If you are remotely familiar with the Cash family, you are aware of what they have been through in the past couple of years. Rosanne Cash started writting songs for this album back in Spring of 2003. Over a two-year period where she suffered the loss of her stepmother June Carter Cash, her father Johnny Cash and her mother Vivian Liberto Cash she penned the songs that make up her latest album “Black Cadillac“. Cash uses words like “foreboding”, “anger”, “grief”, “acceptance” and “denial” to describe her feelings during this time. When listening to the album, you can’t help but experience this with her as she’s poured her heart and soul into every word and note. Come Grammy time, “Black Cadillac” will certainly not be overlooked.
This album paints a picture of her life particularly that of her role as daughter. It begins and ends with old recordings of young Rosanne in the company of her father speaking into a microphone, an obvious premonition of her life to come. She reminisces about her father’s favorite house on the lake in the aptly titled “House on the Lake”. Perhaps the strongest track on the disc, “Burn Down This Town”, alludes to her fiery emotions and also her father’s knack for setting things a flame. Also, listen to up-tempo “Dreams Are Not My Home” where you’ll hear the lead guitar walk and talk as if the instrument has its own story to tell.
We were all here waiting to hear what Rosanne Cash had to say. She delivers her message poignantly and leaves the listener with no questions left to ask.
Recommended: 4 / 5 stars
About the author: Washington, D.C. area creative by day. Music is my muse. I host Twangville’s weekly Readers‘ Pick.