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American III: Solitary Man
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American III: Solitary Man Image
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 13 Ratings

  • Summary: In his sixth decade of recording, Johnny Cash reunites with producer Rick Rubin for a third consecutive outing. Like its two predecessors, 'III' consists of a mix of Cash originals and covers, this time from the likes of Nick Cave ("The Mercy Seat"), Tom Petty ("I Won't Back Down"), and U2 ("One").

Top Track

One
Is it getting better Or do you feel the same? Will it make it easier on you now You've got someone to blame? You said One love One life When it's... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    100
    Though the Man in Black has rarely sounded blacker, producer Rick Rubin frames that deep sea voice with harmonies and churchly organs, making for a dark angel beauty of an album that's austere but welcoming.
  2. Sonicnet
    100
    When a tune falls into the jurisdiction of the venerable country-folk troubadour, the accumulated details of any previous readings or associations are stripped away, and its core brilliantly revealed.
  3. Billboard
    90
    "Solitary Man" may lack the immediate impact of its predecessors but is no less a masterpiece.
  4. Q Magazine
    80
    All in all, as resonant and dignified a covers album as you'll ever hear.
  5. Wall of Sound
    78
    If one wanted to quibble, one could say that the Cash-Rubin collaboration is starting to feel just a little formulaic.... yet Cash continually surprises with his ability to completely inhabit material by writers much younger than him.
  6. Neumu.net
    70
    Mostly downbeat, the album feels, at times, as if it were created beneath a black cloud.
  7. AllMusic
    60
    Like his two previous studio albums, Solitary Man is sparsely produced by Rick Rubin, and continues the themes of love, faith, and loneliness that their previous collaborations have chillingly embraced.

See all 15 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. Bosniak
    Sep 19, 2011
    10
    An 8.3? An 8.3!? You'd think that Johnny Cash doing us a service by playing more of his music in his condition would merit some goddamnAn 8.3? An 8.3!? You'd think that Johnny Cash doing us a service by playing more of his music in his condition would merit some goddamn appreciation. Instead, all I see is a disappointing, suburban, uptight, **** of a douche score.… Collapse
  2. CabeM
    Jan 20, 2006
    10
    Johnny to me will always be my favorite country artist simply because of masterpieces like this. Hands down i give it a ten!
  4. Ricko
    Jul 26, 2012
    8
    Outside of Johnny Cash, I'm not really into Country Music , but I think he transcends the genre. His "American" project is a good test of theOutside of Johnny Cash, I'm not really into Country Music , but I think he transcends the genre. His "American" project is a good test of the concept "Is it the song or the singer?". The argument being if a song is a classic, it's very hard to mess it up. Cash can never be accused of messing these up. In fact it could be argued he brings the quality some of these songs into sharp focus with stripped down versions, with all studio trickery and effects stripped away, often all your left with are the lyrics and the chords. Although I prefer American IV, American III is quite good overall. There are a few questionable inclusions here but the high points on this record are in my view, up with the high points of his career. His version of U2's "One" and Nick Caves "The Mercy Seat" are sublime.… Expand
  5. mclarge
    Sep 6, 2022
    8
    A solid effort with some remarkable recordings, Wayfaring Stranger feels like he's leaving a message to us all.

Awards & Rankings

37
#37 Best Album of 2000
74
#74 Most Discussed Album of 2000
91
#91 Most Shared Album of 2000