his style better than others. I wish I could give this a five but I feel like I can’t because it’s a cover album and the original song writing is a big reason why this album is good. Fav songs: in my life, danny boy, desperado

Hurt is one of the most powerful and moving recordings of all time, but does that constitute a 5 star album? Even though every song doesn't land, great concept. Excellent album.

Felt the solemn presence

this is something new i have never tried listening to before, but it's so touching and beautifully crashing , it has the potential of being one of my favourite albums, truly great

nicee, smooth groove

This is an amazing album. Yes his version of Hurt is probably better than Trent's, but this album is more that that. You can feel his age with every song, yet it works. It's not like he falters or sounds bad. He uses it to add another layer and damn it works. I think this is the first time I listened to the whole album since it came out and damn I'm gonna be listening to it for the next week.

I really enjoyed this album and each song had a very deep and unique rendition that felt such a cash way from his deep vocals to the instrumental backing. Everything felt wonderfully composed and meaningful. Truly felt so serenaded by the end. I really enjoyed Bridge of Troubled Water It was beautifully crafted and the tones were atmospheric and encapsulating. We’ll meet again had a very similar feel and makes such a difference to the Vera Lynn version in all the right ways.

"American IV: The Man Comes Around" is the fourth volume in the "American" series, a celebrated collaboration between Johnny Cash and producer Rick Rubin. This highly regarded series includes six main albums and the comprehensive five-disc outtakes collection, "Unearthed". While the 1994 debut, American Recordings, remains my preferred album from the series for its consistent selection of contemporary covers and Cash's original songs, "American IV" is still a significant release. The album features a track list where the quality ranges from good to excellent. The arrangements are deliberately sparse and stripped-back, a style that complements Cash's mature, low voice effectively. The most notable tracks on the album include: - Cash's Originals: The title track, "The Man Comes Around", is an important, Cash-penned song. His performance of "Give My Love to Rose" is also strong. - The Covers: The album features compelling reinterpretations of modern songs. Cash's widely noted version of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt" is emotionally direct, and his take on Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus" is an interesting contrast to the original. Other highlights include a duet with Nick Cave on Hank Williams’ "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" and his cover of Sting's "I Hung My Head". American IV: The Man Comes Around is a very good listen and warrants a four-star rating. It stands as a powerful demonstration of Cash’s ability to interpret material late in his career. My main critique concerns the album's length. With fifteen tracks, the sequencing could be tighter. Trimming the track list back to ten or twelve songs would have likely focused the listening experience, eliminating a few three-star performances and resulting in an even stronger, five-star album. Interestingly, there are several better tracks on the "Unearthed" collection that might have served as more compelling substitutions for the 'weaker' tracks on this volume. "We'll Meet Again" is the poignant last track. It shouldn't work but it does. This was Cash's last studio album before he died. No. Title Writer(s) 1 "The Man Comes Around" - Johnny Cash - (5/5) 2 "Hurt" - Trent Reznor - (5/5) 3 "Give My Love to Rose" - Johnny Cash - (5/5) 4 "Bridge Over Troubled Water" (with Fiona Apple) - Paul Simon - (3/5) 5 "I Hung My Head" - Sting - (5/5) 6 "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" - Ewan MacColl - (4/5) 7 "Personal Jesus" - Martin Gore - (5/5) 8 "In My Life" - Lennon–McCartney - (3/5) 9 "Sam Hall" - Tex Ritter - (4/5) 10 "Danny Boy" - Frederic Weatherly - (3/5) 11 "Desperado" (with Don Henley) - Glenn Frey/Don Henley - (5/5) 12 "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" (duet with Nick Cave) - Hank Williams - (5/5) 13 "Tear Stained Letter" - Johnny Cash - (4/5) 14 "Streets of Laredo" - Traditional - (4/5) 15 "We'll Meet Again" (with The Whole Cash Gang) - Hughie Charles/Ross Parker - (4/5) Total - 64 Average - 4.27 188/1001 103/188 albums reviewed were new to me.

Already a fan of this one. I had this CD as a kid. Wonderful to revisit.

All of the Johnny Cash American recordings are pretty great. This is one of the best.

Yep

Is it a coincidence that all 3 of the top rated Country albums on the website are all performed by Johnny Cash?? Absolutely, emphatically, no. There is Country music, and then there is Johnny Cash. They’re 2 completely different things. Listen, as someone who openly doesn’t particularly like or enjoy Country music, even I have to give it up to the all time great here. No one else even stands on this man’s plane of existence in the Country space, before or after. One of the greatest musicians of all time. How great is he? Well, I was today years old when I found out that “Hurt” wasn’t a Johnny Cash original, and Nine Inch Nails did not cover it. Instead, it was the other way around. And this is coming from a huge Nine Inch Nails fan. I’ve been listening to both versions for a long time, and only just now realized that this was the cover. Admittedly, I didn’t even realize Johnny Cash made it to the 2000’s, so to hear this was his last album didn’t surprise me all that much. Man, he sounds so old here. Despite that, he still gives it his absolute all and knocks it out of the park. Not only is “Hurt” a cover, but the entire concept of this album appears to be Johnny Cash giving respect to some of the all time greatest artists and songs himself, putting his own unique blend of singing on every song on the album, a majority of which are covers. A few of them even feature some other prominent artists like Nick Cave and Fiona Apple. My favorites of the lot are “Hurt” (obviously), “I Hung My Head” and “Personal Jesus”. I haven’t really done a deep dive on the post production of this album yet, but having the intro start with a passage from the book of Revelations (The last book in the Bible), and having the closer be “We’ll Meet Again”, is actually so insane that it’s almost creepy and foreboding. This is the first of 3 Johnny Cash albums I’ve rolled for this project, and I’m obviously very excited to check the others out.

Very enjoyable. The highlight of course Hurt, but the album throughout is solid.

An album of covers that I enjoyed more than I thought I would

Wow, had never fully listed to this album and that was a major oversight. Such a haunting swan song for the man in black

So emotionally raw all the way through. Hard to rate much higher than a 4 for an album mostly composed of covers, but even they include some beautiful renditions that he really made his own. Favorite Tracks: Hurt, Give My Love to Rose, I Hung My Head, I'm So Lonesome, Tear Stained Letter

beautiful album with mostly covers of songs

There are some really good songs on this but also some I liked less. Was thinking 3 but it’s definitely good enough to be a 4

Pretty hard to not consider this incredible. I couple tracks I can do without which pulls it down to a 4 for me.

I've always thought Johnny Cash was cool, but most of his life's work comes from a time before I was born. Of course, that doesn't apply to “American IV: The Man Comes Around,” and I remember being surprised by this release at the time. His cover versions of ‘Hurt’ and “Personal Jesus” were played everywhere and were considered the ultimate versions of these songs—and rightly so, by the way. The rest falls a little short in comparison, but the album has lost none of its quality over the last 20 years and is, of course, still a worthy entry on this list.

The cover of Hurt is obviously incredible, and some of the other covers/renditions are pretty solid. Falls short a couple of times though: Danny Boy without bagpipes is unfulfilling, and I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry wasn't nearly corny enough. Also, why does the linked version of this album not include Big Iron?

Es íntimo, transmite, llega, conmueve. Un album del remil carajo. Tan difícil elegir una canción para la playlist. 8/10

Never really listened to Johnny Cash, but man, will I ever after this album. Bridge Over Troubled Water I had never heard but what a gorgeous song my lord. Just a great album all the way through.

