As many people from my generation (or so I guess), I discovered Cash first with the biopic Walk the Line, and then with the American Recordings -- especially being a metalhead who listened to nu-metal in the late 90s/early 00s, seeing the name "Rick Rubin" draws attention. This series of recordings is excellent from start to finish, really powerful, and is a wonderful testimony of Cash's talent and the extent of his love to music -- the cover diversity is striking. This last recording (at least the last released while he was still alive) is particularly moving, his voice getting deeper and showing more emotion, and the themes being also touching. Hurt is of course a hit in its own category, but it's well deserved; he really made the song his own with this amazing cover, instilling his life and sorrows in every note. The American Recordings all deserve 5 stars, and this one could probably go with 6 or 7 stars.
Johnny Cash had one of the most distinctive voices, not just in country but across all music. This album, recorded the year before he passed away, is a fine example of his range - combining his own songs, traditional numbers and an audacious range of covers from Simon & Garfunkel to Depeche Mode to the Beatles, doing them all justice. The example that most people will know is his version of Hurt by Nine Inch Nails, where he fills it with his own pain to the extent that Trent Reznor said that it was now Cash’s song.
As might be expected the songs all explore the theme of the fragility of life, melancholy and looking back. It’s a tough listen at times, as his voice cracks with emotion, but he is more than supported by great group of musicians including Billy Preston, Don Henley, Nick Cave and Fiona Apple, with production by Rick Rubin keeping things together. A fine album and a fine tribute to one of the all time greats.