Sean Curnyn reviews the new, posthumously-released Johnny Cash album, American VI: Ain’t No Grave:
We may forget, because of his tremendous presence, both on stage and in the arena of memory, that he was a man practicing a profession. If anyone ever seemed like the proverbial force of nature, it was Johnny Cash. Yet his thunderous sound with voice and guitar, his imposing manner and profile, and all the elements of what you could fairly call his shtick were in the end tools to a purpose beyond the mere acquisition of attention. While lesser performers employ that shtick only to that end, Cash directed his gifts towards expressing the sentiments of the song which he was singing at any given time. Whether performing his own classic tune like “I Walk The Line” or “I Still Miss Someone,” or a gospel number like “Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?” Cash would put it across with a clarity and an honesty that left a listener no room for doubt. Cash’s delivery was always unmistakable; the song, in his hands, was unmissable.
March 30th, 2010 | 1:13 pm
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March 30th, 2010 | 1:42 pm
Agreed. The proof of this is Cash’s rendition of (believe it or not) “Aloha Oe” on American VI – A perfect way to finish the album.
March 30th, 2010 | 2:18 pm
People often undervalue the thrust of Curnyn’s statement here: it’s all about a sense of genuineness, a sense of coming away knowing that a man or woman’s heart was in the performance. Dylan often speaks of this as “phrasing,” growling out his lyrics in such a way that you know he’s been down that road.
This is what sets the greats with limited vocal ability — Dylan & Cash preeminent amongst them — miles above the mere performer who concerns him/herself with technical ability.
And every now and then, a man like Frank Sinatra comes along and nails them both.
March 30th, 2010 | 6:58 pm
“greats with limited vocal ability”
sure, but even they issue tons of dreck. Check out Dylan’s Xmas album for proof. As for Cash, I think more people put him on lists than ever listen to him. It’s like having War and Peace or Moby Dick on your shelf.
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