Johnny Cash — My Mother's Hymn Book

Johnny Cash's last album, When The Man Comes Around, was brutally profound in its dark explorations of a man clearly approaching the end of his life. It's appropriate that My Mother's Hymn Book comes out after Cash's death, in that it approaches the subject of the singer's own death with a sense of hope and security that's peculiarly comforting even to non-believers. Cash performs these traditional gospel songs with only an acoustic guitar and the stripped-down arrangements allow his tremendous heart and humble faith to shine like a beacon. This isn't the perky "Jesus Loves Me" sentiment of suburban Sunday school, nor the fire and brimstone of The Passion Of The Christ. This is a man paying tribute to his deceased mother and the traditions of the holy roller South while bravely awaiting — and even looking forward to — his own trip to the Promised Land. It's enough to convince even the staunchest of atheists that Johnny Cash is indeed now in a better place.

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