The Collegian

Issue date: 9/19/06 Section: Detour

There are only two certainties in life: death and Johnny Cash's legendary status. When his six decade career ended on September 12 of 2003, Cash began to garner more post-humous success than any American icon before him. He continues to emerge as the Man in Black on American V: A Hundred Highways.

Cash became reclusive in the early 1990s. His frustrations with record labels musically limiting his tactics lead him to abandon all companies. Bearded co-founder of Def Jam Records-the most recognizable label in hip-hop, Rick Rubin, believed Cash's music should never cease, so he proposed a stripped down, elemental record. They agreed. Cash described the mood of the record as being "late and alone." American Recordings (1994) propelled Cash back to fame.

Cash's last album, American IV: When the Man Comes Around (2002) may have been the defining album of his life. His illustrious career was culminated with the cover of Nine Inch Nail's "Hurt"-an instant classic. Cash exhibited his dedication to the album by whittling down the entire Bible into the lyrics for the title track. The lightning in a bottle of American IV; however, does not downgrade his first album from the heavens in American V.

Four years later on American V, Rick Rubin remains true to Cash as a producer and a friend. Cash had only managed to recorded vocals for the album. Rubin ensures the music does Cash justice though; as the musicians are previous Cash collaborators. The record seamlessly incorporates extra instruments without diminishing a single strum of the sad guitar. As with the previous American recordings, the guitar strays away from Cash's plucking style and flows as smooth as Cash's stories.

From the first lines sung and the first chords strummed, the album promises to be just as stellar as the previous four records in the series. The first track "Help Me" drags listeners through a melodic petition to the Lord. This merciful God turns vengeful on the next track "God's Gonna Cut You Down." What follows is the last song Johnny Cash wrote and recorded: "Like the 309." Cash's voice struggles to soar with the heart-rending opening lines: "It should be a while before I see doctor Death/So, it would sure would be nice if I could get my breath." His trademark baritone is now faint and raspy, but an allure still holds, whether it's the words or the voice of possibly the most prolific singer/songwriter ever.

The album expresses Cash's favorite themes: regret, death, love, and God. Absent, however, is murder. The two spirituals "I Came To Believe" and "I'm Free From The Chain Gang Now" are poignant pillars for other tracks such as the Bruce Springsteen cover "Further On Up the Road." Cash conveys his typical emotionally gut-wrenching reflections in "A Legend In My Time" and "Love's Been Good to Me." Cash constantly sings with pain-a longing for June Carter Cash. As the record ends, it is apparent Cash knows over a hundred highways.

Johnny Cash treads on. American VI is slated for a 2007 release.

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