2 Comments

1. Anonymous says:

   May 7, 2010 at 9:05 am

   Am I the only one that thinks this album is absolutely horrible? I hate to say it, but I really wish Johnny had called it quits before putting out this piece of trash. I hope he’s got another better one in him yet, because I’d hate to see this be the note that he ends on. I love Johnny Cash’s music, and I really want to like this album, but I just can’t bring myself to even stomach it.

   The content of this album ranges from mediocre to just downright awful. The completely unnecessary, overly saccarine covers of “Desperado” and “In My Life” . . . The duet with Fiona Apple on “Bridge Over Troubled Water” that makes me just want to scream (were they even listening to each other when they recorded this?) . . . The unconvincing covers of “Personal Jesus” and “Hurt” . . . I was hoping to at least like the duet with Nick Cave (another favorite musisician) on “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”, but nope. It’s slightly better than the Apple duet, but not by much. The only really good song on here is the title track, and it’s not really worth the price of admission.

   If you have everything else he’s ever released, then you’ll probably want this to complete your collection. Otherwise, he’s got so many other, better recordings. Buy one of those instead.
   Rating: 1 / 5
2. jayjay1291 says:

   May 7, 2010 at 10:44 am

   You got to be a die-hard Johnny Cash fan in order to like this CD. Johhny gives it his all, but it’s a sad ending to a wonderful career. Johnny’s voice is shaky, and he can only hit notes at a very limited range. Many times he’s off-key, and background singers have to carry the songs. Even with the help of great sound mixers, this CD is pathetic. All-in-all, if you rate this CD as a tribute to a great star and a great career and ignore it’s flatness, you will obviously love it. If you want to buy it for Johnny’s singing ability, forget it. This CD isn’t for you.
   Rating: 2 / 5
3. Jazz'n'Book Lover says:

   May 7, 2010 at 1:35 pm

   Other than a wonderfully awesome rendition of “Hurt,” I think the rest of the album is a laugh a minute. I never laughed so hard in my life as when I heard “Personal Jesus.” If Depeche Mode were dead, they would be rolling over in their collective grave! His voice quivers at times , and goes off key (usually flat)when you’re least expecting it. I know a lot of people out there think Johnny Cash is the fourth member of the Holy Trinity, but offkey is offkey, regardless of how many years you’ve been turning out great product.

   In My Life and First Time Ever I Saw your Face are also real sidesplitters.

   I loaded this into my MP3 player for those moments I become depressed and need a good laugh. Worth buying for the comedic effect.

   This is not to say I have no respect for his achievements. It would have been better if he had stuck with the type of country music that he was so wonderful at interpreting.
   Rating: 3 / 5
4. Tim says:

   May 7, 2010 at 2:08 pm

   I’ve been a fan of Johhny Cash for over forty years now, listening to and buying his songs from time to time.
   
   So, based on the other laudatory reviews, I ordered American IV.
   
   I listned to it this afternoon and was very sad, listening to this man whose voice and songs had enthralled me for years struggling to catch enough breath to sing those ragged notes. One of the reviewers sad that he never had much of a voice and thus the ragged pain of this performance was OK. I disagree, Cash had a vibrant moving style that that was deep and gravelly voice that could and did carry the melody faithfully and tell a story with energy and pathos. This was a very sad performance of a man I would rather remember in his prime not in decline at the end of his life. I miss Johnny Cash, but, I’ll take a pass on this album.
   Rating: 1 / 5
5. Tsoick says:

   May 7, 2010 at 2:54 pm

   A few years ago, I remember hearing Johnny Cash on TV singing and playing the song “Hurt” all by himself on an acustic guitar, a song that I’d never heard before but which they said in introducing Mr. Cash was a Nine Inch Nails song. Prior to that one moment, I was of the opinion that country music was absolute garbage and that only insane, tone deaf people could possibly stand to listen to it (my parents were a shining example of that). With that one song, Johnny Cash made me reevaluate!

   Incidentally, I still think that the vast majority of country music is absolute garbage and that only insane, tone deaf people could possibly stand to listen to it, but I know that there are some real jewels there as well, as much as I hate to admit it. Cash’s cover of “Hurt” actually made me tear up, it was so heart-felt and, well amazing!

   Well, I figured that, if that one song was so amazing, I should check out a few albums. Of course this is one of the ones, since it had that song! I was *so* looking forward to hearing it again!

   And, OH GOD WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT! What insane, tone deaf chimpanzee mixed this album?!? I mean, how can you possibly justify playing piano over the song “Hurt” so that it becomes basically impossible to hear Cash’s voice in some places?!? Grrrrrrrr… And, the accompanying vocals on some of the songs… What in the world made them think that was a good idea?

   *sigh* I write this review in the hopes that this album *was* actually mixed, or that, somewhere, there exist pure Cash versions of the great songs on this album, and that someone reads it and understands that Cash diserves more then the harsh treatment this album has given his memory.

   Despite my disappointment at how this album was produced, I have to say that, where the studio didn’t screw things up, Cash sounds unbelievable! Some of the songs just made me cry, and that’s a pretty big deal for me, especially where “country music” is concerned.
   Rating: 3 / 5