Listens: 3 Standout Tracks: The Man Comes Around, Hurt, I Hung My Head Well, after railing against the Country music genre for the better part of a quarter of this Journey, I finally found the exception to the rule. Finally a country album that I enjoy. Its well put together, quite minimalist and has a lovely number of cover songs, including The Beatles' In My Life and Danny Boy. Plus, it has Hurt, the song Trent Reznor basically gave away to Johnny Cash after hearing it. I am still quite partial to the NIN version, but Johnny really does it justice too. And, for anyone actually following along to my Futurama references and pop-culture, Zoidberg sings Danny Boy for Bender's mock-funeral, does a somewhat decent job and just gets skewered by Bender anyways.

No one can cover a song quite like Johnny Cash.

Classic aber hurt von nine inch nails isz trotzdem geiler

It's a great album, with arrangements that are so uplifting. Unfortunately, the fact that a lot of the album is covers (though great covers they are) is a detriment for me. A strong 4/5

A rough listen especially knowing it was right near the end of Johnny’s life, but it’s hauntingly beautiful and I definitely enjoyed it.

On the face of it, I really like it. It's just pure story telling and I love the way he's able to bring the music in as a part of that story telling (very Wit IFYKYK). Also the context of this being at the end of his career and just months before his death really adds weight to it. I give it a four though because it is a specific mood, not a listen anytime anywhere kinda thing.

was drunk as fuck listening to this while smoking. incredible experience.

Wonderful voice that brings the stories to life. I felt like I was being told a bedtime story at times, other times I was being swept away in a tale.

To preface: First album of Johnny Cash I ever heard. When it comes to music I like a little bit of upbeat or swingy music way more than sad songs or ballads. However, if I am a stickler for something music-related it is when stories are woven into the music in a great lyrical way. The stories of the songs are beautiful and Cash his voice brings them over in a such a great way. Now, of course I cannot give this album the full lyrical and story-based credit because these are almost all covers. But bringing it in a way like Cash does I will still give it a 4/5. I love this voice and the way it carries the emotion of the lyrics.

I really wish I was more familiar with Johnny Cash before I was assigned his "final" album American IV: The Man Comes Around. Even though I am quite inexperienced in his discography I have to say this is a very striking album full of both chilling originals and very inventive cover songs. If you aren't a fan of Johnny Cash's very minimalist Americana/Country approach to music then this surely won't be for you. As for those of you who are fans of this very authentic presentation of music, this will be right up your alley. I feel this album is incredible because it showed that even at his twilight years, Mr. Cash still could make a memorable project worth your time and effort. It may not be his best album by any means, but it is easily one of the most memorable ways an artist has gone out on along with Black Star by David Bowie. Mad respect to Johnny for putting in his all one last time for all his fans to still rave about all these years later.

Solid album. “Hurt” is incredible. I enjoyed this listen a lot.

It was nice to listen to the whole album after hearing a select few songs all the time over the years. Great songs about outlaws, wrong people, paying the price, truly a great album.

Hadn't heard the full album before!!! A couple duds but for the most part Cash OWNS those covers

3.5

I've heard 'Hurt' plenty of times, but I’d never sat down with the rest of this record. I think I enjoyed it so much simply because I know the songs; hearing Johnny Cash’s version of them is interesting to a point. It feels like a bit of a shortcut to a good album, but his voice adds a weight to the lyrics that justifies the praise. 'Personal Jesus' and 'In My Life' are standouts, there are some songs I would never picture him singing, but once you hear it, it just works. I will certainly be coming back to this one

Vaikka biisit ovatkin toisten lauluja, ne on valittu tälle levylle siitä syystä että konseptiin sopii. On kova levy.

Yeah this was solid. I’m already a Johnny fan though so this wasn’t a surprise.

Beautiful

“Hurt” is probably the most painful song to sit through. The ache in it, the nostalgia, the entire story around it, all of it comes together as one of the clearest expressions of human misery and sadness. Cash delivered something that cuts straight to the bone. He proved you can take a covers album and make it feel alive, raw and completely your own. “Personal Jesus”, “Bridge over Troubled Water” and “Hurt” show exactly how he did it. The first part of the record hits harder than the rest. Beginning with the two strongest tracks sets a level the rest cannot quite reach. In the end this album works as a final gift from Johnny Cash, a man many had written off long before this moment. Rest in peace Mister Cash. 8.5 out of 10.

Has a solid case for the best album of (mostly) covers of all time. The title track is excellent, too.

Some really stunning songs here. Perhaps not enough light and shade, could have done with a few songs being cut.

I want to thank Johnny Cash and Rick Rubin for making this album. I feel that my life is a lot richer after hearing this. Liked Songs Added: Hurt Personal Jesus Sam Hall We'll Meet Again

His last album before he died. Lots of covers and a few re-recordings of his own songs. Very melancholic album. Pitchfork: 6.9 Rolling Stone: Best Songs The Man Comes Around Hurt In My Life Danny Boy Desperado I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry Streets Of Loredo We'll Meet Again

Great album. Love Cash's voice and the emotion behind these songs. 9/10

I had only listed to his Folsom prison album. This was way different in a good way. Looking forward to listening to more of his albums.

A great collections of covers and originals (?)(they may all be covers) that is given all the gravitates and important of a great man looking back on his life

Oh man, I’m conflicted. I do love me some Johnny cash and have more and more respect for him as I hear and read about more of his prison stewardship work. And I remember these American albums fondly and n real time, which kind of make them ‘my’ Johnny Cash albums, earning their ‘second golden age’ tag. I think ‘when the man comes around’ is my favorite song from this era, ‘Hurt’ is an all-time great song, ‘Sam Hall’ epitomizes Johnny cash’s ‘thing’ and his emotion on the vocals is awesome. However, a lot of the other songs have the feel of ‘let’s try this’ that just doesn’t hit the mark - ‘Personal Jesus’, ‘Danny Boy’ and even ‘Desperado’, which you might expect him to elevate, suffer at his vocal hand with bland arrangements (curious given JC’s and RR’s abilities in this regard), all are less than pedestrian, maybe not living up to expectations, maybe just being badly done. I expect they threw a lot at the wall for these sessions and subsequent albums, and understand the idea of making as many albums as possible form the accumulated tracks, but maybe they could’ve reduced yes the number and increased the quality of the albums.

Love me some Cash..

Very good and tragic album which has the feel of being recorded under tragic circumstances which lends it a bit of an odd feeling and makes listening to it kinda meta in a way Fav song: Bridge Over Troubled Water (!!!)

Great album

I didn't have any expectations for this album. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it though. The covers were surprisingly good. Obviously, Hurt is outstanding, but so is Personal Jesus. I laughed out loud when I realized Cash was doing a Roberta Flack cover. Overall, a really good listen.

This was great. I like that accompaniment is stripped back so that Cash’s vocals are very much front and center. It felt very raw and intimate, especially on the cover of Hurt. I also liked the organ backing throughout, which gave it a cool gospel feel. He has such an iconic voice and this is a beautiful album highlighting that.

This is a good album and some of the choices for covers are truly inspired. Cash was an amazing artist.

