Strong Album 1

The Spartan, dark and brutal honest "American Recordings" Johnny Cash and producer Rick Rubin had in 1994 hit the mark. This plate catapulted cash, the seemed to have been removed from the list the music business, abruptly returned to its rightful place at the top of the Rock - pantheon and made the Man in Black in his old age one more time for youth idol. The quality of the album and its success prompted the team Cash / Rubin to further cooperation with the tried and tested recipe. Cash sang just what he felt like, Rubin took on an advisory role and recommended songs that the country - were previously alien to legend, whereby there are some surprises here. To make the following album something more consumer-friendly and because cash once again wanted to work with a band that brought you an old cash - admirers and his band: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. The result is a powerful album with an excellent song selection, but which can compete in terms of intensity neither with Cash's plates with the Tennessee Three or its predecessor.

The opener "Rowboat" of Beck could not be more appropriate for the Man In Black, a classic song about life on the road and a good mood for the colorful song selection. The first highlight of the day immediately. Don Gibson's "Sea Of Heartbreak" comes with boogie - woogie - Flair and bass - piano and therefore spread good mood. The next song is an absolute highlight of the album and a big surprise. With "Rusty Cage", originally performed by Soundgarden, cash could be a long time does not make friends, the song with one for cash rather unusual tempo changes fell but to a highlight of the album and secured cash more points on the coolness - scale of Grunge - Kids. "The One Rose", an old Jimmie - Rodgers - classic is interpreted stylish, although Cash's own composition "Country Boy" rumbles quite consistent, but does not reach the Drive of the original version of "With His Hot & Blue Guitar". Dean Martin's maudlin "Memories Are Made Of This" is Cash's rough - ennobled charming interpretation, "Spiritual" he sings accustomed fervently, without being pushy or missionary, one of Cash's greatest virtues. Another highlight is the Carter - Family - Original "Kneeling Drunkard's Plea", the irresistible Holterdipolter - has beat. Slightly weaker it comes with the to soft flushed Petty - song "Southern Accents" and Cash's "Mean Eyed Cat" continue, "Meet Me In Heaven" and "I Never Picked Cotton" are again high-class versions, while the title song "Unchained" quite under the canned - strings suffers. Cash includes the great "I've Been Everywhere" is once again his inimitable coolness, combined with unexpected glibness proof.

Overall a brilliant album, which one forgives the occasional slip-up in terms of taste safety unreservedly.

The Hammer albums were to follow ...