Someone has to say it.........

….that Johnny Cash album that's just come out….what in God's name is that shite all about?

If that's an amazing album, then in every country pub in Ireland there's a smelly drunken old farmer sitting in the corner singing to himself just waiting to be discovered.

The strength of the album is not equal to the praise/hype it receives. Out of 12 tracks the standouts are:
Tracks 2 and 3 which contrast his booming voice on 2 with a breathy/weakness of voice on 3. Supposedly, Like the 309 the last song he wrote and it has great lyrical content.
Tracks 4 and 6: covers from Lightfoot and Hank. Hearing Cash sing Hank's song about watching his mom's casket being carried away on the train is heartbreaking. Framed in the view of his recent loss of June adds more sadness.

Overall it's no where near as great as American Recordings. There's a little more post production work than I think was needed. I would have prefered to hear just the ailing man and guitar.