1. The Man Comes Around - 8 Solid track. The way the guitars come in and out in intensity is brilliant. Lyrically it's a little all over the place and a little over-the-top in its metaphoric nature but still very enjoyable. Intro and outro talking points are also quite nice and well done. 2. Hurt - 10 Lyrically it's brilliant. It builds perfectly into the choruses and comes down suddenly but excellently back into the verses after. Superb track. 3. Give My Love To Rose - 7 Pretty grim song in its message but excellently written. It's so sombre in tone and it needs to be given the message. Amazing track. 4. Bridge Over Troubled Water - 5 It's a good song but and it builds well but it's not as striking as the opening three tracks. 5. I Hung My Head - 10 Absolutely fantastic track. Lyrically brilliant, it's just such a well composed track. Best track on the album so far. 6. First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - 5 It's a good love song but it's just a bit too slow for my personal liking. 7. Personal Jesus - 11 Love the fact that Johnny Cash has done a cover of Depeche Mode. It's absolutely excellent as well. The piano's small additions are excellent. The guitar is loud but simple and does a great job of complimenting the cover in Cash's distinct style. Fantastic track. 8. In My Life - 3 It's a bit of a pass over track. Slow but nothing phenomenal and the track is lost quite a bit compared to what else is on the album. 9. Sam Hall - 5 The song is a return to Johnny Cash's absolutely classic style of music. Fun, upbeat, and lyrically pleasing enough. 10. Danny Boy - 10 I was never a fan of this song but it's sung so well and beautifully by Cash on this album it's absolutely breathtaking. The choice of the organ as the sold instrument here is fantastic. 11. Desperado - 8 Solid track with some great lyrics. I'm not sure if there was a need for a supporting singer on this track but it's nothing that detracts from the quality Cash lays over the track. 12. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry - 4 It's another pass over track. It's just a bit dull lyrically and the pace and pitch make it sound like nursery rhyme. 13. Tear Stained Letter - 8 Good track with a classic Cash sound and tempo. I feel like Cash loses the vocals a little bit in the second verse. The piano is superb on the track. 14. Streets of Laredo - 6 It's not a bad track. It's reminiscent of what would have been a slower track on any Cash album from any album of his. Lyrically it's very good and the messaging is very clear on what the track is a metaphor of. 15. We'll Meet Again - 5 It's not a bad track and it cannot be underestimated on the importance and imagry of it. Having said that the choice of supporting instruments I'm not a big fan of. Makes the track feel like some random coffee shop background track instead of what it is meant to be. Average Rating: 7.00 Adjusted to a 5-Point Scale: 3.50 Rounded Up: 4 Stars

The strength of this album is the first half. In fact if it were just like the first eight songs I might actually go ahead and give it five stars. Man Comes Around, Hurt, Give My Love to Rose (which sounds more harrowing with his aged voice), I Hung My Head and Personal Jesus al give me all the feels. The rest of the album is good, buif I just based it on thar it'd be a solid 3½.... I'm going to say strong 4 overall. 8.8 ★★★★

Starts really strong and dips abit towards the end. Still, the title track, "Hurt" and "Personal Jesus" are all top tier performances. 4.5 stars

On the first few American Recordings albums, the covers were used sort of sparingly, mixed in with Cash originals. Even the covers that were used, were often deeper cuts, like Beck's "Rowboat". By the fourth installment, you kind of get the feeling Rick Rubin just gave Cash a list of songs he heard on the radio on the drive to the studio. I think Cash does the best he can with all of these, and nothing is bad, but I kind of wish the track list was a little more interesting. I didn't really need Johnny to cover already iconic songs "Bridge Over Troubled Water", "In My Life", or "Desperado". That being said, there's some great stuff here. The two Cash originals are great, his version of "Hurt" probably makes most people forget it was originally a Nine Inch Nails song, and his cover of Sting's "I Hung My Head" is far superior to Sting's. And though it's not the most exciting Hank Williams song they could've picked, Johnny Cash dueting with Nick Cave is a thing of beauty. 4 stars.

Some great covers including nice duets with Nick Cave and others. Highlights for me are the title track, Hurt, and I Hung My Head. Some of the songs chosen I think are a little bland but they obviously meant something to Mr. Cash.

it sounds like funeral music to me

Great last album of a legend. Mostly covers and unreleased tracks. He made “Hurt” completely his own. What a reflection of a truly impactful voice on American country / folk

It is really hard to dislike a Johnny Cash album, this one is pretty good -- his voice fits so many of these songs so well. I wasn't as enamored with some of them as others but still "Hurt" gets top billing for hits but anything can make a Simon and Garfunkel song tolerable is aces is my book!

I never tire of listening to the Man In Black. One of life's good guys. Had a little weep along to some of the songs on this album.

-1 star as its all covers +1 star as some of those covers are better than the originals

This one was a whole journey.

So completely forgot I listened to the album haha, but the constant reminder of death and how it comes for us all is quite dark. This might make my list of "Songs to Play at My Funeral".

Great cover album

eek

Gives me a nostalgic feeling even though I've never heard this before - ohhhhhh because it's all covers

Much like Johnny Cash's career, this album was marked by the highs and lows. As the fourth installment of his Rick Rubin-produced series of American Recordings, this album stuck to a familiar formula: Cash in his living room, accompanied by his guitar, playing the songs that were meaningful to him. By the time this album was released, this approach was tried, true and, some would say, a bit tired. The key difference here is that this collection of songs was recorded in the years directly before Cash’s death. This fact pervades every song on the album via Cash’s wearied voice, a stark contrast to the energetic baritone of his prime or even the first American Recordings album released 9 years prior. Cash’s vocals are the defining feature of this album, and its songs live and die by the effect they create. At the same time, Rubin adds slightly more extensive production elements in backing instrumentation and vocals. When these elements combine with the right song, the results are near perfect. It is cliché to mention at this point, but Hurt is one of the highlights of Cash’s storied career, and may be one of the most greatest songs of the 21st century. Trent Reznor’s already-powerful lyrics are injected with new life when joined with Cash’s haunting voice and personal history. If this album was included in the list of 1001 due to this song alone, I would understand perfectly. Similarly, Cash is at his best on this album on songs that juxtapose the outlaw image he cultivated throughout his career with his deep faith. The Man Comes Around, complete with Cash’s readings of Revelation, begins the album by stating the stakes of his life’s deeds in no uncertain terms. He wonderfully conveys his anticipation of the Final Day, and you can feel the confidence of his belief that, whatever will come to him, righteousness will be done. I Hung My Head also finds Cash meditating on guilt and accountability, with Sting’s classic Western story full of ambiguity. Not all songs achieve the desired effect. While the increased production was effective in some songs, it detracted from others. Bridge Over Troubled Water, for example, could have done without the strings and backing choir, which obscured the interplay between the primary vocals from Cash and Fiona Apple. However, on the whole the high points of this album far, far outweigh the misses.

Some really good covers... and it's Johnny Cash.

Country I can get behind.

This was so close to being fantastic. The tempo on some of these was so slowed down that it took away the enjoyment. It waws still a really good album, just not quite top tier.

This is by far my favorite Johnny Cash album, although I'm sure admitting this only reveals my rank amateur status as a Cash acolyte. Regardless, when I first heard this album I was floored with the first two songs that set the feel of the entire album, painful and raw and full of hard experience. I was also incredibly impressed that he covered such a wide range of songs, especially Trent Reznor's "Hurt" (even more so now that I've seen the painfully intimate video) and Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus". Other standouts are Sting's "I hung my head", The Beatles' "In my life", Tex Ritter's "Sam Hall" (which reminds me of Sam Shepard's version in the excellent movie "Blackthorn"), the Eagles' "Desperado", and Hank Williams' "I'm so lonesome I could cry", plus the fantastic version of Marty Robbins' "Big Iron" (sadly only on the LP version of this album, but fun to have heard the original and Cash's version in this project). I also loved all the contributions from John Frusciante, Nick Cave, Don Henley and Fiona Apple. A while back I saw "Lucky", a film with a very aged and ornery and cranky and endearing Harry Dean Staton (and I'm not really sure he was exactly acting all that much). That movie has stuck with me for many years as at least one way I hope all of us can near the end of our days. This album had the same effect on me, and while it's similar in some ways to a few other albums in this collection by artists towards the end of their careers/lives (especially Billie Holiday's "Lady in Satin" and David Bowie's "Blackstar", and maybe even Leonard Cohen's "You Want it Darker"), Cash is setting his own terms and seems at peace with the highs and lows and in-betweens of his life (to borrow from the title of an album by a fellow hard-living country singer, Townes Van Zandt (why isn't he in this collection????)).

