American IV: The Man Comes Around

American IV: The Man Comes Around (2002), produced by Rick Rubin, is the fourth installment in Johnny Cash's American recordings. The album pairs stripped-down, mostly acoustic arrangements with Cash's deep, weathered voice, blending country, rock, and Americana influences. It features the original title track "The Man Comes Around" and a stark cover of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt", and emphasizes themes of mortality, faith, and reflection. The record is often seen as a powerful late-career statement that highlights Cash's interpretive strengths and intimate, spare production.