Sunday, August 20, 2006
The Personal Files of Johnny R. Cash
There was a time when this Blog averaged three posts a day, but recently, like oh so many Blogs its fallen into neglect. Not that I'm not doing anything, I've had a fair few adventures, just been lacking the inspiration.
Till today that is, and you know this'll be a good tale because it involves Johnny Cash and his new album, Personal Files. After being seriously disappointed with the Hundred Highways album I was cautious about this, but it represents recordings some 25 years old while Mr. Cash was in a creative wilderness, performing the spares one man and his guitar recordings that would later revive his career.
Some of the songs may be a bit Jesus heavy but their sound quality is fantastic and the brief spoken introductions bring the songs to life and remind me of reading his two autobiographis (He certainly lead quite the life). I first head about this album in Mojo where the Song Half A Mile A Day was mentioned, but the best track I've heard on the album so far is Cremation of Sam McGee, a reading of Preston born, Canadian wilderness based poet based poet Robert W. Service.
This poem is a grim tale of a man freezing to death while out looking for Gold and making his friend promise to cremate his remains so he can be reminded of what warmth is, with its dark humour and twists making it very reminiscent of Half Man Half Biscuits opus, Tour Jacket With Detatchable Sleeves. This song is the stuff Halloweens are made of and would no doubt would make a great party piece.
Really, anybody reading, forget the American V album, which had far strayed from thier original point of stripped down balladry and stroytelling and had instead become a collection of artists desprrate to work with the ailing man, and get The Personal Files. Some of the songs miss the mark, yes, but its a vital insight into what music meant to Johnny Cash, why he played it and the songs that hit the mark are amongst the best narritivies Johnny Cash ever performed, right up there with The Baron and One Piece At A Time.
This album has made me want to write this at 4 AM, after a late night shift at a bar filled with drunken Irish Hen parties trying to remember a tune, and by writing this I feel just slightly better of for having survived the incident. I also pledge now to make more effort to update and record for my future selfs sake, the damnedable sod.
Till today that is, and you know this'll be a good tale because it involves Johnny Cash and his new album, Personal Files. After being seriously disappointed with the Hundred Highways album I was cautious about this, but it represents recordings some 25 years old while Mr. Cash was in a creative wilderness, performing the spares one man and his guitar recordings that would later revive his career.
Some of the songs may be a bit Jesus heavy but their sound quality is fantastic and the brief spoken introductions bring the songs to life and remind me of reading his two autobiographis (He certainly lead quite the life). I first head about this album in Mojo where the Song Half A Mile A Day was mentioned, but the best track I've heard on the album so far is Cremation of Sam McGee, a reading of Preston born, Canadian wilderness based poet based poet Robert W. Service.This poem is a grim tale of a man freezing to death while out looking for Gold and making his friend promise to cremate his remains so he can be reminded of what warmth is, with its dark humour and twists making it very reminiscent of Half Man Half Biscuits opus, Tour Jacket With Detatchable Sleeves. This song is the stuff Halloweens are made of and would no doubt would make a great party piece.
Really, anybody reading, forget the American V album, which had far strayed from thier original point of stripped down balladry and stroytelling and had instead become a collection of artists desprrate to work with the ailing man, and get The Personal Files. Some of the songs miss the mark, yes, but its a vital insight into what music meant to Johnny Cash, why he played it and the songs that hit the mark are amongst the best narritivies Johnny Cash ever performed, right up there with The Baron and One Piece At A Time.
This album has made me want to write this at 4 AM, after a late night shift at a bar filled with drunken Irish Hen parties trying to remember a tune, and by writing this I feel just slightly better of for having survived the incident. I also pledge now to make more effort to update and record for my future selfs sake, the damnedable sod.
