December 8, 2000
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The Man in Black is Back
I’m not a big fan of country, but I cannot deny the power of the Man in Black, Johnny Cash. Like Van Morrison, Ella Fitzgerald, Reggie Watts of Maktub and Bono, he just has a voice I’m drawn to. Marc Greilsamer of Amazon.com put it best in his review of Cash’s latest album, American III: Solitary Man: “The simple truth is that Johnny Cash could read the phone book and make it compelling.”
American III: Solitary Man is a mix of Cash originals and covers from other artists. Tom Petty’s I Won’t Back Down and U2′s One are modern songs, surprising choices that sound comfortable in Cash’s presence (Remember, this is the man that covered Soundgarden’s Rusty Cage on his 1996 album Unchained). Listening to the new album there’s an aura of sadness and demise held strong by a sense of hope and Cash’s unrelenting voice. My favorite section of the album are tracks 4-7: One, Nobody, I See a Darkness, and Mercy Seat. Each is a slow, sad and strong melody, the type of song Cash is famous for, and he pulls them off brilliantly.
Johnny Cash is 68 years old, he released his first album in 1957, and he’s released an album almost every year after that. He was popular in the 50s, popular with the Woodstock generation of the 70s, and with this album, he’s proved he can be popular well into the next century. Lately it seems many artists have been reinventing themselves in order to stay in the limelight. But Johnny Cash has quietly but defiently stood in the limelight from the beginning with the same sad songs.
Comments (2)
Johnny Cash is fantastic. Don’t let the “country” dissuade you. A Boy Named Sue, recorded live at Folsom Prison is so funny!
I’ve never listened to much Country either, but I was turned onto Johnny C from a Sony Commercial. The little Blue Walkman dude was listening to “Ring of Fire” while chilling under a tree. I couldn’t get the singers melodious baritone out of my head for days!
Boy Named Sue was great too! Thanks for the Tip Genius!