Review: Johnny Cash - American VI: Ain't No Grave (2010)

Release Date: February 23

Length: 32:21

Genre: Americana

In Johnny Cash's final nine years being alive (1995-2003) , he has transformed entirely as a musician. Once known as the freight train Man in Black of country rock legend, he turned into a reflective 70 year old man warning sinners about the nature of God, as well as singing about the beauty of the life he once lived. It's actually amazing how beautiful his decaying voice sounds, especially in his final recordings, when he barely has the power to sing anymore. Most of these recordings were carried out via the American Recording series, a several volume album series made up of with producer Rick Rubin. In the first three volumes of this series, albeit still being very good, the music sounded more of an aged Johnny Cash trying to be regular Johnny Cash. However, IV takes a very dramatic turn, in which Cash actually sings of his emotions. It's almost to the point where, as of the fourth volume, the album mood shifts from "Songs being covered by Johnny Cash" into "Songs that now belong to Johnny Cash". This trend continued into the fifth volume, notably in the song God's Gonna Cut You Down, in which the original song's warnings of divine wrath are turned into utter promises. Four years later, a new volume of this work arises. WillAmerican VI join the ranks of the previous two volumes, or are you about to read a review of an album made up of leftovers?

In an interesting turn of events, it kind of ends up being both. The first two songs on the album, Ain't No Graveand Redemption Day definitely rank in the top five tracks released in the American Recordings series. The former is a powerful cover of Joni Mitchell which definately gives us a new perspective about how Cash may have felt at one point as he was preparing to face death. The follow up is an oddly catchy song about arriving to Pearly Gates. Of course, neither of these songs are quite as great as The Man Comes Around and God's Gonna Cut You Down, but wonderful nonetheless. There are quite a handful of great songs on the album, such as the song Cash himself wrote (the only one on the album, sadly) I Corinthians 15:55, Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound, and It Don't Hurt Anymore. The other songs are all decent, just nothing particularly special (AKA, "Songs being covered by Johnny Cash"). One more note: remember in my Ringo Starr review when I mentioned that song that pronounces a word hilariously? Pay attention when Cool Clear Water starts playing.

There is one problem that I have to get off my chest as far as this album is concerned. The flow is almost non existant. No theme, just songs. This raises two questions. The first is whether this means that Rick Rubin is finally starting to run out of tracks to give us (hint: almost positively yes), and the second is raised especially after my second and third listens: "In Johnny Cash's case, does it really matter?". In all honesty, it doesn't completely matter. The fact that Johnny Cash was in the situation he was when he recorded these almost sets the theme for itself.

To conclude, Johnny Cash's American VI: Ain't No Grave is a slightly underwhelming album compared to the previous two albums in the series, but still is wonderful enough to be in the same tier of greatness.

Grade: A-

Notable Tracks: Ain't No Grave, Redemption Day, I Corinthians 15:55, Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound, It Don't Hurt Anymore, Cool Clear Water.