Johnny Cash: American VI – Ain’t No Grave
It’s hard to believe that almost seven years have passed since the Man In Black left this world, a fact that is even more difficult to grasp given the plethora of brand new music that has been released in the wake of his passing.  Not only was the last decade of Cash’s life incredibly prolific, but his posthumous years have been equally prolific, years that have seen the release of a 5CD box set of recent, unreleased material (2003’s Unearthed), and two full-length, standalone albums.  Even more impressive is that the quality of even the most obscure outtake is of the highest caliber, thanks to the stripped-down, visionary production work of Rick Rubin, who first teamed up with Cash in 1994 for the first American Music album.  It was an unlikely pairing but one that paid off in spades, not only did it re-ignite Cash’s somewhat stagnant career, but it also helped to win him generations of new fans, and a place at the top, among the most iconic of icons, adored by hipsters and old country fans alike.  

Out this month is the sixth, and final, installment of the duo’s American Music series, American VI - Ain’t No Grave, one of the duo’s best offerings, a blissful swan song to one of the most visible and influential writers and performers of the 20th century.

Previously believed to be Cash’s final album, 2006’s posthumously-released American V - A Hundred Highways was the album he was recording between the death of his beloved wife and soul mate, June Carter Cash, in May 2003, and his own death four months later.  The material on that album rightly reveals a tired and heartbroken man, facing not only monumental loss, but his own numbered days.  Nowhere is that more prevalent than on his aching rendition of Gordon Lightfoot’s classic, “If You Could Read My Mind”.  Many of the songs on that album, while mostly covers, could be interpreted as farewell messages to June, including his haunting rendition of Bruce Springsteen’s “Further On Up The Road”, and his sentimental reading of Hugh Moffatt’s “Rose Of My Heart”.

According to Rubin, over 50 songs were recorded during those final sessions, including the ten songs that make up American VI - Ain’t No Grave, the true final Cash album.  While the songs that comprise the aforementioned disc reveal great sadness, the Johnny Cash that sings the songs that make up this album is a man who seems to have come to terms with his own mortality.  Perhaps this coming to terms lifted a particular weight off his shoulders, or perhaps it was something else, but Cash is in fine voice here, far removed from the fragile voice behind American V, or his award-winning rendition of Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt” (from American IV).

True to the format of the Rick Rubin-produced American albums, this volume is heavy on covers of songs by a wide variety of artists, including Joe Ely, Kris Kristofferson, and Sheryl Crow, whose “Redemption Day” is given an outstanding reading.  However, the two biggest highlights here are Cash’s rendition of folk legend (and Alexandria resident) Tom Paxton’s prophetic “Can’t Help But Wonder Where I’m Bound”, which (at least in this version) comes off as a fitting farewell from a man who is ready for his next big journey.  

The other highlight comes in the form of “I Corinthians 15:55”, the final Johnny Cash original.  Based around the biblical passage of the same name, “Oh Death, where is thy sting – oh grave, where is thy victory?”, this is a stunning waltz-time number from a man who no longer seems fazed by his impending demise.  

Musically, this also follows the formula of the majority of the American Recordings series – stripped down, acoustic performances.  Most of the songs just feature voice and acoustic guitar, which help to emphasize the stark nature of the sessions and the material.  Occasionally, additional guitars, banjo, strings, and organ make appearances, courtesy of the likes of Mike Campbell, Matt Sweeney, Smokey Hormel, Jonny Polonsky, and the Avett Brothers – Scott & Seth – who provide banjo & footsteps, respectively, on the Joe Ely-penned opening title track.

Fittingly, the album closes with “Aloha Oe”, written by Hawaiian Queen Liliʻuokalani in 1877.  Translated as “Farewell To Thee”, this was originally written as a farewell message between two lovers, but could also be read as Cash’s farewell to his family, fans, and his own life.  Sung in Hawaiian and English, this is a most joyous coda to a most legendary body of work.

And that’s the one secret ingredient of this album – Joy.  Cash’s rendering of the classic, “A Satisfied Mind”, pretty much sums it up – “But there’s one thing for certain, when it comes my time / I will leave this old world with a satisfied mind.”  While listens through American IV and V have a tendency to elicit tears, this album does not.  Sure, we all miss the guy, terribly.  But the sense of joy and assuredness that Johnny Cash commands on this album – well, that softens the blow, at least a bit.  

< Prev		Next >