This fabulous album was robbed of being the last throw by the late, great Johnny Cash by the dodgy decision to release American V, a wholly lesser album.
So If you have no other Cash recording in your collection you must get this one. It's the voice of a reformed hell-raiser, drug addict and truly God-fearing man on the brink of final personal oblivion. It's difficult to tell when the tremble in his voice is emotion and when it's simple frailty. I like to believe it's the one caused by the other.
Stand-out tracks - The monumental "Hurt" is the show-stopper here, made more emotional by the realisation that Cash is singing with first-hand experience of the subject matter.
The cover of Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus" is a close second for track of the album. Succinct and direct acoustic guitar backing pushes the song along nicely (I've played this version in a band and it's a blast!).
But don't forget what Cash does best - simple country songs with pithy and sometimes fanciful moral stories, give some time to "Sam Hall", "Big Iron" and "Give my Love to Rose".
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