I cannot give enough praise to the performances on this collection of (mostly) unreleased material. Cash is astounding. I found many of these songs to be more diverse and impressive than much of what was found on the last two American Recordings releases. I can think of no more fitting farewell from (and for) the Man In Black than this. How much of it didn't end up on an album is beyond my comprehension.

The Re-Recordings:

There are quite a few legendary Cash gems given new life and intensity in this set. Among them is the classic mourner "Long Black Veil," the endearing "Flesh And Blood," and twin mining/coal town songs of "Dark As Dungeon" and "The L&N Don't Stop Here Anymore." There are others and, honestly, each one is as good (if not more straight-forward and hard-hitting) as the originals.

The Covers:

While I felt that American Recordings IV: When The Man Comes Around contained too many covers of uber-popular songs ("In My Life," "Desperado," etc.), here we find a few numbers from songwriters like Kris Kristofferson ("Just The Other Side Of Nowhere" and "Casey's Last Ride"), Neil Young ("Pocahontas" and "Heart of Gold"), Jimmie Rodgers ("'T' For Texas" and "Waiting For a Train")...and the list goes on and on. Again, I'm left wondering why hadn't some of these made the cut before?

The Duets:

Why "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" was chosen over the charming "Cindy" (both with gloom-crooner Nick Cave) for American IV I'll never know. While I love Hank Williams, Sr. this traditional track is simply perfect. The same for the Fiona Apple duet of Cat Steven's "Father And Son." A vast improvement over "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" where Miss Apple's voice seems to interfere more than harmonize. But hands down the best duets are with veteran rockabilly king, Carl Perkins ("Brown-Eyed Handsome Man"), and the late Joe Strummer of The Clash ("Redemption Song").

The Hymns:

While I love many of Cash's own Christian inspired songs I found that many of the traditional hymns lacked, pardon the expression, spirit. They were faithful renderings, but seemed to lack the interpretation that Cash usually lends to any song. Or perhaps it was just my impression. Regardless, I won't say that these songs aren't good...they certainly are...they just don't all quite match the glory of the rest of the set.

The Best of the Rest:

I still cannot grasp any reason why Unearthed included a "Best of..." disc, except for the sole purpose of upping the price of this boxed set. I would have to guess that most of the folks willing to shell out $65.00 for a Cash boxed set are probably going to have most, if not all, of the American Recordings albums previously released. But this doesn't bother me so much in the long run. They could have charged the same price for four discs if they'd wanted...I'd still have took the bait.

Packaging:

I've heard many folks bemoan the agreeably fragile packaging. I've seen folks complain oblivious to the fact that the upside down flag is the long-standing emblem of American Records and can be found on all the albums on their label. I can only offer one suggestion to those who worry about the cardboard sheaths damaging the cds. If you have a CD recorder...make copies. Use those copies and leave the packaging on a shelf somewhere as something to take down and thumb through from time to time. It's supposedly a Limited Edition...treat it like one and it'll last.

Liner Notes:

Last but not least we have the personal reflections of Cash, producer Rick Rubin, and various other friends, family members, and bandmates that contributed to the creation of this collection. I found myself wishing that we had such intimate accounts of all the songs on the original American Recordings...and thankful that we could be given such insight into such a fruitful and inspiring time in Johnny Cash's career. For those who hadn't gotten a sense of the man from his music...they certainly couldn't miss what a genuine, thoughtful, intriguing, and inspirational individual Cash was...and always will be. Thanks to American Recordings and Rick Rubin for allowing a legend to make a magnificent final stand.

The Final Tally:

Music: *****

Packaging: ****

Liner Notes: *****

PS: The live, orchestral version of Leonard Cohen's "Bird On A Wire" is simply one of the finest pieces of music I've ever heard. If there were more songs from this live performance I'd certainly be willing to pay to hear it. It's glorious. Enjoy.

Unearthed is a treasure chest of Cash's movingly sung, austerely rich marvels of American music. Although a handful were written by Cash himself, his artistic weight and keen capacity to interpret the songs of others, makes this 5-CD set the stunning legacy of a man who is an icon the history of Earth's music -to call it "country," "contemporary" or "American," although accurate would not do justice to the universal power of his work. What is still more astonishing to me is that these five CDs never fall into the common, tired batch of outakes and discarded mishaps that we are so used to seeing record companies put out, on behalf of other musical legends, nor is it the "sure-thing" approach of gathering classics and re-selling them with the excuse of having being remastered -which so often is impossible to justify or hardly an improvement. No, this is five CDs of authentic greatness, the late work of a man who was beginning to say goodbye to life but was not done with honoring his craft or searching his soul. The fact that three out of five units are entirely dedicated to material recorded but not previously chosen for the American Recordings series, says something about Cash's productivity, but even more about the endless creativity he found partnering with Rick Rubin and the trove of great material they conceived together. Practically every song -including the CD devoted to old hymns and gospel songs- is treated with a consistent austerity of arrangements and focus on Cash's voice; it is amazing how rich they are, without an endless parade of star-guests or elaborate strings, or other witless and predictable avenues often followed by aging stars joining forces with ambitious producers. Here, none of that is indulged on, here Cash and Rubin breathe into life an amazing musical document. Even the fifth CD which gather a cross-section of what already came out in the original four American Recordings is fitting, and will be particularly appreciated by those who do not own such CDs. As far as the specifics of the songs covered, other people before me have already done a great job of describing them. As to the argument on who should buy such expensive and extended set by one artist, I would have a hard time not recommending it to anyone who appreciates great artists in any genre. You can learn more about America listening to this box-set than driving throughout the country over and over. And that's ultimately the legacy of Cash and Rubin's partnership: to have captured the essence of art, transforming an individual experience into a universal message.

