The Man Comes Around

Upon first listening to American IV-The Man Comes Around, I was immediately captivated, no longer able to maintain the chatter that goes on in my head. This was neither country, nor pop, nor grunge, but a raw, direct and fearless interpretation of diverse material sung with grace and humility. This was classic Americana by Johnny Cash who at age 70, was obviously still deeply committed to his work and his spiritual beliefs.

After a long hiatus, the music of the man in black, was back in my life. This time I was much more present, perhaps because of how his presence came through in these recordings. Cash covered material written by other artists, performing each as if it was his own. The power of his delivery was deepest on Trent Reznor’s “Hurt,” and his heart and soul were exposed on Ewan MacColl’s “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.” He also contributed some of his own material.

The track, “The Man Comes Around” was filled with biblical references, particularly from the Book of Revelation. His original, “Give My Love to Rose,” won the 2003 Grammy for Best Male Country Performance. There was something very honest and pure captured on this album thanks to producer Rick Rubin‘s sparse production. His attention to detail allowed Cash to exhibit a stillness and strength.

An impressive list of personnel joined Johnny on this CD including Don Henley, Jeff Hannah, Billy Preston, and some members of Beck’s band and Tom Petty’s band. Most of them added subtle enhancements to the tracks leaving plenty of room for Johnny to stay clearly in the driver’s seat.

This is a strong album, revealing nothing fancy. It is sung simply and sincerely, and with a sobriety that evokes a powerful presence. To this listener, this was a surprising performance by a man late in years and in ailing health. Cash was more devoutly expressive than he had ever been. His passion was clearly evident in his writing and his singing.