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It is a relief to hear that although Cash's voice is clearly older and not the booming powerhouse it was in the earlier Sun and Columbia days, he's still got some punch left in him.
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Cash's voice has always had its limitations, and on "Danny Boy" and the Beatles' "In My Life," they're all too apparent.
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BlenderHis blunt, hauntingly direct performances open up new perspectives on a song. [#11, p.133]
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Often thrilling, sometimes just interesting.
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Entertainment WeeklyCash has once again seen that white light--yet resisted its allure--and written an apocalyptic title track and put his stamp on an eclectic batch of material. [8 Nov 2002, p.106]
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Regardless of whether Cash completes another album, this chapter of the American Recordings can fill the role of masterful final episode or precursor to the stunning conclusion.
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MojoIf this is to be Cash's last album, then what a magnificent way he has chosen to say goodbye. [Album of the Month, Dec 2002, p.100]
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Cash might surprise with his choice of covers, but in nearly all of his selections, he locates some personal meaning, or introduces new emotional elements.
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Cash's renditions are often breathtaking in their simplicity, but rarely do they justify their presence among a dozen other similarly afflicted songs.
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Ultimately, Cash is the type of musician that you'd like to hear take a shot at each of your favorite songs. So it's hard to fault him for the covers on this album that don't quite work.
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Q MagazineThe only top notch effort is the title track--Cash's first composition for years and among the best he's ever written. [Jan 2003, p.114]
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Cover versions that once seemed inspired now feel somewhat obligatory.
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He's at the height of his powers here, as vital and relevant as ever.
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The inferior quality of the covers belies the excellence of American IV’s originals.
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His song selection has rarely made less sense.
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UncutMay be the most consistent of the four albums to date. [Jan 2003, p.122]
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The selection here is at once so obvious and so inappropriate it feels redemptive.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 42 out of 45
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Mixed: 0 out of 45
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Negative: 3 out of 45
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Sep 6, 2022
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Aug 16, 2021
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Feb 3, 2020Very traditional Cash with a collection of cover that highlights his storytelling ability and displays his versatility in adapting other's work.