Johnny Cash – America IV: When the Man Comes Around
Johnny Cash’s raw, sincere and desolate epic delivery is brilliant in every song on this album. Every song sounds like a summary of life from his deathbed. There are laments, tales of intimacy, and stories of regret all sung with real simplicity. ‘When a Man Comes Around’ is full of biblical prophecy and you can feel the heavy years and the questioning life’s purpose which then makes you think about your own experiences. He also gave us so much great music by transforming other people’s songs in his own unique way, helped by Rick Rubin. Johnny Cash carries his history deeply, when you hear the way the songs are sung, you feel them deeply too. In ‘I Hung My Head’ he sings, “I felt the power of death over life”, this is an extraordinary album that I find deeply moving.