The Man Comes Around [Bonus Tracks]

---

---

Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
On first thought, the idea of the Man in Black recording such covers as "Bridge over Troubled Water", "Danny Boy" and "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" might seem odd, even for an artist who's been able to put his personal stamp on just about everything. But The Man Comes Around, which also draws on Cash's original songs as well as those by Nine Inch Nails ("Hurt"), Sting ("I Hung My Head") and Depeche Mode ("Personal Jesus"), may be one of the most autobiographical albums of the 70-year-old singer-songwriter's career. Nearly every tune seems chosen to afford the ailing giant of popular music a chance to reflect on his life, and look ahead to what's around the corner. From the opening track--Cash's own "The Man Comes Around", filled with frightening images of Armageddon--the album, produced by Rick Rubin, advances a quiet power and pathos, built around spare arrangements and unflinching honesty in performance and subject. In 15 songs, Cash moves through dark, haunted meditations on death and destruction, poignant farewells, testaments to everlasting love, and hopeful salutes to redemption. He sounds as if he means every word, his baritone-bass, frequently frayed and ravaged, taking on a weary beauty. By the time he gets to the Beatles' "In My Life", you'll very nearly cry. Go ahead. He sounds as if he's about to, too. --Alanna Nash

---

Customer reviews

review by: White Rose date: 2008-08-16 rating:
Outstanding performance
Yes, Johnny Cash was obviously ailing when he performed these songs, no, it makes absolutely no difference. The power is there, the sheer aura of the man is there, his outstanding ability to take the simplest song and make it special. Yes, Trent Rezner 'took back' his song 'Hurt' at the Reading Festival but no, he hasn't entirely regained his crown. Johnny Cash's rendition of the song is still heartbreaking. It brought tears the first time I played it.
Brilliant album. Buy it. Love it. Treasure it. They don't come better than this.

---

review by: date: 2008-07-15 rating:
The Man Comes Around
I can't understand the rave reviews given to this CD. As a fan of Johnny Cash since the mid-fifties with a huge collection of his recordings, I have to say this last one is, frankly embarrassing to listen to, because it is the "singing" of a dying old man, feeble and terribly out of tune.It should never have been made.With one exception, this applies to the other Rick Rubin recordings.
Let's face it, Johnny was never a great singer in the accepted sense, but was popular because of the wonderful way he put his music across, with that distictive voice and superb backing. His best stuff has to be the Sun and CBS recordings spanning 30 years from the mid-fifties to the mid-eighties, when he had youth on his side. They were truly great. I think there are two exceptionally good recordings from the "later" years though.They are "Classic Cash '88" (Mercury) - a stunner and the second volume of the American recordings with the backing of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers (Unchained). People new to his music should listen to those two for his best later stuff and of course,the Sun and CBS recordings "Walk The Line", "Ring Of Fire" and the countless others from that great 30 year period!

---

review by: date: 2008-07-09 rating:
Fantastic
Being a 23 year old i am a big hip hop fan and have been since the age of about 10. I grew up on 60 music thanks to my parents and only ever really listen to it when my parents do. Since watching walk the line it opened my mind to country music and got me on to Mr cash.

Listening to hip hop,a lot of artists express there life through their music,but having bought this album this wins hands down. it is a truely fantastic album and as pour meaning from start to finish. No matter what your music type this album must be bought. He covers some great clasics and makes them his own.very talented man that as gave us some great songs. R.IP Jonny Cash

Go out and bye it, you will not be disappointed!

---

review by: A groan man date: 2008-06-10 rating:
Honest, Insightful and Human
The five American Recordings comprise the most honest art I have found as a great man comes to terms with the human condition as his life builds to its close. If you add to them The Sound of Fury by Billy Fury you have the perfect bookends to the male life.

Ray Gill


review by: I like banjos me. date: 2008-06-10 rating:
Outstanding
I can't say anything that hasn't already been said. Buy this album, you will NOT regret it.

---

Similar products

Solitary Man: American III
American Recordings
American V: A Hundred Highways
Unchained
At Folsom Prison / At San Quentin (Remastered / Expanded) (2CD)

---

Similar categories

Music . Styles . Country . Bestsellers
Music . Styles . Country . Traditional Country
Music . Styles . Country . General AAS
Music . Styles . Pop . Bestsellers
Music . Styles . Pop . General AAS
Music . Styles . Adult Contemporary . Bestsellers
Music . Styles . Adult Contemporary . Singer-songwriters
Music . Refinements . Format (binding_browse-bin) . CD . CD Album

---