Johnny Cash - I Walk The Line

So, I'll fully admit - I'm kind of slacking today. I've got a ton going on and I still want to post, so I'm going to take it easy by hitting some sweet spot albums. I should be doing another Country review from Jen, but I honestly can't give a new album the attention it deserves - so I'm going to the one country artist that I know and love, Johnny Cash. I was turned on to Johnny as a little kid. We had an old record player up north and that was one of about 30 records we had. I always thought I hated country and I never listened to it other than that record. I loved it. Sure there was the novelty 'Suppertime' song that was great for kids, but when I actually listened to his real music - even as a young kid it had a different feel to it. Listening to something like 'Folsom Prison' just tells a story unique to anything I'd heard at the time. Heck, even today - I don't think you find a storyteller quite as good as Cash. This album came out in 1964 and to this day is only certified gold. Hard to believe with all the great tracks on it. I know his live album from Folsom is like 3x platinum and that was always his standard setter. But this album is great...for coming out before greatest hits albums were all the rage - this could easily pass as one. If you've never heard Cash before, dig yourself out of that hole and listen to him. Even if you're not a country buff, you'll enjoy at least a couple songs. I promise. Happy Thursday!

TRACK LISTING:
1. I Walk the Line
2. Bad News
3. Folsom Prison Blues
4. Give My Love to Rose
5. Hey Porter
6. I Still Miss Someone
7. Understand Your Man
8. Wreck of the Old '97
9. Still in Town
10. Big River
11. Goodbye Little Darlin' Goodbye
12. Troublesome Waters

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Folsom Prison Blues
2. I Walk The Line
3. Big River

FINAL RATING:
4 out of 5 stars

Johnny Cash - America VI: Ain't No Grave

Ever since I picked up a Johnny Cash greatest hits album a few years back and heard the track 'Hurt', I've been obsessed with his later in life work. Seeing the video for Hurt and then listening to what really seems to be a broken man who just wants to hit the final resting place is somewhat mind blowing. Ain't No Grave appears to be his final record in a legendary career. Now - I'll admit I'm a bit biased just because I love any artist that puts such raw emotion into their work, and normally I'd say I love this just because of that fact. But in all honesty, this one seems to fall short for me. It doesn't have that signature Hurt type track, and while I love the very minimal studio effects to this album, lyrically it's just not as mesmerizing as his other late stuff. The guitar work and arrangements are all right up there, but when I sit back and listen to it a few times, I just feel it lacks the substance overall. It's still worth checking out, and if nothing else, grab some of this other post death releases. I think overall, you'll be impressed by how much his style changed, and how one man and a guitar can really move you.

TRACK LISTING:
1. Ain't No Grave - (featuring Scott Avett)
2. Redemption Day
3. For the Good Times
4. I Corinthians 15:55
5. Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound
6. Satisfied Mind
7. I Don't Hurt Anymore
8. Cool Water
9. Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream
10. Aloha Oe

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Ain't No Grave
2. Satisfied Mind
3. Redemption Day

FINAL RATING:
3 out of 5 stars