Great album of covers by the Man. Favorites are Hurt, The Man Comes Around and Personal Jesus.

Danny boy changed my life and made me cry. Its actually a 4.5.

Pleasant to listen to. Great voice. Great songs.

There's a rawness and vulnerability in this late album from Cash. At 15 tracks it's also overly long. Not all the covers work, but damn, does Hurt hit just as hard as it did the first time I saw the video air on MTV at 4 am all those years ago. Also, administrators getting cheeky scheduling this the day after I received The Downward Spiral as my album of the day.

Solid stuff. A few too many songs diminishes the power somewhat but he adds a lot of power to some covers like hurt and personal jesus. And I actually really like the original opener. It is hard for thee to kick against the prick...

Great album. Mostly covers which i wasn’t expecting but realistically should’ve seen given the album titles. Yet each one of these songs, while not Johnny Cash’s originally, do have a unique charm that he brings. Soulful, contemplative, and a little hopeful. Johnny Cash made a great album. 4/5

Beautiful, what a way to go out. I love this album, it wanes around the mid section which for me pops it to a 4. Some of his best in his later years

Poignant with some great tunes

84/100. Beautifully themed, this album carries a sad, melancholy feel, with reflections on life, aging and morality throughout. It’s haunting and intimate, with Cash’s weathered voice adding weight to every word. As a cover album, it’s incredible, each track feels fully reinterpreted.

I was not prepared to be sobbing over a tuna melt in the middle of the afternoon.

This is a really interesting album. Some songs worked better than others and a lot of it sounds the same after a bit. I could have also been edited down a bit. The Cash originals are better than the covers. It's emotional, haunting, and melancholy. This is as much a Rick Rubin album as it is a Johnny Cash album.

A touching, emotional end to my 1001 journey ❤️

Good album of cash especially since it was his last

It's a corker! Some incredible songs delivered in an inimitable manner by a real talent. Also Rick Rubin knew what he was up to!

"American IV: The Man Comes Around" is the 67th studio album by American country musician Johnny Cash and the last one to be released during his lifetime. The majority of songs are covers, performed in sparse style with help from producer Rick Rubin. Cash had backing vocal assistance from Fiona Apple, Nick Cave and Don Henley and numerous guest musicians including John Frusciante (guitar), Mike Campbell (guitar), Benmont Trench (keyboards) and Billy Preston (piano). The album had decent reviews and reached #22 on the US charts and #40 in the UK. Cash quoting the bible opens the album and "The Man Comes Around." Sparse, as all these songs are, with an acoustic guitar, piano and bass in a song Cash wrote. Cash with an incredible and devastating vocal performance dominate the cover of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt." Tom Petty and Heartbreakers' Mike Campbell on guitar and Benmont Trench on an absolutely pounding piano. Cash's vocals cut the core of the songs' theme of drug addiction and its effects. Fantastic. Fiona Apple backs Cash on the vocals in his cover of Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water." The song is slowed down and enhanced by the organ and gospel backing vocals giving this a spiritual vibe. Producer Rick Rubin ask the Red Hot Chili Peppers' guitarist John Frusciante to rearrange Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus." And he does giving this song a bluesy-country stomp especially with the piano. Cash said this was his most evangelical performance he's ever done. Depeche Mode's Dave Gahan was tentative at first to allow the cover until he realized that the request was like Elvis asking for something. Needless to say, he was happy with the result. My favorite cover of his own catalogue is "Sam Hall." A country guitar with a rollicking piano. He originally recorded this on a 1965 album. Cash's deep, emotional vocals and interpretations are the highlights of this album. In a lot of these songs (I'll use the cliche), he takes them and makes them his own. The musical arrangements are sparse and mostly great with acoustic guitars and especially the piano and organ giving the cover songs a spirituality not heard in the original versions. One song that didn't work for me was his cover of the Beatles' "In My Life." But, the majority of this album does work to a high level and resulted in a very pleasurable and worthwhile listen.

This album does what I wish more country could. Easy to listen and follow. Flawless use of simplicity and an amazing voice.

3.5

+1 as its last recording. -1 because nothin is original. +1 because he covers them so damn well. +1 because it’s Cash. I’m adding this to my personal album list. I loved it in a 4⭐️kind of way.

First half of the album had me in tears. Such moving lyrics in Cash’s seasoned hands imbues them with a different depth and meaning.

Great album, loved listening to ti9s and will be back. Although familiar his covers were something else. 4/5

This sounds on paper very contrived but actually works out to a well put together album 4*

I was wishing they'd just leave that old man alone by the time this fourth installment of forced life-support came out, but then I heard the heartbreaker that is "Hurt" and then "Personal Jesus" and thought maybe Rick Rubin really is a genius like they say. "In My Life" is almost unfair how poignant it is in his ragged voice, and they even managed to find a decent song inside "Desperado." Docking one point for all the sub-par apocalypse movie trailers the excellent title track has inspired.

Bumping it up a star for Cash's monumental cover of Hurt, but the rest of this is just... fine?

I already knew this one, and have listened to it quite a lot. Hurt is such a huge song...impossible not to be affected by it. I had a bit of a Johnny Cash phase...I love all the outlaw country stuff. Probably goes on a little...but some inspired covers 4/5

shit was so cash

Very emotional, genuinely a great experience. Love the addition of covers of great songs, I usually hate that kinda thing but it feels right

4,1

Raw and sincere. His songwriting is magnificent and catchy at the same time. I enjoy his music, it gets through your veins and leaves you with a melancholy feeling.

Didn’t think I’d be impressed by an album of mostly covers but this was damn good.

Cash: entering the hallowed halls of Jeff Buckley and Alien Ant Farm as 'cover artists who unequivocally surpassed an already classic original'. Musically it's good, not exceptional, but Cash's voice has been refined to the perfect, smoky edge by this point in his career and it's practically unmatched. fav tracks: Hurt, I Hung My Head

A powerful end to a legendary career. The Man Comes Around, Hurt, Personal Jesus, We'll Meet Again all added to Liked Songs.

Excellent, maybe a touch too long, but some great songs and versions of songs

the idea of johnny cash listening to nine inch nails and going “i wanna do that” makes me really joyous.

The title song has been a favourite of late so a great reason to listen to it more. The album always struck me as being too long but it was enjoyable to immerse yesterday. The Nick Cave duet doesn't work as well as hoped unfortunately!

Me ha encantado la primera mitad del album pero despues del cover de Personal Jesus se densinfla bastante y se vuelve repetitivo aun asi me ha parecido bastante bueno. A veces me sentia en rdr 2 y otras podria ser banda sonora de the last of us.

Finally found a covers album that deserves this list. Until now didn’t understand why cover albums were significant enough to join this list but wow Johnny you are an icon. The way you sang I Hung My Head changed me. Some items on here don’t stack up to the OG, but that’s ok you still did the damn thing.

