In 1994 country singer Johnny Cash (1932) made a striking comeback with rock producer Rick Rubin. The initially self-titled result appeared on Rubin's record label American Recordings and soon received the same name popularly. The collaboration went so well that follow-up albums were released with Unchained (1996) and Solitary Man (2000). In 2002 Johnny not only turned seventy (!) Years old, but
… also appeared part four in the series American Recordings: The Man Comes Around. The CD was made according to the same pattern and that again means an acoustic album on which Cash alternates his own compositions with some country classics and striking covers. This time he has songs like Personal Jesus (original from Depeche Mode), In My Life (The Beatles), Desperado (The Eagles) and I Hung My Head (Sting) completely to his will. In the list of covers, only the duet Bridge Over Troubled Water (Simon & Garfunkel) sung with Fiona Apple is somewhat disappointing. Absolute highlights are the title track written by Cash, the Hank Williams classic I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry and the Nine Inch Nails cover Hurt, which literally grabs the listener by the throat. This version of American IV has a bonus DVD featuring Hurt's Mark Romanek-directed video. (MvP) that literally grabs the listener by the throat. This version of American IV has a bonus DVD featuring Hurt's Mark Romanek-directed video. (MvP) that literally grabs the listener by the throat. This version of American IV has a bonus DVD featuring Hurt's Mark Romanek-directed video. (MvP)more
