Johnny Cash Remixed: Album Review

It's hard not to be cynical about Johnny Cash Remixed.  

Let's see, what sounds better than having a dozen or so hip hop and electronic acts take songs by the legendary Man In Black and add their beats and raps to them?

Well, the results are fairly predictable.

Was there really anyone demanding to hear what "Get Rhythm" would sound like if it were performed by Eiffel 65?  Unfortunately it's a question Philip Steir tries to answer, with grave consequences.

The worst offenders treat Cash's original song as incidental.  The remix of "I Walk The Line" is not much more than Snoop Dogg rapping something completely unrelated to the song while Cash is barely audible in the background.

The same holds true for The Heavy's remix of "Doin' My Time".  The Cash song might as well not exist for all you sense of the original.

There are a handful of remixers who do get it right.

Pete Rock's remix of "Folsom Prison Blues" works in fits and starts that play fabulously off the Cash recording.  Count De Money's take on "Big River" is very reminiscent of the remix of "A Little Less Conversation" from the Elvis #1s album.

Alabama 3 probably have the best interpretation for "Leave That Junk Alone".  The group adds dirty bottom heavy beats and updated lyrics which stay true to the spirit of the original song.  

But alas those few who turn in inspired remixes are far outweighed by those who chose to at best ignore and at worst desecrate the music of an icon. 

Best tracks: "Folsom Prison Blues (Pete Rock Remix)", "Leave That Junk Alone (Alabama 3 Remix)

Track listing for Johnny Cash Remixed:

• I Walk The Line (QDT Remix feat. Snoop Dogg)
• Big River (Count De Money Remix)
• Get Rhythm (Philip Steir Remix)
• Doin' My Time (The Heavy Remix)
• Country Boy (Sonny J Remix)
• Leave That Junk Alone (Alabama 3 Remix)
• Port Of Lonely Hearts (Midnight Juggernauts Remix)
• Straight A's In Love (Troublemaker Remix)
• Sugartime (Kennedy Remix)
• Rock Island Line (Wolf Remix)
• Belshazzar (Drum Machine Remix)
• I Heard That Lonesome Whistle Blow (Apparat Remix)

2.5

Johnny Cash Remixed website