Man in Black

[prillalar]

Well, I didn't expect Miracles to be cancelled quite so soon after I watched it. Damn.

To help me through this difficult time, I'm listening to the Johnny Cash album I just picked up: American IV: The Man Comes Around.

This album frankly amazes me. Cash's depth and artistry shine through in every song. He performs a mix of original, traditional, and cover songs and all of them are wonderful. The album is dark as he explores themes of death and the afterlife.

Some tracks:

The Man Comes Around - The title track. Cash apparently spent months on this song, writing page after page of lyrics based on the book of Revelation. The result is eerie and compelling. If I had the source, I'd make a Millennium vid to this song.

Hurt - This Nine Inch Nails cover is filled with pain. "You could have it all, my empire of dirt. I will let you down, I will make you hurt." Cash gives this song a tragic gravitas that tears my heart out.

In My Life - Another cover that is made even more poignant by context, performed by an artist nearing the end of his life.

Streets of Laredo - Makes me cry. "Take me to the green valley, lay the sod o'er me. I'm a young cowboy and I know I've done wrong."

Not every track is so sad as these -- though several are. It's only recently I really started to listen to Johnny Cash and I'm more impressed by him all the time. I highly recommend this album.