American IV: The Man Comes Around

Цікаво як Джонні Кеш (з допомогою Ріка Рубіна) зміг наприкінці життя оновити свою кар'єру.

Колись випадково в секонд-хенді, здається гривень за 20, купив собі його автобіографію, написану доволі відверто. В цій книзі він детально розповідав про сесії для амерікани й напевно об'єктивно четвертий альбом є найкращим, у першу чергу через вдалий кавер на НІН.

Десь напевно на початку десятих в нашій тусовці модним було слухати ці альбоми, але скажу відверто що я майже не повертаюсь до них. Тому і ставити високу оцінку не буду.

DID YOU KNOW: Vince Clarke said “Personal Jesus” belongs to Johnny Cash after hearing His version 🙏🥰😩👌

Johnny Cash's voice is remarkable. The selection of tracks on the album is exceptional. I originally knew the track Hurt from Nine Inch Nail. I've heard Cash's version and the version by Secret Discovery, a German dark rock band. I liked Trent Reznor's original best. But Cash's version is also very good. It's similar with Personal Jesus. I also like the original by Depeche Mode best here. But Cash's version is also very good here. The cover version Vera Lynn's origonal We'll Meet Again is also particularly noteworthy. Overall, the album is very atmospheric but, perhaps also in view of Cash's health situation at the time, rather subdued. That's why I probably won't be listening to the album again any time soon. 3/5

Some of this works so well it's hard to say it's not a great album. The Hurt cover alone is probably enough to get this a great rating. But there are some stinkers on here, you can't ignore them. But the good is so good that I'll still give it a really good rating.

Unfortunately, The Man was still trying to make music at this point, which essentially boils down to inane, out of breath mumbling, with no (or very poor) vocal melodies, and basic musical arrangements. Additionally, the celebrated covers on this album are decidedly worse than the originals.

there are some really incredible tracks on here but the overall experience is pulled down by the presence of some not so great tracks. it was still an enjoyable listen

Hurt is an all time classic and easily worth 5 stars. I love Johnny Cash and this era of his music. There’s more interesting American recordings though IMO. There’s a few duds on here like We’ll meet again and a few uninteresting ones. Songs like Hurt, First time ever I saw your face, I hung my head and In my life are amazing though.

Johnny Cash does not need any introduction as a country legend, nor does his cover of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt" which is so transformative that Trent Reznor no longer considered it his song. The rest of American IV is on par with that song - a collection of mostly covers and re-recordings from an elder statesman on the brink of death. The only newly written song included is the title track "The Man Comes Around", which would be one of his last.

A lot of guest musicians make impressive contributions to this album. John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers reworked Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus" on a popping acoustic guitar riff accompanied by Billy Preston's tingling piano play. Fiona Apple's backing vocals come off haunting on the chorus of Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water". Nick Cave shares a rather somber duet with him on Hank Williams' "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry". Hell, even Don Henley brings out a good rendition of the Eagles' "Desperado". Of course, Johnny Cash himself brings enough dark crooning energy with his guitar to bring bravado to the likes of The Beatles' "In My Life" and the traditional "Danny Boy". Throughout the album, his son John Carter Cash, and renowned producer Rick Rubin were able to mix these songs effectively to bring out the best of everyone involved.

I'll admit that I'm usually not a fan of cover albums unless the renditions transcend the original works. Johnny Cash did just that in spades. This is absolutely worth checking out.

Ik vroeg mij vooraf wel af waarom dit coveralbum van Johnny. De man heeft zoveel waardig authentiek werk geleverd.

Nu ik het album nog eens hoor ben ik het toch wel eens met de keuze. Elk nummer wordt toch heel anders weergegeven dan het origineel.

Na de vorige albums is het fijn dat er eindelijk echte kwaliteit voorbij komt. Het is wellicht niet mijn smaak, die saaie langzame praatzang. Maar je voelt dat alles de aandacht heeft gehad. Hij had zijn zangstijl soms eenvoudig over de originele muziek kunnen leggen. Maar hij lijkt nogmaals over elke klank nagedacht te hebben.

Dus dan komen we weer bij de regelmatig terugkerende vraag. Geef je een cijfer aan kwaliteit, of aan je eigen luistergenot? Ik kies toch voor dit laatste. Zelf zet ik het album echt niet een tweede keer op. Maar een verrijking van de lijst is het zeker.

hurt hurt hurt hurt hurt hurt

Some classic Cash sounds and some that felt like they dragged him into the studio and put the lyrics in front of him. "We'll Meet Again" probably my favorite... although "Hurt" is always good.

Heute durfte ich ein Meisterwerk, das die Essenz von Johnny Cashs beeindruckender Karriere einfängt genießen. Als legendärer Künstler am Ende seines Schaffens bringt er in diesem Album alles ein, was ihn prägte und auszeichnete.
Die rohe Emotion und Verletzlichkeit in seiner Stimme bei “Hurt” berührt tief und zeigt die menschliche Seite des Künstlers. Die tiefgründige Interpretation von “Bridge Over Troubled Water” verleiht dem Klassiker eine neue Dimension und lässt den Hörer innehalten und nachdenken. Mit “Personal Jesus” bringt Cash seine religiöse Überzeugung und spirituelle Tiefe zum Ausdruck, während “Sam Hall” mit witziger Ironie und schwarzem Humor glänzt.
Dieses Album ist mehr als die Summe seiner Teile. Vielleicht hätte keines der Lieder allein, weder vom Konzept noch von der bereits angeschlagenen, rauen Stimme, die Höchstbewertung erhalten. Doch in ihrer Gesamtheit schaffen sie ein Werk, das nur als legendär bezeichnet werden kann. Johnny Cash hat mit “American IV: The Man Comes Around” ein Vermächtnis hinterlassen, das die Zeit überdauern wird - Danke dafür Johnny 😊👍

one of my favorite johnny cash albums.

A masterpiece

Wow, this is tough one. REAL downer of an album, which is something I'm not too keen on. But the performances are SO POWERFUL and moving, it's hard not to love this. Learning the context around the making of this album is heartbreaking, and makes it all so understandable. This is a tribute to pain, isolation, and sadness. Something I just WON'T be able to listen to often, but undeniably a momentous work to be respected.

I want to hate this so much. It was a pain to listen to this for 52 minutes. This is just an ASMR artist talking over a guitar and the occasional piano. It's so annoying, yet it is, from a more objective standpoint, fine. I know nothing about Johnny Cash so here's the uneducated review you were looking for.

For an album of covers, this is really good. The delivery of Hurt is always powerful to me and he brings that to many other songs on here. I liked it. 4/5

Oh boy, this was hard going. It was sad, and painted pictures in my brain. I love Johnny Cash, and these songs reminded me why. Also holy covers! :)

Listened to Hurt a bunch of times. Listened to the rest of the album just the once, thank you.

Virkelig nogle gode sange med noget kød på. Jeg blev overrasket over "Hurt" - har hørt den mange gange før, men har aldrig rigtig lyttet. Gåsehud!