A posthumous album consisting of covers is not usually expected to be great or even good, however Johnny Cash’s latest, and final studio offering “American VI” bucks the trend.
It’s not that Cash has reinvented the wheel with this album which was recorded in 2003, not too long before he died. Upon an initial listen, it becomes very apparent that musically, “American VI” treads the same waters as Cash’s earlier American recordings. In this case however, redundancy in formula couldn’t possibly sound better.
Fans of Cash’s rockabilly sensibility will instead find a more diverse sound rooted in the traditional sounds of Americana based music. Whereas Cash’s earliest recordings could be traced to the ‘50s or ‘60s just by ear, the sound of this album (and all other American recordings) is timeless and musically based on a broader range than his early works thanks to Rick Rubin’s production (though some die-hard Cash fans may disagree) and appearances by Scott and Seth Avett among other guest musicians.
Just like Cash’s other American albums, the bulk of “American VI” consists of covers of a wide range of artists like Kris Kristofferson, Sheryl Crow, as well as more obscure artists. Cash himself only contributes one original composition for the album, “I Corinthians 15:55”.
As a whole, the album is a curious mix of somber themes such as loss, death, uncertainty, and frailty, typical Cash fare preceding his death in 2003 . Yet, the lyrics and music do not brood. Cash instills a sense of optimism, hopefulness and even determination not to be overcome by the darker aspects of such themes.
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Virtually every song is exceptional, with some standing out a little more than others.
The first track, “Ain’t No Grave” immediately imbues the album with a ghostly feel as Cash continuously sings “There ain’t no grave that can hold my body down” over the sounds of rattling chains, chiming funeral bells and other worldly instrumentation, a logical choice for the opening of this posthumous release.
Another standout track is the Kris Kristofferson penned “For the Good Times.” Despite the fact that the melody is reminiscent of every Jimmy Buffet song ever made, its actually an endearing, romantic and even uplifting piece of music. This is an astonishing fact given that it’s a breakup song, and judging by the lyrics alone, a pretty damn sad one.
Though all the songs aren’t great, the Sheryl Crow written “Redemption Day” immediately comes to mind sounding more like filler compared to other standout tracks, most of the songs are and the ones that aren’t are still decent.
For die hard and casual Cash fans alike, “American VI” would make a great listen and is proof that even up to his finals days, despite the evident frailty in his advanced years, Cash was still on the very top of his game.
