The Sound Of Goodbye Forever

You will no sadder album than American V, Johnny Cash's final recordings with Rick Rubin. Although there's more stuff in the can for future releases, these feel like Cash's final moments. Getting over the loss of June Carter, Cash dived right into a bunch of sadder than sad songs. It's not a fun listen. Think "Hurt" X2 and you'll get the feeling. The most talked about moment will be the barely alive "If You Could Read My Mind", with its hushed vocal. You'll either love Rick Rubin for the balls to put it out or curse him for what should be an outtake on a future box set. Cash's last original's are good: "Like The 309" adds to Country's railroad standards. Had this been released a few years from now, the lump in the throat of these songs wouldn't have been so vivid. But 3 years from his death, you still feel the pain of his voice.