Four albums on, and producer Rick Rubin continues to put the otherworldly-yet-supremely-earthbound bassy baritone of Johnny Cash through some revelatory, sometimes outright weird paces in the pair's American Recordings series. "The Man" of The Man Comes Around's titular cut is the Lord in His final judgment (Cash had a near-Christian radio hit status with the similarly apocalytic "Going By the Book" a few years ago). Elsewhere, many of the best tracks here explore the common grace that allows such songwriters as Nine Inch Nail'er Trent Reznor, Sting and The Eagles to explore biblical truths of humility, justice and peace ("Hurt," "I Hung My Head," and "Desperado," a duet with Don Henley, respectively). An acoustic boogie remake of Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus," however, takes the cake on that account, with The Man In Black's deadpan delivery conveying that he may just be in on the spiritual double-entendre joke! Pretty genius. A cover of Hank Williams, Sr,'s "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" teams Cash with fellow brooder Nick Cave in a great vocal event stymied by an inappropriate lyric (a duet about being lonesome?!). A couple other borderline clunkers keeps The Man from reaching other American volumes' stark glory, but there's plenty evidence of Cash's continued prowess and revelance here.
Editors' ratings — Doug 3/5, David 3.5/5
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2003Reviewed by L. David WheelerAt the very center of 20th century music, and beyond, there stands a Man in Black, walking the line: A stallion in the old Sun stable, with Elvis, Carl, Jerry Lee and the rockabilly cats. Grafted in by matrimony to The Carter Family. Onetime Waylon roommate, Orbison neighbor and Dylan pal. Inspiration for convict Merle Haggard to take up music. Father to Rosanne Cash; former father-in-law to…Similar sounding releases
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