Ain't No Grave

Rick Rubin is a genius.

February 23 marked the release of what probably will be the final studio album of Johnny Cash. Rubin, who produced the record, brings Cash back from the grave. The title is certainly appropriate for this album, released seven years after Cash's death.


When I put my headphones in and listened to the first track, I did get a strange feeling. After the man being dead for so long and not hearing anything new in years, it was odd hearing his voice in a new way. Odd, but very welcome.

The title track, "Ain't No Grave," is by far the best song on the album. Rubin's work is evident the most in the first few tracks, and he does a great job in choosing the proper accompaniment to Cash's voice. Shaking shackle chains are used to keep the tempo, the very chains that can not "hold the body down."

There are a few other strong songs in "Redemption Day" and "For the Good Times." Another track of note is the last song Cash ever wrote, "II Corinthians 15:55," a song exemplifying the power Christ has given his followers over death. "O, death, where is thy sting, O grave, where is thy victory?" Cash sings out with confidence. Other albums in the American Recordings series contained spiritual songs, but not nearly so many as "Ain't No Grave." It is a fitting epitaph, however, to a hard life, and it is noteworthy that both the final songs Cash recorded and wrote were about overcoming death and seeing his Savior.

In reality, the album is seems more of an extension of American V, not surprising since they both contain selections from the same recording sessions. American VI stays true to the standard of the previous albums, however. While not quite as well done as V, American VI gives us a final listen, a glimpse into Cash's final months. Definitely worth the buy.

Picky Picky

There are good reasons for being a picky person. For example, you only get screwed over every other day rather than every five minutes. Now you may only get burned half the time, but when the burning sensation comes, it burns hard, and it burns long. Do you feel more foolish? Maybe, but that won't stop me from laughing at roommates who have a new interest daily.

"So bro, who's the woman of the week?"

You roll your eyes, but it is true. Then you come to school with me, and you laugh, because you know it is SO true. So in that case, I suppose they get burned more often but its more of a sunburn than an actual melting crisper.

"So bro, who's the flesh-searer of the week," may be a more appropriate statement.

As far as music is concerned today, I actually am going to have to commend Rascall Flatts this time. "Winner at a Losing Game" lulled me to sleep last night, and it actually isn't a bad song once you actually think about it. I would say it applies more to the picky ones, like me, who lose less often, but harder(like the Patriots this year). But I suppose it could apply to the sappy GOW people as well. Other than that, not a bad song, their best single since "What Hurts the Most."

Now there's a good song. That one actually got me to stop listening to only mainstream radio and start delving into the world of country. Don't be scared. It is always good to broaden your musical horizons (well, maybe not always...but I don't really consider Young Jeezy or Justin Timberlake musicians, so I guess the statement still stands).

No seriously, country catches you. You start off listening to mainstream radio and you hear a song like "What Hurts the Most." You're thinking, "Alright, it's a little twangy, but not bad. I guess the Dixie Chicks aren't a good representation of country music, because this song didn't suck!" So you're flipping through stations and you hear "What Hurts the Most" and you stop to listen to it, because its catchy and applies to everyone. You find out, however, that it is a country station, and you don't associate with that stuff, so you keep flipping.

Next time you hear it on country radio, you actually listen to the next song. You're amused, you're thinking "Wow this is hick." But, for some unknown reason you finish listening to the song.

Ya, you're basically about to get hooked.

Find "What Hurts the Most" again...and this time you are singing along to the song after it. Pretty soon, you get an epiphany... this music actually has some basis. You begin to see past the twanginess and some of the cheesier songs, and you realize...

It's about stories.

That's right, stories. Stories that are more than about love and relationships, though there are plenty of those. There are deeper stories, roots stories, stories about America, stories about God, stories about Patriotism, stories about family, reminiscence of time past. The music doesn't really matter as much as the content 0f these stories. The ballad, the story song, plays with more than your emotions. The ballad is about your life...about the life of anyone. The average Joe. You. And that's why you find you enjoy it. You can relate, because you're hearing about the things you care about, not drugs, pimps, and hoes. This music has substance, not trashy undertones. This music is American. It is everyman.

Wow...I just went from relationships to the premise of country music...That was intense.

Its Balian, and that's all I gots to say about that.

Everything is Fine

Is it possible for this man's voice to possibly get any lower? Or for the music he writes to have any more depth? The cover song "Everything is Fine" certainly may be one of the best Turner songs yet. The deep tones he hits are incredible. The next few tracks are pretty good, one of which is "Firecracker," but I was not over impressed, good as the material is. Then I heard the songs "One Woman Man" and "Soulmate," which describe the perfection that love is supposed to be. But the depth of the album at this point had only been scratched. I just finished sampling the song "It's Just the Way He was Raised." I didn't think too much of the lyrics until the final few verses, when they reveal Whom the song is about. You think it is some southern country boy, when in reality it is the One who set the bar for what country boys should act like (or all mankind for that matter). All I can say is that the chills are just going away as I finish the album with another fine tune, "South Carolina Low Country."

Turner has done more in this album than just play with my emotions. He has broken the point of emotions, and spoken to the soul. "Your Man" was a good followup to the awesome "Long Black Train," but "Everything is Fine" takes the cake. Country music should reevaluate itself and realize that roots music will not only speak to people, but also sell records!