Most of the songs themselves and their production are very simple, but it’s Cash himself that really makes the album. So much comes through in his old and weathered voice. Hurt is such a chilling song. A haunting listen.

Iconic album. Iconic voice. What a way to go out. CD version omits Wichita Lineman and Big Iron. So I listened to these on Johnny Cash - Unearthed separately. 3.5/5. Raising to 4.

Very depressing album that I really enjoyed. You can really hear the pain that he experienced in his life in this album, which was also his last album. His coevers of Hurt and Desperado were highlights.

Really liked this, Hurt an all time classic and really enjoyed Desperado and We'll Meet Again

Incredible album of covers that fit the context of his life so well

"American IV" is a cowboy's lament of a life Ill lived and completely subverted my expectations. I knew nothing about the release of this album, and I expected to be somewhat bored coming into it. While listening, I found the tracks engaging and deeply moving. Cash's sombre tone brought a punch of feeling to the songs. Every track belonged, even the covers, and overall was a great record.

This is a hard album to rate based on pure musical analysis because the context of these songs is so much a part of how it sounds. An album put together by a man keenly aware of his coming death that is singing about all the aspects of his life worth singing. It was almost difficult to listen to all the way through because of how it makes one feel.

Kinda hate how he sings but this had "Hurt" on it so it was my duty to hear this

Got the HB sauce flowing

Great stuff, JC often imploves on these classics

I did not think I would enjoy Cash's talking style of singing but it works really well with his style of music. The album is melancholy and emotive.

Reason I got into music

Jävlar vad bra Hurt-covern är. Skivan bra överlag också

Det är mysigt att höra gamla gubbe sjunga

Väldigt bra! Nya egna toppenlåtar och fina covers av andra artister.

I really loved this. I'm a sucker for art that tackles death directly. I don't know what that says about me. It's powerful when someone interacting with death so directly is willing to share that experience with us. It's brave and generous. This album made me think of similar ones like A Crow Looked at Me or Blackstar. Obviously what makes this one different is that instead of original music, he tackles death mostly through covers. Each cover feels like it's Johnny tackling different emotions related to his nearing death. He even covers two of his own songs and gives new meaning. This is especially true on Give My Love To Rose. That song is literally about a dying man asking a passerby to share his final words with his wife and children. It hits way harder coming from Johnny now when he is literally dying. It's not just the song selection though that hits hard, it's the performances. You can feel the pain, the nostalgia, the joy and the fear in his voice. It's really powerful. It's 15 tracks and they're all good to great to incredible. This is a strong 4 for me... maybe a 4.5 but i'll round down. Specific song thoughts... The Man Comes Around - this is my all time favourite Johnny Cash song. It's amazing he still had a classic left in the tank in his 70s. Just a fantastic song front to back. It's catchy. It's beautiful. It's fuckin' cool. To me it feels like it's about the mixture of fear and joy of death, especially in the christian sense. The fear of the grim reaper, the man who comes around. But the elation and joy of ascending to heaven. The song just feels like this gripping biblical epic and i love every second of it. Hurt - I mean this is considered one of the greatest covers ever recorded. It's devastating. The way that Trent's lyrics are transformed by Johnny is incredible. It feels like Cash wrote it reflecting on his own life: the emptiness of his legacy, the pain he's caused people, his impending death, the death of everyone around him as he ages. Trent's lyrics fit so well into Cash's story, it's remarkable.. and the performance is just annihilating. I was quite worried this album would be down hill after starting with 2 classics, but it's great all the way through. Personal Jesus - Love the original. Love this cover. It works way better than it should as this stripped down guitar/piano track. In My Life - i swear in my review of Rubber soul I said this song would hit harder when i'm old and reflecting on my life. And here it is performed by an old man, reflecting on his life and it is really sweet. I'm not sure it's better than the original, but i like the dimension that Cash adds to it. 
Sam Hall - I really liked this one. I love him shouting “damn your eyes” over and over. It just brought a smile to my face. What a great old country song. Danny Boy - I’m a sucker for this one. My Dad would sing it occasionally as a child. Cash does a good job with it. Desperado - I actually liked this more than the original. I’m not an eagles guy… so Johnny really makes this one better. I love that chorus when he sings it. I’m So Lonely I Could Cry - it was cool hearing him do a duet with Nick Cave. I assume Johnny must have liked that murder ballads album haha. We’ll Meet Again - I loved this. It’s such a pretty song. Sure, it’s about death, but there’s this hope that someday he’ll be reunited with the people he loves… I assume in some sort of afterlife. It’s a nice thought. I love when the choir hits. It’s so big and warm.

I enjoyed a good 2/3rds of this album, the quality of the singer stood out above the others this week. Will listen to regularly.

Gammal och inte samma bärkraft i rösten, men det ger en känslighet som passar The man in black.

There is still something about how solemn and passionate his voice is that is incredibly impactful......and yes I know that is Johnny Cash in a nutshell. His voice just kinda affects you even though it sounds like an old man singing to himself in the corner of your living room on a lazy-e-boy. Cash lived a lot of life in his 71 years and this album does seem to be the culmination of that. Just bearing his soul here. Of course, The Man Comes Around, Hurt, Give My Love to Rose, I Hung My Head are incredibly powerful songs, especially with Cash singing. I'm not a huge fan of an album of covers and re-recordings being on this list, but after finishing, something about it feels ok. Obviously Cash's swan song before he died (let's just ignore that he's still releasing albums from beyond the grave). I think what makes this album special is the fact that it is his last album while he was still alive, the massive amount of collaboration with other artists that went into it, and the sheer emotion at which he was singing these songs knowing the end was coming.

Among the best cover albums i've ever heard.

Johnny Cash ist Johnny Cash. Seine Stimme ist der Hammer. Viele Coversongs, die eine ganz eigene Nota bekommen. Seine Version von In My Life ist wirklich was anderes als das Original. Hurt ist genial.

Fantastic lyrics. Hurt is such a good classic. Unique beautiful style and great guitar. Nothing too hard and very introspective. Love it. First time I ever saw your face is so slow and gorgeous. Big fan. 8/10

Love this album, it's had a place in my rotation for a long time

A really interesting take on a covers album - the songs that I knew took on a meaning of their own because of the interpretation and performance, and because this was the last album released before his death, there’s a poignancy to each one. It reminded me of Blackstar by Bowie which used his knowledge of his imminent death to inform the art he created. An astonishingly moving set of songs.

Rating this 4 simply because of man comes around and hurt.

Opens really great with The Man Comes Around and Hurt. He’s at his best in the songs that fit with the grizzly-voiced rebel aesthetic he’s known for. In My Life doesn’t work for me and some of the other curve balls don’t always hit. Great arrangements and performances by Tom Petty backers Mike Campbell and Belmont Tench.

> The Beatles I hate country but Johnny cash and this album are undeniable

Shoutout to Pinja's dad for liking this. The covers are great country reinterpretations of classic songs. The other songs are also mostly great. The vocals stand out the most.

Hurt is a great song and this is a great cover. You get two different takes, but the same beautiful pain. His interpretations of some of these songs are great. There's a group of great performers, I'm thinking mainly Cash, Nelson, Dylan, whose covers or reinterpretations have a very different feel than they would if sung by a younger artist or at a different time in their lives. First Time Ever I Saw Your Face is another great take on a great song. Good lord, I can feel the tears welling up when he does In My Life. Not as big a fan of Desperado or I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry...hard to cover Hank.

