American IV: The Man Comes Around BonusJohnny CashDescription: The Man Comes Around features new Cash compisistio ns as well as a diverse array of cover songs inclu ding Nine Inch Nails Hurt Hank Williams' I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry Personal Jesus from Depeche Mode Simon & Grafunkel's Bridge Over Trou bled Water featuring guest vocals by Fiona Apple. 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 whos been able to put his personal stamp on just about everything. But American IV: The Man Comes Around which also draws on Cashs 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-songwriters 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 whats around the corner. From the opening track Cashs 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 youll very nearly cry. Go ahead. He sounds as if hes about to too. Unforgettable. (This special 2003 version includes a bonus DVD with the music video for Hurt.) --Alanna Nash
