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Showing reviews 1-5 of 21
 The man in black sings songs as if they came out of the grave... and the grim reaper was, indeed, getting closer! February 18, 2010
jayhikkss
79 out of 84 found this review helpful
Starting in 1993, Johnny Cash collaborated with producer Rick Rubin on a series of American Recordings/Lost Highway albums. Rubin carefully overviewed the sessions and captured Cash's warm baritone voice - by now older but still full of punch - in mostly simple settings on "American Recordings". This first recording presented Cash as a hip elder of country, folk and rock at the age of 62. The album brought him back in the US album charts and also earned him a Grammy for "Best Contemporary Folk Album".
Subsequent albums ("Unchained" - 1996) and "Solitary Man" (1990) introduced additional musicians without any overproduction. "American IV: The Man Comes Around" and "American V" (the latter being recorded in 2002-2003 but only released in 2006 with overdubs). These two albums were a lot starker given Cash's worsening health and the death of his wife. A 5-CD set titled "Unearthed" was released in 2003. The first three CD's include unissued songs and alternate takes of previously issued ones. The fourth CD is a marvellous set of old country gospel songs which was also issued separately as "My Mother's Hymn Book" (2004). This CD featured songs that he learned whilst still quite young and which had a tremendous influence on him. The fifth CD of the box set is merely a selection of tracks from the previously released albums.
It is, of course, very significant that - in the course of the whole recording process - Cash would tackle material that one would not normally have expected to hear covered by him. Think of his covers of tunes from writers such as his ex-stepson Nick Lowe, the Blood Junkie's Glenn Danzig, Tom Waits, Josh Haden, Beck, Bonnie "Prince" Billy, U2, Nick Cave, Sound Garden, Nine Inch Nails, Neil Young, Lynne/Petty, Bruce Springsteen, Gordon Lightfoot, Rod McKuen, the Beatles... well you name them. Whilst tracks like those from Beck and Soundgarden failed to move me at all, some of the less likely interpretations proved to be real gems, as in the case of - say - Trent Reznor's "Hurt" (which became a hit single), Neil Diamond's "Solitary Man" or Martin Gore's "Personal Jesus". Besides, the obscure songs and country ballads interpreted here sound really as heartfelt as Cash's own compositions. Actually these nine CD's of new material could be viewed as a monument to Johnny Cash's genius.
It should be noted that Cash and Rubin recorded a whole lot more tracks that could fit on the aforementioned CD's. So, now, comes the release of "VI: Ain't No Grave" which is designed to be released on what would be Cash 78th birthday. It is the tenth instalment in the series of recordings (that is still susceptible to grow larger in the future).
"American VI" is very similar in mood to "American V". As on "American V", Cash sings in a cracked, whispered drawl. Every note sounds like it has been required quite an effort on the singer's part. This is, of course, not really a problem in itself. On this deeply intimate statement, Johnny Cash looks back on his eventful life as if he was standing at the end of the line (as he actually was!) I am happy to be able to enjoy versions of songs like "For the Good Times" (from Cash's close friend Kris Kristofferson) and of Tom Paxton's "Can't Help but Wonder Where I'm Bound". They are truly on a par with the best songs that were issued on the earlier albums. Sheryl Crow's song - "Redemption Day" - gets a haunting treatment. The beautiful and, at the same time, desperate mood of the song is something that only Cash could interpret in such a definitive way. The versions of Bob Nolan's "Cool Water" (made famous by the Sons of the Pioneers in 1941), of Ed McCurdy's hopeful "Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream", of Hayes/Rhodes "With a Satisfied Mind" as well as a version of Hawaiian singer Queen Lydia Lili'uokalani's "Aloha Oe", a farewell song, are also highly satisfying. Finally, there is one other good Cash original, a modern day song titled "I Corinthians: 15:55". Like on previous albums in this series, the material spans a lot of styles and times.
"American VI" was - as American V" - recorded by Cash's long-time engineer, David Ferguson and primarily tracked at the Cash Cabin Studio (Henderson, TN) and also in Los Angeles.
Guitarist Mike Campbell and keyboardist Benmont Tench, who played on all of the series' albums (save for the first one) were joined in the studio by guitarists Matt Sweeney and Jonny Polonsky, as well as Smokey Hormel, who also played on "American IV and V".
Seth and Scott Avett make a cameo appearance on the title song titled "Ain't No Grave" which is well in line with the overall theme of the album: "Well there ain't no grave/Can hold my body down..." The two remaining tracks are, for now, less appealing to me. Anyway, 8 pretty good tracks out of 10 make sure that this album is of a high musical and emotional standard.
Johnny Cash might not walk around and sing anymore but his recorded artistry will keep him alive as one of the most important performers of the second part of the 20th century.
The Last Testament of Johnny Cash January 26, 2010
endlessharmony (bristol)
93 out of 107 found this review helpful
This is the very final installment of the Johnny Cash/Rick Rubin years and its going out on top. Whilst other artists would probably be scraping the barrel by this point, this set sees many of the tracks Johnny recorded in the time leading up to his death, and similar to the last few CDs in the series, they are poignant as well as special.
Johnny has been quoted as saying that the work he was doing with Rubin was the only thing keeping going after June sadly passed away and you can almost feel he's nearing the end as the songs see him looking back on his life and dealing with the difficult subject of salvation, faith and friendship.
This really is a wide range of songs that includes covers of Kris Kristofferson's 'For The Good Times'and'Redemption Day' by Sheryl Crowe, as well as one of the last songs he wrote 'First Corinthians', and its quite ironic that the set finishes with a song called 'Ain't No Grave'.
The Rubin years have really proved what a great talent Johnny was and that he can't be pigeon holed as simply a country musician, and this final set, almost 50 years on from his first recordings, is a great tribute to one of the great artists of popular music.
CASH April 4, 2010
T. K. Rae (York England)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I listen to this CD three or four times to be able to take it in and actually listen and hear but it is a fantastic CD and recommend it to all. I purchased quite a few Cash CDs and enjoyed them all, but this one has such a haunting voice and melodies
Awesome February 19, 2010
A. J. Richards
16 out of 20 found this review helpful
American vi is the end of an epoch an such a fitting and powerful end. Cash rumbles from the speakers with all the power the old man can muster. I expected to find it a rather morbid and depressing listen; instead it is so uplifting and provides an incite into where johnny is now. I fully recommend this short but life affirming record.
Fitting Epitaph March 6, 2010
Steve Horsfall - Author (You Are Here ; Full Story Inside) (UK)
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
I've always been a big Johnny Cash fan and there are surely no other singers who can have stayed so relevant over the decades, inspiring and working with artists from all generations. Ain't No Grave is a fitting epitaph to the great man. His voice is much frailer but still has that unique gritty quality; the songs have a sad theme and yet they are somehow uplifting through their gentle simplicity.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 21
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