I just watched a documentary video on the Nine Inch Nails cover on this album before it was selected for me, crazy coincidence

Was great, real classic. Hurt is very good. I thought JC died much later, so when I looked that up I was surprised.

Icon for a reason. Incredible voice even towards the end. Mostly covers but all amazing.

Truely touching.

I've never been country-committed, with Johnny Cash being no exception. Sure, "A Boy Named Sue" had me chuckling at its absurd brilliance, and yes, there was that brief late-90s moment when appreciating the Man in Black became the cultural equivalent of wearing vintage band tees—but I never jumped on that particular bandwagon. So here I am, fashionably late to Cash's final album, discovering what turns out to be a musical autobiography wrapped in black. This album swings between devastating highs ("Hurt," "Personal Jesus," "We'll Meet Again", "Desperado") and soul-crushing lows ("Bridge Over Troubled Water," "In My Life," "Danny Boy"), with a few forgettable covers thrown in just because - like life itself, really. Despite my chronic indifference to the genre, I find myself unexpectedly moved by this record. It's impeccably crafted and achingly intimate, as if Cash could hear the clock ticking and decided to leave us with one last, perfectly timed gut punch. The man clearly knew how to make an exit. 4/5 - turns out you don't need to be a lifelong fan to recognize a masterpiece when it's staring mortality in the face.

3.5

Knew it already, but was happy to hear it again!

Very good

This is one I've been enjoying for 20 years. A solid collection of covers done by a legend, the only knock is that there are almost no original songs. Still, this provided my favorite version of most songs here, and my 2nd favorite of all the rest.

A champion in the category of "old man who laments". Chills and teary eyes guaranteed.

Suprisingly I really liked this Story telling while singing was different pace to what I usually listen to. Easy 4 star

A king among men and a prophet among the choir. A direct line to the source. What Casu could do with a few words and a couple guitar strings still staggers me even after 35 years of listening to him. A lot of his choices are beyond me—I just don’t get what he sees in many of these songs. I defer to the guy, of course. Of course I don’t understand. If I did, I’d be something different than I am. And also I assume they’re homages as much as anything, but the Paul Simon and Beatles covers are tough listening. Unlike Hurt, which must have made Trent’s, like, entire life. And I Hung My Head and Streets of Laredo—not just a reflection of a corner of America’s lonely heart, but its very creation.

Better than I expected for a Johnny cash album from the 2000s

Another country album but most are covers. It makes me feel more comfortable despite being Johnny Cash’s last album in his lifetime. So the problem is that I happen to own the downward spiral on CD so I can compare this version of Hurt and Trent’s original version. Good news? Nick Cave was featured on this so it makes this album less grim. And the problem is I just finished a transatlantic flight home and have a pretty serious cold. I’m not dying anyway. and this is unexpectedly good. my mental state is already unstable and hurt just made it worse. (because i played the original version before this.) the cover of Personal Jesus is a bit unexpected but i like the original more maybe its because non-cheesy synthpop is one of my favourite genre. I really feel that In My Life is a highlight of this album because when John Lennon wrote this it already have this "im old and i look back on my life" type feeling and Cash indeed makes the feeling stronger. Hank Williams is not a singer that im not so found of but the cover of I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry make me smile a bit. because Nick Cave. and We'll Meet Again is such a perfect closing track... i didnt cry in the whole process and thasts

Kudos to Rick Rubin for helping to introduce Johnny Cash's music to the X and Millenial generations. This isn't my favorite of the American Recordings, but it's a good listen. I just wish it had more of his original songs. 3.5/5 #136

Love this album. A nice group of Cashified tunes!

Molt bon álbum. Destaca "The Man Comes Around" i les covers que Cash fa de "Hurt" de Nine Inch Nails, "Bridge over Troubled Water" de Simon & Garfunkel, i "I Hung My Head", que m'ha sorprès saber que és de Sting. D'altres covers de cançons que coneixia, tot i sòlides, prefereixo les originals: "Personal Jesus" de Depeche Mode, "In My Life" de The Beatles, i "Desperado" de The Eagles.

Rick Rubin making Johnny Cash relevant again! I have listened to this album a few times. I remember the stripped back sensibilities, with an aging Cash crooning over the top. The opener is a great tune, gives us an idea of what (I hope) to expect, which in my opinion is exactly what track one should be. And, great that the guy was still penning absolute bangers at his age! Unfortunately, that's all the original music we hear for a while. So, on to the covers: 'Hurt' had it's moment in the sun when I was younger, in fact, I'm not actually sure I've even heard the original. Great emotion in the performance. Cash's voice gives off a broken man vibe across a lot of these songs, and at this stage in his life (not long before his eventual passing), it is a great way to go out. But, sadly, the covers don't keep up with this consistency. I'd call the covers the 'tale of two albums', there are tunes which have been performed in a way where they stray drastically from the original recording. Or, they blend well into what I believe Johnny Cash is famous for; risky, honest country music. 'Personal Jesus', 'I Hung my head' and 'Sam Hall' are other good examples of this. The rest are just stripped back performances of famous songs. 'Desperado', 'In my Life' and 'Bridge over Troubled Water' fit into this catergory. Yes, it's the Man in Black. Yes, he performs with a lot of heart. However, at the same time, it could be anyone. Any busker on the street. He hasn't really done them the promising justice the first two songs promised. 'Tear Stained Letter' was a welcome refreshment, and I wonder what this album would have been like with a few more self penned songs on it. 'We'll Meet Again' is an ironic end to the LP. I also have a super soft spot for a clarinet (particularly on an album closer! I'm hoping another one of my favourites turns up on this list!). And having the 'gang' with him, nice way to end it. Yep, you know what? That'll be my one I'm taking away for my playlist (I know the opener quite well already, so it doesn't make the cut!). Well, it's certainly not my favourite Johnny Cash album (I'm mad about his live concert at San Quentin!), but it made its impact at the right time and I appreciate the efforts put into it. And, 2002-2006, everyone my age knew all about him (also thanks to that movie). 4 Stars (JUST!).

This album captures the vibe of you and your family having one last drink after your beloved grandfather’s funeral. After the funeral, friends and family had gathered at your uncle’s house and regaled each other with fond memories of a great man while having a few drinks. Gradually, guests depart. Before you know it, only the immediate family are left, sitting around a fireplace which houses a withering fire. While you all silently ponder whether or not to throw another log on, a quiet voice from the corner asks the room if anyone remembers the one time Grandpa raised his voice in anger - when one of his granddaughters slammed his grandson’s hand in a car door. Everyone smiles fondly as they finish their drinks. Realising that leaving the room means it is time to force themselves to move on with life, they agree to one last whiskey on the rocks.

This album is a classic. It was when it came out and even more so now. The only strike against it is that “Hurt” sets the bar way too high for the rest of the album. I feel like it’s at its best when the songs are unexpected like “Personal Jesus” and “In My Life” and the few tracks that bring this one down from a 5 to a 4 are the ones that are in the typical Johnny Cash wheelhouse.

Not my super size American cup of Coca-Cola

Honestly a brilliant album, I enjoyed every second. The only problem is the true brilliance came from the originality of the songs and these were covers of his previous work or other artists songs, so I couldnt rate it higher

Cool later Cash.

🕴️

Not my favorite of his, but I haven’t met a Johnny Cash original or cover I didn’t like.

