Review by Eddie Lancekick for American V-a Hundred HighwaysRating: continues as his fans are toughened to "American V:A hundred highways".The conflict betwixt this recording and his other late in life gems that he recorded on the American label are two distinct things.One is approximately of the guitar work, which seems on some songs to fall and be a tad more melodic compared to the plunking folk influenced type sound we were hardened with on the earlier albums.
he moment is the fact the finale song he recorded, titled "Like the 309″ is on this album.
Johnny Cash was already a fable by the sentence I was natural in 1975, but despite my late use of his earliest recordings, I`ve found these last ones he did on the American label to be even more enjoyable.Cash`s age does indicate in his voice, but it wasn`t his part as often as his songwriting, themes, and overall spirit that affected us.If your waiting to wail on someone who`s voice is starting to falter compared to their past vocal performances, go review Sammy Hagar or Ozzy Osborne in a pair of years.This album is a small bit of a goodbye from Cash but at the same time it`s a climax of the powerful themes and images that he evokes through his music.
I said before that this albums guitar lick is less folk and more mainstream.However, don`t be fooled, this album, along with some of the earliest "American" releases, is every bit a modern day folk slinger.Hanging on to a past he could never outrun, and drift into a future that would be without him here on Earth, Cash sings of his wife on more than one occasion, and for the most part keeps us in his creation of love, love loss, thoughts on God, and trains breaking the silent countryside as they barrel down the track.
Track 1 is a beautiful, melodic guitar based song that is called "Help me".Help me has Cash, who never had much regard for "middle men", talking now to god as he pleas for strength during a sentence when the man was slow going away.Not so often a religious tune as often as a spiritual coming of age that is heartfelt from Cash.Track 2 continues with the subject of God, only on a much harsher scale.This is where we really remember Cash.He`s stoic in murder and good in tone."Gods gonna cut you down" has Cash singing to a simple acoustic plunk as his voice quickly finds more force and rush as he warns the outlaws around him of the substance he gets from the man above:"Go tell that long tongued liar/go tell that midnight rider/tell the Rambler, the Gambler, the.Back rider/tell them that gods gonna cut you down."
"Like the 309″ is the final song Johnny Cash recorded and of flow is a simple line that has him happily singing along near the end of his years and putting his coffin on the "309″ train.The guitar work on this particular line is hard and heavenly bluesy as it backs up the tale of some old train heading out in the years when trains wailed, mosquitoes were thick, and life`s end came just after a difficult and battle ridden journey.They didn`t end up putting Johnny on the 309, but we experience every sentence we see a locomotive rolling on the tracks that we can`t help but think of him.
One thing that was really quite pleasant about the American recordings continues with this album.Cash does covers that have ranged from modern day rockers like nine inch nails and Soundgarden to this, track four, which is the Gordon Lightfoot song "If you could take my mind".Hearing Cash sing it is fitting as the lyrics as good as the atmospheric tones evoke many moods for the listener.Truly a beautiful song and one of the better ones on the album.We get another breed with track six and it is the Bruce Springsteen song "Further on up the road".The call is hard on the lyrics and songwriting and though isn`t an extremely memorable track, its still very enjoyable coming from Cash on this album.
Track 6 is "on the evening train" and is a soft, emotional tune that again brings out Cash`s vocals in more of a judicious man storyteller as opposed to a singer.Great acoustic guitar work on this tune and though like many of Cash`s songs, it is sad in base but more of a powerful message as opposed to "country sap".This call was likewise a cover, as the master was done by fellow country music legend Hank Williams.Track 7 is an original by Johnny and bogs down more into a traditional slow, sorrowful sound with Cash`s vocals getting behind and low as he broods along about discovering, losing, and discovering god again.Some would think knowing many of his sins that his songs about God might be hypocritical, but on the contrary, he`s not preaching, he`s telling a story.God was an important piece of his life early and later in life, and Cash`s songs span his entire journey when sometimes he was with god, and sometimes he was not.
Track 8 gets us support to a more contemporary feel with some almost Spanish guitars that sort of remind me of country legend Marty Robbins in his day.This time Cash has some great lyrics as he talks about girls that have affected the writer`s life (I don`t believe Cash wrote this song or is talking from personal experience on this one)."Loves been dear to me" is a fun song that spans seasons as comfortably as cities in its lyrics.Track 9 is "A caption in my sentence" and is just Cash singing on in a happier mood about how he "might" have been a caption_"if they gave gold statuettes/for tears and regret/I`d be a legend in my time."A heavy song that is fitting sang by the fable that we all recognise as Johnny Cash.Track 10 is "Rose of my eye" is a large modern day sounding ballad that is a beautiful ode to a loved one.His daughter Roseanne?Wife June?Perhaps everyone who touched Cash along his journey feels this song can be a testimonial to them, as he was to all that loved him.Track 11 is "four strong winds" and is a serious call to help wind down this 12-track album down with.It`s got simple and soothing acoustic parts that go easily with Cash`s voice as he soothingly tells a report that seems of another time and another place.Track 12 is "I`m free from the chain gang now" and starts out with Cash talking of getting rid of shackles and guards as he ends the album singing somewhat of his spirit while at the same time talking of what he did so well, to state the history of soul that was perhaps wrongly accused of something and paying the cost by being behind bars.
Prison bars, Barreling trains, Love, God and travel of life.That is the Johnny Cash we know, and the one we love, and its all right here on American V.A perfect CD to love on the fourth of July as you sit out on the back porch of your friends house in your hometown drinking ice tea and watching kids run and run in the grass.Above are birds free in flight, and in the background, if you listen closely, you can see a train_
No comments:
Post a Comment