WERS 88.9 fm - Album Review: Johnny Cash - American VI

February 24^th, 2010

Death has never been a deterrent for musicians. Just look at Elvis, John Lennon and Frank Sinatra. They still live on in the releasing and re-releasing of their most popular works and never before heard recordings. Johnny Cash's, "The Man in Black" is no different. He is alive as ever in his latest release, American VI : Ain't no Grave, despite his death in September 2003.

In a time dominated by heavily synthesized beats and vocals, it's refreshing to hear the stripped down sound of a drum, piano and guitar paired with Cash's rough and tumble timbre. The lineup is composed of country standards like "Satisfied Mind" and "Cool Water," a somber cover of Sheryl Crow's "Redemption Day" and folk singer/actor Ed McCurdy's 1950 anti-war standard "Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream."

The songs were selected from the 60 songs Cash recorded in the last four months of his life. Of the ten picked, most of them were laid down in Cash's Tennessee Cabin. It will mark the end of Cash's decade plus partnership with producer Rick Rubin on what would have been his 78^th birthday. His previous release, American V: A Hundred Highways, reached number one on the Billboard 200 as well as the Billboard Country Albums in 2006.

The sole original on the disc, "1 Corinthians 15:15" was one of the last songs Cash ever wrote and it took him three years to complete. It was inspired by the bible passage it is named after. With lyrics like, "and hope springs eternal just over the rise when I see my Redeemer beckoning me," the song proves that this is a man who knows death is on his doorstep and he has come to terms with that realization.

He continues his bittersweet ode to life and death with the reminiscent "For the Good Times," a Kris Kristofferson cover. In it, Cash looks back with gratitude on the happy times he had over his life. In a way his voice is sweeter and not as coarse as he sings tenderly, "lay your head down on my pillow. Hold your body close to mine. Hear the whisper of the raindrops, blowin' soft against the window. And make believe you love me one more time for the good times."

Standouts include the aforementioned "Redemption Day" and "1 Corinthians 15:15." Cash was also allowed to finally bid farewell with the final track, "Aloha Oe," the Hawaiian ballad.  But it's the haunting "Ain't no Grave," that speaks as an almost prophetic piece for Cash.

A strong drum beat paired with the sound of dragging chains may remind listeners of shackled inmates walking through a jail yard. In the song, Cash proclaims, "when I hear that trumpet sound I'm gonna get up out of the ground, aint' no grave gonna hold my body down."

All that can be said is Cash was right, there is no grave that can contain his musical and social influence. His spirit will live on through his craft for years and years to come.

-By Kate Andrews