I love Cash. His baritone and Country & Western influences always remind me of my grandfather, who was a farmer in rural PA his whole life and sang on the church choir for 60 years. Plus they died within months of each other. But personal association aside, he's a legend for a reason. His straightforward arrangements and vivid lyrics that often told a story made for a stellar combo that catapulted him to stardom. Here, on an album of covers, he imbues the persona of the Man In Black onto each and every one of them, to varying degrees of success, but most of them work. Of course his cover of "Hurt" stands out, as do "Personal Jesus," "In My Life" and "We'll Meet Again" but even the lesser known/not as eye-popping ones are still solid. Any album that features a cover where the original artist agrees they now own the song, as Trent Reznor did with "Hurt", is a win.

This is pretty sick, even if not something I’m often in the mood for.

I once met a man from Sweden who claimed America has no culture. Okay Sven, show me the Swedish Johnny Cash.

some stronger than others; goosebumps throughout

good

Really good, direct, and affecting. I heard the other day that when Trent Reznor first heard Hurt, he realized it was no longer his song.

Great performances, cheesy production at times, but really cool takes on some of these songs. Cash brings it home for his final release. Solid 4. 1=Crap that shouldn't be here 2=I didn't like it but get why it's here 3=I thought it was ok or even like it, get why it's here, but won't revisit 4=I like it, will revisit 5=This is some of the best music I've ever heard and will continue listening to it

My name is Samuel, Samuelllllll 1 year and 9 days between American IV and 99 Problems. Rick Rubin a legend.

"You crazy for this one, Rick!" Listened to B4? Yes Tracks Already Saved on Spotify: 5 - The Man Comes Around, Hurt, I Hung My Head, Personal Jesus, In My Life Standout Tracks: The Man Comes Around, Hurt, Give My Love to Rose, I Hung My Head, Sam Hall, We'll Meet Again (85/100)

Great album. Captured the rawness of Johnny’s vocals perfectly.

Que voz poderosa. Tem albuns que eu quero que acabe e outros que eu poderia passar o dia todo ouvindo. Músicas favoritas: Hurt, In my life, bridge over troubled water.

It's a 21st-century cover album by an artist from the '60s but through mystic Johnny Cash powers, it is full of beauty and worth listening

a couple of bangers on here. Love his voice.

An outstanding album, containing ‘Hurt’ - probably my favourite cover of all time - and the haunting ‘Hung My Head’. Brilliant from start to finish, but though exceptional - and an essential addition to any collection - it’s not perfect.

Highlight Song/s: The Man Comes Around, Give My Love to Rose, I Hung My Head The album where Johnny Cash reached the end of the road. Very much bittersweet.

I love Johnny Cash and saw him perform many times. This was a fine album to close out his career. Some 5 star songs but a few that were slightly corny.

me gustó, nunca había escuchado algo así detenidamente. Personal jesus es de el? a

Bra utvalg sanger. Sterk stemning i vokal og godt arrangert.

A lot of really good covers accented with the knowledge of Cash’s life ending shortly after release of this album.

Would be a 9 i liked it a lot

I had only listened to hurt but I really enjoyed this album. More covers than I expected

Wow. Not sure how I havent listened to this before, but definitely enjoying it. Definitely a masterclass country musician. Great voice, great covers, nothing much more to say. And he did this whilst partially blind and constantly sick

Well hurt is here and its still a wild song. Insane to turn the industrial into one of the most simple yet effective songs of all time. This whole record was great even though its mostly covers. And thats crazy. Tons of little guests all over it. And its so damn simple. I could see a guy ar a coffee shop playing almost anything on this by himself. But it just hits so hard. Great record

Johnny Cash is so cool.

Very great album. However, I did find it to be quite melancholic. I would give this a 4.5, but not a 5.

Soulful af good covers prefer classic cash though

Banger - way better than I thought it would be

4.3 Really enjoyed this as a complete album. Fantastic story telling and an intorspective J Cash

A fitting testament to Cash's talent and the various songwriters drawn upon here. Not every track is a winner, but the highs are quite high indeed - NIN's 'Hurt' at the top of the heap, of course. Cash's own 'When the Man Comes Around' is another standout and a great opener - one of his last songs, but man he still had the juice. The album is best when it's pared back and gets a bit too fluffy with strings and all sorts at points. Fiona Apple, Don Henley and Nick Cave guest for duets too, and make very little impact. Other big winners for me are 'I Hung My Head', 'Give My Love To Rose', 'Personal Jesus' and 'In My Life'.

Hard to dislike, solid album with somber lyrics and guitar plucking

Some brilliant tracks and some painful ones. Danny Boy actually hurt to listen to. On the other hand, The Man Comes to Town and Hurt are brilliant. And while not my favorite version of Personal Jesus, it’s pretty damn good. 4

Great album. Full of classics like bridge over troubled water, Danny boy, desperado, and we'll meet again. The album that his version of Hurt is on, my favorite Cash song.

3,7/5

it was a sad album but i liked it a lot (wanted to give it a 4.5)

Cash has always been my favourite when it comes to country, i’m not the biggest fan of the genre usually but artists like him and the other highwaymen for instance make it great. This album in particular is particularly daunting for obvious reasons (RIP Johnny Cash) but the sound of the album really makes it this way as well, it’s incredibly stripped down with a heavy emphasis on the intimacy of just Cash and his guitar for the most part, the sound of the acoustic guitar on this album is amazing by the way, it’s so shiny when he strikes a chord and i love that sound of guitar (great production as well). Cash mostly covers pretty random songs to be honest but he puts his own unique style on all of them and rivals the originals in many ways (hurt for instance but that’s been said a million times), i say random because never in a million years would people have thought he would be covering Depeche mode or even the beatles to be honest until this album came out. Nick Cave and Fiona Apple make an appearance on here as-well which is cool. Favourites: almost all to be honest, a few maybe not. Overall, 8/10.

A few of these fell flat for me (First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Bridge Over Troubled Water) but this was otherwise a hauntingly beautiful collection of tracks. Got chills with the closing track (We'll Meet Again).

This man came to america four times; New world record

the man the myth the legend. I was never a huge Cash guy, but have enough knowledge to respect and even revere a classic. Johnny is most certainly that. It's like Willie Nelson with a deeper bass register. If there's one thing I know, it's that 9/11 was successful in two ways: It created the current political environment, and it destroyed country music for 25 years, turning it into the most flag-fucking, troop-worshiping, god-fearing hosreshit. This is true Americana, in a way that several artists are bringing back (Isbel, Sturgil, etc), thankfully. The covers are all very much him, and he owns all of them. Hurt is iconic. Troubled Water is deeply emotional and tragically beautiful. Desperado is a different (and better???) song. Better Personal Jesus than Depeche Mode, eat shit Rob.

The depth of the pain I can hear in his voice on “Hurt,” almost makes me feel like I am intruding on something personal and should not be enjoying that track so much. As for the rest of the album, it’s clear that by this point in his life his voice had lost its conventional richness…but much like on “Hurt” it lost none of its power and emotion.

Some great versions of songs; some not so great: the danger of doing a cover. His own songs on this album are solid. 3.5

Love some of these, less so others. When the Man Comes Around is awesome. And I may like the version on Legend of Johnny Cash better. But this one is badass, too.

The one-two punch of "the man comes around" and "hurt" was a certain killer. The rest of the album was great, too, but that's the standout. I unfortunately cannot give a single hoot about Beatles covers, it's so hard to do well. I think he does... Better than most

Transformative album for Jonathan Cash. P.s. I hung my head.

An album that sounds like “I know my time is coming soon also go fuck yourself here’s some of the best music you’ll ever hear”. I have never actively put Johnny Cash on before this listen.