Well, what can you say about Johnny Cash that hasn't already been said? Poet, singer, musician extrodinaire, Christian, outlaw, murderer and drug addict. Ok, so not all of those stereotypes are true...Johnny Cash truly was a "Singer Of Songs." This box set presents some of Cash's best work all bundled up in a package that's beautifully crafted and very well presented. The first four discs of this new set show Cash's eclectic nature with track featuring an array of guests from Joe Strummer to Fiona Apple. "Redemption Songs", the track with Strummer might be the most energized recording Cash has made since the 1950's. Neil Young covers, country standards, even a reworking on his 1970's classic "Flesh and Blood" all stand up to make this album an absolute ESSENTIAL to anyone's collection. Whether you're a musician, a music scholar, an angst filled teen or a spiritual minded grandmother, there is something "Unearthed" has to offer. R.I.P. John.

As if Johnny hadn't done enough in his lifetime to ensure his immortality, his death is followed closely by this 5-disc revelation of song. Complete with a gorgeously designed booklet that offers Rubin and Cash's commentary on every track in the set, a charming and fascinating summary of how Rubin and Cash came to work together, and some stunning photography, this box set is as much a labor of love for those who put it together as it will be for the listeners who plod through its 64 unreleased tracks. The 5th disc of previously released material may very well be superfluous and fatten up the price of an already hefty investment, but it takes nothing away from the many jewels the other CDs offer. While Johnny tends to stumble through his beloved "My Mother's Hymn Book" and the first disc of acoustic cover tunes, it is on the second and third albums that we get a glimpse of just how incredible a tandem Rubin and Cash had been. Arguably Cash's finest hour with Rubin, the songs taken from the "Uchained" sessions (Cash's second album for AR) consist of some of the most tasteful production Cash's music ever enjoyed. Tom Petty poignantly reinvents Neil Young's "Pocohontas" with some gorgeous work on the pump organ, while the RHCPs' John Frusciante contributes a devastating solo to "Heart of Gold," rendered here with a darkness and immediacy even Neil couldn't approach. These were also the last sessions Johnny did before his illness really started to ravage him, and so it is the last evidence we have of an American Voice at the height of its powers. Bellowing mightily through good ol' rockabilly rave-ups like "Everybody's Trying to Be My baby" and "Down the Line," Cash's voice is still spacious enough to fit in a couple of crooners in the divine "Drifter" and the absolutely heartbreaking performance of "Bird on a Wire" with a full orchestra behind him. Disc Three, featuring later performances by a Johnny Cash whose last days were rapidly coming on, is a softer collection of quietly produced acoustic ballads. "Singer of Songs" is a bit too indulgent and straightforward to really work, but it immediately succumbs to the rollicking majesty of "The L&N Don't Stop Here Anymore," which Johnny describes as a "family favorite." Similarly effective are his duet with Joe Strummer on "Redemption Song," a triumphant cover of George Jones's "He Stopped Loving Her Today," and the three most harrowing moments on the whole set: "Wichita Lineman," "Gentle on My Mind," and "Big Iron," songs whose power is only enhanced as you hear Johnny fighting his frail voice back into the shape it used to be in. The tenderness of these understated renditions articulates just how much Johnny adored the songs. It is rare enough to get a single album with as many riveting performances as this one offers, and utterly unprecedcented to get one that spans four discs and manages to hold the listener's attention throughout. Something miraculous happened here on these Cash/Rubin sessions, and the songs they made echo the authority and power these two geniuses commanded from the first moment they met. "Unearthed" is an epic American classic that will belong in every household for centuries to come.

What an awesome package. Its hard to find the words to describe how much good music is in this little black box or how the hair stood up on my arms time and time again when I listened to it. The first CD and the Hymn Book record, with Johnny's voice all raw and naked and full of feeling, would be worth the price alone. But there's two more CDs of absolutely mind blowing stuff. (I'm not counting the compilation since all of Mr Cash's fans would already have these records ). And the book that comes with it is not just the usual booklet of uninteresting information, but a real book with totally brilliant writing and interviews by Sylvie Simmons, who wrote the great Serge Gainsbourg book (that lady has some interesting tastes in music!) If you only buy one box set ever in your life, trust me, this is the one you want. Johnny Cash must be smilling in heaven rite now.

Rick Rubin has really done the man in black proud