Welcome to the very first edition of The DeRosa Factor, where I listen and post my thoughts on releases from artists of the past and present! For the very first installment of this series, we will be taking a look at an album that has been 30 years in the making, “Out Among the Stars,” by the one and only, Johnny Cash.
Yes, you read that correctly, THE Johnny Cash that the world tragically lost in 2003. For those who may not have heard of the late Country artist, Johnny Cash is an icon in the genre of Country music, as he had set the pace for future artists with his unique style of Gospel, and Rock N’ Roll, which was mixture that the public had not yet tasted in the late 1960’s. Mr. Cash is highly regarded for hits such as, “Ring Of Fire,” “I Walk the Line,” “Hurt,” ( a re-creation of the popular track by Nine Inch Nails,) and, “Folsom Prison Blues.” He earned his way into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1980, which he claimed to be one of his greatest achievements.
This album is a collection of recordings of Cash before he was dropped from his label in 1984. This collection of music amplifies the style that Johnny implemented in the industry; a soulful, yet patiently paced collection of music, that entices the listener with a mixture of Uplifting, and Ominous vibes. Any dedicated fan of Mr. Cash will feel right at home with this album, as it certainly does not stray far from it’s roots. However, for me personally, that was the problem. I have always truly enjoyed the spectacle of seeing an artist, or artists, try to branch out of their musical comfort zone. It is this specific concept that has led to the evolution of sound in all Genres of music.- Just look at artists like The Beatles, King Crimson- just to name a few. Some bands have improved from this, and some have lost their way from the genre they represented. Regardless, it is still important to try and experiment with a new style, and this album does not attempt this in any major way. It would have been a nice change of pace to see Mr. Cash attempt to add new elements to this record, and try to break off from the norm. Knowing the talent behind this music, for all we know, Mr. Cash could have certainly re-defined the country genre again! But alas, we will never truly know if this would have been the case. In fact, many speculate to believe that this lack of evolution was the sole reason that his label removed him from their archives. Regardless of this issue, the album has earned my respect, as it is a truly wonderful reminder of what the genre of Country truly exemplified in past generations. It is with this, that I say thank you for everything, Mr. Cash.
Thank you for reading, and keep your eyes peeled for a new article posted by yours truly.