What do you think of the man in black? how do you like his music?

i personally love his American albums. very lovely music. definitely one of his best recording projects.

"He's a truely emo singer, because his sadness in his music is real, not all that whining mess you hear now" -my friend

I never cared for his 'regular' stuff, but I think the American albums are very touching.

his duet with Fiona Apple on "A Bridge Over Troubled Water" is very beautiful. one of his best.

he has some early stuff thats pretty good, like the live at folsom and san quentian

I never thought much about him until the American recordings, which are all excellent. Hats off to Rick Rubin. I like the Live albums at Folsom and San Quentin, the rest I can do without.

I like some of his stuff like 'hurt' and a few of the early classics, but never been a massive fan...that film they made about him was brilliant.

ya it was, thats what got me into johnny cash

Quoted from somedude210

ya it was, thats what got me into johnny cash

I still haven't seen that! Am I the only one?

Quoted from BlueMeanie

I still haven't seen that! Am I the only one?

I'm sure you're not!  

wonderful movie, i suggest you see it.

and the american recordings, they are reeeeeeeeaaally depressing. he can take any upbeat song and make it sound depressing. gotta love it

I know most folks only know Cash from the late albums or Folsom Prison album, but I'd highly recommend the Sun records material (just as good as Elvis in its own way).  Also he did some great albums through the years for Columbia in addition to Folsom Prison.  I've always like Hello, I'm Johnny Cash (great songs including "Southwind" and Kristofferson's "Beat the Devil.").

You are one of the exceptions, somedude, but it annoys me how everyone is suddenly "omgz totally a johnny cash fan!!!1oneeleven" after seeing the movie.

If they ever made one about Joan Baez and suddenly all the trend whores became her fans, I think I would just die.

^ I used to think like that once.

But the likes of Johnny Cash & Ray Charles would love the fact that they are getting an influx of new listeners, even if most are just classed as the 'casual listener'.
It's the same arguement with the Beatles. Just because most of us here know pretty much everything (when we pool our resources together) doesn't make us better or more substantial to the Beatles 'cause'. It's music at the end of the day - and anyone can tap in to it and listen. Forget the 'cool' titles that we can employ to ourseleves for listening to slightly more obscure bands/artists ...
Setting up a nonexistent hierarchy of superiority within a genre of music will never effect the two minutes twenty seconds etc etc of music you're listening to at that moment. Interpretation of music is wholly individual - and so everyone's experience will be shaded differently.

Well said Indica. But what do you mean by 2:20?

Well put Indica. A new fan is a new fan, and should be welcomed. Though what Mairi probably meant was bandwaggon jumpers. The - Oh yeah, I've been into him for years - types. And the 'Fans' who'll slag anyone if they've only just tuned in.

Music is music. Hell, I only just got into George's solo stuff.

And yes, 2:20?

Sorry about the confusion people - just meant 2 minutes 20 seconds .. chose a random song length to help put the point across  

I can't vote, because I've only heard Hurt (is it called that?) once or twice. But, I only needed to hear it once to realise that it's a fantastic song. I must get into Cash's music. There's a DVD of the music including the film.

Welcome back, GreenApple ... you're like the Guadiana River!

well i regarded all country music as that country pop crap that you see on like "nashville stars", or dixie chicks, etc. (very narrow minded view of music up until like three years ago) but i saw the movie, my buddy and i started listening to his early stuff, i found a best of that had One, Hurt and a few other american recording songs on it and so i started looking for the albums that had those songs on it, found them and started listening to them. i listened to the early stuff first but the late stuff, its just deeper in a way. A boy named sue is still funny as hell no matter how many times i listen to it.

i'm still a little restricting in my music choices but in the past year i've listened to and enjoyed: the clash, Arcade Fire, decemberists, pink floyd, Aerosmith (Random 80s hits) The Doors, The Who, Cream, David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Frank Sinatra, Pavoratti, Queen, Styx, Neil Young, Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong.

i mean if i hear some song by a band, or watch them perform, 9 times out of 10 if i liked it when i heard it, ill listen to them more and like more songs and become a fan. thats the definition of a fan. you have to realize that there are stlll people out there that dont like either of the movies or the music. the movies are just a way to explain the story of their life that we may not know about. but those helped open up music to me that i disregarded before. i see no problem in it

Some videos of him can be seen (downloaded from) here:
http://www.fastfocus.tv

Quoted from GreenApple

I can't vote, because I've only heard Hurt (is it called that?) once or twice. But, I only needed to hear it once to realise that it's a fantastic song. I must get into Cash's music. There's a DVD of the music including the film.

Yes, his interpretation of the song is amazing. The original Nine Inch Nail version has a very different emotion. And the Reznos/ Bowie duet is something that's worth hearing too, reminds me of Cash's version.
I haven't seen the film but after I have listened to the cover version of Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus" by Cash I think I have to find the movie and then listen to some of his records. However I don't think he'll become one of my favourite artists...

I only know "ring of fire", "i walk the line", "i've been everywhere" and his cover of "in my life"! but they are quite good, not his voice on "in my life" though!