American IV: The Man Comes Around [CD & DVD] - Cash, Johnny (CD 2003)

I finally bought Johnny Cash s last album American IV: The Man Comes Around. It s a recording I have been after for a while, since hearing his version of Trent Reznor s (Nine Inch Nails) Hurt. Cash s version of the song and accompanying video has a particular poignancy given that both Cash and his wife June Carter died not too long after its release.

I figured even if I didn t like any of the other tracks on the album (and C&W is far from my typical musical genre) then it would still be worth buying. Yes, I m old fashioned, I still buy albums, rather than simply download tracks


...goes around

The Man Comes Around was recorded during the summer of 2002 and Cash gives the impression that he just knew this was going to be his swansong. He had been suffering from complications from diabetes and from symptoms similar to Parkinsons. Cash s vocal delivery has a mixture of resigned melancholy and urgency about it. The years have not been kind to Cash s voice, on The Man Comes Around it is tired, cracking and in places flat. Cash himself wondered whether the album would get finished, sometimes did he feel so ill and unable to sing. Knowing the history of the recording serves to flatter the sense of occasion and make the recording something special indeed.

The album is a rather eclectic mix of cover versions interspersed with Cash originals and C&W standards, which again gives the impression of a dying man indulging his passion. While some of the songs really don t work well, the tracks that work well more than counter the bad. With a little track editing, the album makes for a flawless listen.


The Songs On the up

I was surprised to realise on reflection, Hurt isn t even my favourite track on the album. I think this honour must go to the title track The Man Comes Around, a Cash original. The song is quite country styled with its acoustic guitar sound, Cash s deep drawl, and its biblical references from the book of Revelation. Cash says on the sleeve notes that he never could separate out his love of God and his wife from his music. Cash struggled with the lyrics of this song for some time and said it was his hardest song to write. It was worth the effort.

Give My Love To Rose is another Cash original. It sounds like a depression era dust bowl song. It s a rather cheesy story about a dying man who has been in prison for ten years and who suffers a fatal accident on his way to return to his loyal wife and son. Normally, it is not a song I would give elbowroom to, but Cash s doleful delivery gives the song a certain gravitas.

Bridge Over Troubled Water is a very brave cover version, particularly given that the Simon & Garfunkel original is so distinctive. In truth, I m not too sure about the wisdom of including this track, but Cash turns it into some kind of Gospel song that makes it interesting. One downside of the song is the backing vocal from Fiona Apple. Her vocals sound just like someone singing along not very tunefully to the radio, and against Cash s far deeper delivery, just sounds off key.

The song that Cash really struggled through illness to sing was Sting s I Hung My Head. The song is another high light of the album. The lyrics are typical country - about a man who is shamed after killing someone after playing with his brothers gun and is accused of murder. You can hear that Cash struggled with the song; the end effect is as world-weary as the lyrics require.

Cash s delivery of folk singer Ewan MacColl s First Time Ever I Saw Your Face is stunning. It s not the best technical delivery of the song, but the church style accompaniment and dour song delivery makes the song really seem a beautiful eulogy to his late wife. The song is just crackling with emotion and makes saying I love you seem trite, cheap and hasty.

By contrast, I found Cash s cover of Depeche Mode s Personal Jesus to be rather strange and laboured. Cash seems to struggle to fit the words into the song, while the honky tonk piano does nothing more than grate. Although Cash felt that Personal Jesus was one of the successes of the album, and particularly appreciated the evangelical sense of the lyrics, I disagree.

Cash s version of Lennon and McCartney s In My Life works a lot better. It is difficult to imagine the Beatles singing the song after listening to this version. Again, Cash creates an image of a man at the end of his days looking back on his life.

The Songs On the slide

Unfortunately, the latter part of the album loses its way a little; an inconsequential version of Sam Hall, and then a cover of a song I probably hate above most others - Danny Boy. This was recorded in an Episcopal cathedral in LA, and was probably important to Cash himself. However, I find the song to be over sentimental and very unforgiving of Cash s diminished vocal range. This is a song for Cash aficionados only.

Tear Stained Letter is a Cash standard. It doesn t do a great deal for me one of those songs that swing in through one ear and out of the other without impact. No one should cover the wartime standard We ll Meet Again and live, particularly when it is delivered in the jaunty style Cash attempted. Umm that s OK then.

Cash s version of the Eagles Desperado is better but unexceptional, with Cash making the song even more country in style. In a nice touch of respect, Don Henley dropped by to add backing vocals.

Hank Williams I m So Lonesome I Could Cry moves us further back into bluegrass country, and would be an excellent version of the song were it not for Nick Cave s over hammy co-delivery of the vocals. I do normally like Cave s voice, but on this track, it sounds like he was overawed by the occasion, and overdoes the vocals.

Streets of Laredo probably forms the highlight of the latter part of the album. Although it doesn t set me alight, the song has a nice lilting flow and balance reminiscent of an Irish folk song. Big Iron closes the album and is a Marty Robbins song. It makes me think of John Wayne, but makes for a fitting close to the album, given Johnny s life long love of country.


Conclusions

Johnny Cash is such a mirror reflection of old America that we still see on black and white movie reruns on midweek afternoons; that pioneer spirit, tough guy cowboy image and old-fashioned values. The sense of the last farewell of the old guard is strong; Cash hadn t long to live, the old order is history. The world was screaming at America for its questionable foreign and environmental policies.

In this simple collection of cover versions, I sense a harking back to happier days and a fond and sad farewell to more innocent times. Although some of the individual album tracks frankly suck, the emotion of the recording pushes me to give Johnny a farewell five star salute.


Johnny Cash American IV: The Man Comes Around -2002-

The man comes around
Hurt
Give my love to Rose
Bridge over troubled water
I hung my head
First time ever I saw your face
Personal Jesus
In my life
Sam Hall
Danny boy
Desperado
I m so lonesome I could cry
Tear stained letter
Streets of Laredo
We ll meet again
Big iron

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cr01 asserts his right to be associated as the author of this review -2005-