This is one of the final releases that Johnny Cash made before he sadly passed away in 2003. Johnny Cash was already experiencing severe health issues by this point, forcing him to cancel prospective tours for the upcoming future. Nonetheless, he still had some material within himself that he needed to record. The result? This album, which is a continuation in the American Recordings series that again re-ignited interest in Johnny Cash and Country Music in general, just as more urban-based styles of music such as EDM and Rap were becoming much more popular. In any case, this received mostly positive reviews, even if this is not seen as the definitive Johnny Cash album out there. Still, let’s take a listen to this album and hear how it sounds.

I Won’t Back Down is a Tom Petty cover, featuring Tom Petty himself. It launches right into it, with some clear, crisp and precision-based acoustic guitar playing. Johnny Cash sings nicely here, and he sounds very good, especially given his illnesses at the time. His voice is quite shaky, but at least he could still make some good music at this point. Another great Country Music piece that sounds really good, this music will last the test of time. Nonetheless, this does sound really good. A defining Country music-styled statement with some clear and passionate lyrical messages throughout. Great to hear.

Solitary Man is a Neil Diamond cover. It begins with some sweet and chiming acoustic guitar work and has Johnny Cash singing in a rather raspy way. This is a good tune about heartbreak, and it is a dark message about the loneliness one can experience being single. In any case, this is another solidly good piece of music that should be listened to and celebrated here. This is a very good effort towards the end of Johnny Cash’s life, and it is also a very good listen throughout. The acoustic guitar playing, particularly in the solo section, is very, very good. There is a subtle touch of keyboard here as well. Excellent song.

That Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls Around Heaven All Day) begins with some more sweet acoustic guitar, and Johnny Cash puts in a great vocal as well. This has some very imaginative and surreal lyrics throughout, with some great music about growing older and working hard during life as well. A really great and pretty tune to listen to, this has a deep and meaningful message that is a huge hit of melancholy throughout. An awesome listen, but something that one should hear when sober, not intoxicated, this is a mournful song. Nonetheless, still a good quality listen, this does have a deep and intelligent musical appeal throughout. Great to hear.

One begins with some more melodic acoustic guitars and is obviously a cover of the U2 song from their own 1991 release Achtung Baby! It is a very sad listening experience and is about a relationship breaking up, contrary to popular opinion. All the same, this is a stripped-down and excellent minimal musical cover that sounds really awesome. This tune is proof that Johnny Cash had an emotional impact on the listener, regardless of if he was doing either cover songs or originals. This is far more emotional and rawer a listen than the U2 original. One can almost hear Johnny Cash on the verge of tears here. A very excellent cover and this song is as good as the original, just sounding a bit different. A very sad listening experience. Great to listen to.

Nobody begins with some more upbeat acoustic guitar playing and launches into a very decent piece of music that sounds raw and direct. Credit must go here to Johnny Cash for breathing life into such great pieces of music. A very relaxed vibe is here, even if the lyrics and music exude pain throughout. In any case, this is a wonderful and lively listening experience that showcases that, even towards the end of his life, Johnny Cash had some great music inside him. A really good, yet sad-sounding piece, this works a treat throughout. A great listen, through and through. This is another golden gem of an album by Johnny Cash. It ends after three minutes, a great tune.

I See A Darkness is a Will Oldham song, featuring Will Oldham himself. It begins with some pretty acoustic guitar playing, which sounds great. Eventually, Johnny Cash sings away nicely, and there is a piano in the background as well. This is yet another great song with some deep and emotional singing about difficulties in dealing with one’s love life. This is very dark indeed, and it sounds as though Johnny Cash is indeed struggling to see the light. Nonetheless, this is a great song that makes perfect sense to listen to if one is going through a rough patch in life. A good tune about the darker side of friendship, this song is a really wonderful listen throughout, just like all the songs here. There is an emotional climax to conclude with, which sounds great. Good listen.

The Mercy Seat is a Nick Cave tune. It begins with some awesome acoustic guitar playing and some spoken word dialogue by Johnny Cash. This song is very different listening and is fairly deep, dark and different. The chorus is very, very good and this details being tried for a crime per se. A dark, deep and different listening experience that sounds unique and wonderful, there is some good keyboard throughout here as well. Again, this is a very good piece of music to listen to, like the rest of the album. These songs have a sense of sadness about them as well. There are layered keyboards and pianos to make this tune come alive. A really great song about the worst of all scenarios, this does sound very different but good listening. Worth hearing when you are up the proverbial creek. A great song, period. This is very awesome.