Its Johnny Cash, so how bad could it ever be? I wasn't blown away by this at all, but again, its Johnny Cash. Very intriguing covers and I loved hearing The Man in Black's rendition of them. But, I liked all of the originals better. Still 4 stars, because its Johnny Cash.

Very good album. Cash owns "Hurt". His voice has aged and it provides such character and sadness. It's hard to listen to Trent Reznor croak out the song after hearing this version.

Elegiac late Johnny Cash. His voice is aged but still powerful. Johnny’s takes on some of his older songs along with covers shows an artist still pushing himself to create something meaningful.

The last album of a dying man. Gritty, rough, sparse, and amazing. Helped build the Rick Rubin legend. You can see why.

3.7

Cash. Prachtige stem. Aged like a fine wine. Als country fanaat ben ik niet echt fan van early Cash spul. Het merendeel is namelijk het snellere type country met die classic locomotief achtige trein beat, dunne flappy gitaren en wel een iconische stem, maar een die me niet meteen raakt. Maar dan heb je het door Rick Rubin geproduceerde 6 tal 'the American Recordings'. Net als een Leonard Cohen was de stem inmiddels 5 octaven gezakt en zwaarder dan ooit. Dit maakt 't warme, maar ook een imponerende stem, en je moet eigenlijk wel luisteren. De productie is modern in de zin van, alles is lekker hard, compressed en droog. Maar het instrumentarium is meestal ondersteunend en veelal akoestisch. We hebben allemaal onze ideeën over Rick Ruben en de loudness war etc etc. Ja shit is te hard en meerdere stukken op nummers kraken/distorten onnodig. Vooral vreemd om dat te horen bij akoestisch spul omdat eigenlijk geen enkel van de gebruikte instrumenten echt luid is. Er wordt vaak gehaat op Ricky want alles is zit tegen de rand van kapot aan en is onnodig hard gecompressed. De laatste jaren zien we veel beeldmateriaal van ons Rickert en het lijkt me toch sterk dat deze man ook maar iets te maken heeft met de mixing en mastering van deze platen, of iets in het daadwerkelijke productie proces, en meer dient als spiritual guidance. Volgens mij moet je bij Vlado Meller (mastering) zijn met je fakkels. Hoe dan ook, was ik zeer teleurgesteld toen ik als tiener Hurt hoorde en zeer was aangedaan door de performance en dit ff op repeat had staan en het me begon op te vallen. Meerdere versies gedownload om te kijken of het niet aan een slappe mp3 lag, maar zelfs op de cd die ik uiteindelijk kocht was het drama vanaf 2:50. :( It still 'hurts'. Enfin. The Man Comes Around: Goede opener. Begint en eindigt met bijbelse passages over een paard wat DEATH heet. Lets go. Hurt: Nog steeds zeer intens. Beter dan het origineel. Give My Love To Rose: Wow. Mooi voorbeeld van hoe je in country een zeer tragisch verhaal vertelt met een simpele begeleiding. "3 chords and the Truth" noemen ze dat ook wel. Ik zou er nog aan toe willen voegen dat dit best 3 majeur akkoorden mogen zijn. Bridge Over Troubled Water: Prachtige versie met Fiona Apple. Een stuk beter dan het origineel. I Hung My Head: Lovely. Wel een klein tikkie awkward soms in de vocal timing. Alsof iemand voor 'em staat met zo'n A2 formaat papier met elke keer 1 zin van de lyrics er op. (heb later het origineel van Sting gechecked en die is in 9/8, dus wel blij dat ze deze gewoon 4/4 hebben gelaten.) Nog steeds nice though. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face: Prachtig, maar ook hier heeft het iets vreemds en aliens. Het tempo ligt zo laag dat de pauzes tussen de zinnen eindeloos lijken, en dan valt het me ook opeens op dat de vocals zo 'schoon' zijn geknipt, dat er geen enkel adempje te horen is voor een zin begint. Alsof Cash met een aan/uit knop die zinnen in klapt. (dit zal wel het geval zijn voor elke track en een productiekeus. Wie weet had ie wel een loeiharde neusfluit die alles anders had verziekt) Ondanks dat toch heel mooi en indringend. De trage accordeon die lage akkoorden speelt, beautiful. Personal Jesus: Net zo ongezellig als het origineel. Boring. In My Life: Very cute. Met de glockenspiel. Nog steeds een ranzig gitaar dingetje eigenlijk. Sam Hall: Speels, leuk. Gaat nog best wel los, dope. Danny Boy: Sick. Zwaar orgel spul. Tranentrekker. Helemaal op het einde 3:03 gaat het orgel opeens van hard stereo naar het midden toe en ploppen je ogen even naar buiten, maar verder prachtig. Desperado: Waarom clippen de vocals op deze track (bijv 1:08 - 1:10) verder mooie uitvoering. Wie zingt hier mee op de choruses? I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry: één van Hank Williams populairste tracks, met goede reden, hier met Nick Cave als gast vocal. Op zich mooi in tertsen zang, maar een goed voorbeeld waarbij de 2e stem de timing van de 1e probeert te raden, dat loslaat, en weer probeert te raden. Had zonder Cave gemogen voor maximum enjoyment. Het begon namelijk heel mooi, maar in de solo verse van Cave was het me al ietwat te theatraal. Tear Stained Letter: dit soort uptempo spul gaat wel maar hoeft van mij niet perse, en lijkt toch net niet meer zo goed te werken, waar dat vroeger z'n paradepaartje was. Streets of Laredo: Vocals lijken hier ook weer te oversturen in het begin vooral. Anderzijds plaats je Cash zo in de lyrics en zie je de oude cowboy z'n lot accepteren. Een passend einde voor de man in black :( Maar de album closer is de swingy versie van een anderzijds Engelse WO2 'uitzwaai' ballad 'We'll Meet Again', incluis de loeiharde backing vocals (waren dit de eerste gang vocals ooit?!). Hoopvol en ook best swingy met de dobro en clarinet. Een track die je vooral hoort van Vera Lynn. Thuis draaide m'n pa dit wel eens. Later kwam ie voorbij op opa (RIP) en oma's (RIP) uitvaarten. Vera Lynn's (RIP) bekendste uitvoering heeft ook een groep soldaten (RIP) die mee blèren, not great. Net zoals deze laatste chorus van Cash (RIP), al ist hier wel geinig. Er is wel dus wél een hele mooie crematie-appropriate versie die echt insane is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1xrofiEa4w Deze heeft geen raar mannenkoor, en een zieke sound door wat wordt gezien als de allereerste polyfone synthesizer genaamd de "Novachord" uit 1939. Een zeer ijle saus. "While production of the Novachord began in November 1938, it was first heard at the 1939 New York World's Fair.[5] The Novachord Orchestra of Ferde Grofé performed daily at the Ford stand with four Novachords and a Hammond Organ. The first instrument was delivered to President Franklin D. Roosevelt on January 30, 1940 as a birthday present. The Novachord was not well-suited to the technique of organists or pianists and required frequent adjustments to controls on the front panel to create new sounds. Like many later analog synthesizers, it was much better-suited to producing "otherworldly" timbres. The instrument found its niche some years after production, shaping the sound of many science fiction film and television scores." Anyway, I digress. Mooi nummer, mooie plaat. Beste: Hurt, Bridge Over Troubled Water, First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Danny Boy Minste: Tear Stained Letter Albumhoes: Ja. 5/5

Top notch old guy energy. Some of the songs I think are beyond his reach and the strain hurts me a little. But the powerful emotion in each track impacts every time I hear this album. 4/5

What a way to sign off