I've never done this before, but I'm going to directly address the folks in the Yak Shack. You lot who come in here from various Usenet places when you've caught wind that someone has something remotely critical of a legend. And here it is: I love Johnny Cash. Really, I do. If you don't believe me, come to my kitchen; I've a big German tour poster of him hanging over my breakfast nook. The one time I went to Tennessee we drove all the way in the rain out to the "House of Cash" just to learn it was closed that day a la Wallyworld. I know that I"ll turn to Johnny Cash's recordings for the rest of my life whenever I'm feeling isolated and blue, or with my buddies playing cards. I also know (and here's the controversial part of this speech) that I probably won't be turning to "American III: Solitary Man" all that much. The problem is that it's just not that great of an album.

"American III," so dubbed as it is the third of his recent Rick Rubin produced albums on the American Recordings label, gives us a Johnny Cash that sounds just a little too weak for his own big voice. It gets away from him a few times, and the cracking that's heard on the (relative) high notes on "That Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls Around Heaven All Day)" isn't the heartbreaking crack of a Hank Williams or even, I dunno, Michael Stipe. It's the sound of a guy who (oh, Jesus, I'm gonna get it) can't sing too well anymore.

Some guys who are getting older are working well with their autumn voice. I think Bob Dylan sings an acoustic song better now than he ever did. Johnny Cash on "American III" sounds tired. Maybe I'm only picking up on this because I know that Cash is ill, and it may very well be the case that "American III" will be his last recording, but the result is a CD that sounds rushed and somewhat slap-dash.

The opening, Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down," has no real insight, other than it's a little quieter. It satisfies one need: the wonder of what Johnny Cash singing "I Won't Back Down" would sound like. After you hear it, you'll go, "yep that's 'I Won't Back Down' all right." Hardly the way we felt after Cash recorded Soundgarden's "Rusted Cage" just a few years ago on the "Unchained" CD.

The cover of U2's "One" fares little better. And, frankly, it's a little bit of a syrup-y choice for a feller as tough as the Man in Black.

This is not to say that this is a bad album. It really isn't. "Nobody," a witty tale of selfishness, wisely sticks to talking blues and a two-note range. Surprisingly, I'm quite fond of "The Mercy Seat," a cover of a Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds song. Reminiscent of "25 Minutes To Go" from the "Live At Fulsome Prison" album, this is a first person account of a condemned man on Death Row. It's a little more gothic with its imagery than Cash's usual repertoire but, again, the minimal vocal range is aptly handled here.

"Country Trash," is a quiet burst of pride, and even if Cash sounds like he's out of breath during some of the passages, it's a lovely recording. If my grandfather was born in this country, I suppose this would remind me of him. As it stands, it reminds me of grandfathers I've seen in the movies, and I suppose that is just as well.

I've been listening to this disc for a few weeks, and I'll give it more of the benefit of the doubt and say that it'll just take a little longer to grow on me. It's good, it's thumbs up, if you like traditional country, yes you should pick this up. Just do yourself a favor and don't play it directly after you listen to one of his other, better albums.

Merle Haggard duets on "I'm Leavin' Now." He sounds awesome. And, yes, "Solitary Man" is the Neil Diamond tune. I don't know what's up with that.