Would You Lay With Me (In A Field Of Stone) is exactly what you think it is about, death itself. A sad and deep song that is directed to a lover, this is again, very beautiful to listen to. A great listen, and this is typical Johnny Cash brilliance throughout. There is a nice piano in the background as well. This is yet another great piece that Johnny Cash has covered here and is short and sweet to listen to. A powerful sentiment from Johnny Cash, and enough to shed a tear to. A really great listen from start to finish.

Field Of Diamonds is a Johnny Cash original, oddly enough. It begins with some upbeat acoustic guitar strumming and some good singing by Johnny Cash. This is superb from the go, and it sounds rich musically and melodically powerful. A really cool listen, this has some gorgeous female backing vocals throughout. A really excellent listen as such, there is also a sweet acoustic guitar solo section that sounds great. An awesome tune, this fits the album perfectly well. Very much a pleasant song to hear, this proves that, even towards death, Johnny Cash could play and perform very well. A worthwhile listen that is memorable and around three minutes long. The outro is absolutely sublime. Great to hear.

Before My Time begins with some unusual acoustic guitar playing (for this album) and is a Johnny Cash original. Johnny Cash sings nicely here, although his deep voice is a bit wobbly here upon listening. In any case, this music sounds really good for what it is. It advertises a history of music and love intertwined, which is really quite interesting to hear. Nonetheless a great, great listen. This music is very sweet to listen to, on this song. It is about the concept of love, music and fate. There is a mellow acoustic guitar solo present in this song, and this music really comes alive nicely. All in all, a great Johnny Cash original. It is very intense sounding musically. Wonderful.

Country Trash is another Johnny Cash original. It begins with some nicely dual-tracked acoustic guitars, before launching into a quirky song about being said, country trash. It has some tongue-in-cheek and interesting lyrics throughout, set to some gorgeous music. Regardless, a very nice listen throughout and this is one of the better pieces from the book of Johnny Cash’s original songs. Less than two minutes long, but great to listen to.

Mary Of The Wild Moor is a good listen from the start, with some stark acoustic guitar to begin with. This encapsulates an interesting musical tale throughout, and it sounds like a great Country Music song. There is a sweet fiddle being played throughout, as well as oddly enough, an accordion. A sad, deep and emotional lament set to music, this is a very deep and emotional listen. This has an adventurous musical setting with some lyrical tragedy to it. Very good, once again.

I’m Leavin’ Now features Merle Haggard. It launches into a great dual acoustic tracked piece, with some great slide guitar and other intricate acoustic guitar playing. Nonetheless, this does sound dramatic and excellent throughout. Merle Haggard’s vocals are just as important as Johnny Cash’s, and the music is great to listen to. It sounds very much fantastic throughout. This is a sensationally good listen throughout, showcasing some sweet acoustic guitar slide playing that sounds awesome. A great musical tale from start to finish, this is an upbeat tune that sounds powerful and terrific. A very enjoyable and gorgeous listen from both Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard. A great three-minute-long song.

Wayfaring Stranger is the final track on this album. It begins with some interesting fiddle being played, along with some slowish acoustic guitar playing. Johnny Cash sings deeply in this song, and the music present is really excellent throughout. This is about remembering loved ones in the past, set to simple and enjoyable Country Music styled sounds. In any case, this is a good way to finish off such a good album that is worth having in your collection. A sad but powerful tune with a nice arrangement of Country Music sounds. A great song about passing on foreshadowed Johnny Cash’s own passing from this world. Great to hear regardless.

This is a very loveable and listenable album that sounds awesome to this day. Johnny Cash, despite having failing health at this point, was able to craft together some awesome songs in a fairly simplistic way that is easily listenable and accessible for most music lovers. This is not as good as the first American Recordings album but is better than the second American Recordings album in this series. The album is still a fine example of music that shines bright to this day. Should you listen to this album? Give it a go, especially if you like Johnny Cash’s earlier offerings in the American Recordings series.

A great listening experience overall.

9/10