The Mighty Cash Cats - The Ballad of Johnny and June - New release review

I just received the newest release, The Ballad of Johnny and June from The Mighty Cash Cats, a nostalgic trip through American folk, country and rock music through the eyes of The Mighty Cash Cats as Johnny and June Carter Cash. Opening with Carl Perkins' Long-Legged Guitar Pickin' Man, you can definitely hear the influences of the man in black in vocal and arrangement, really nicely adorned by Oliver Thin on chicken picken guitar. Title track, The Ballad of Johnny and June has the feel of midwest rocker with flavors of Seger and Frey. Although not mentally transported, Michael and Leticia nicely capture the spirit of Johnny and June on this track. Merle Travis' Sixteen Tons is a blend of Tennessee Ernie Ford, The Stray Cats and Johnny Cash. Jimmy Calire's addition on B3 and Leticia's bass work are tight. Dylan's It Ain't Me Babe is up next, again capturing the spirit of Johnny and June on a classic track. 40 Shades of Green is my favorite track on the release with a real slice of country. Vocal blending is smooth and the melody is super. Classic western track, Ghost Riders in The Sky is up next and the track is performed in traditional style. Bound to be a crowd favorite with the resurgence of cowboy music, this track is cool. Tennessee Flattop Box features Leticia on lead vocal and I think is her definite vocal showcase. Real nice acoustic country style track. Nine Inch Nails' penned Hurt is a simple dark ballad with Michael on lead vocal, acoustic guitar and Calire on piano. Unlike most of the tracks on the release, a nice quiet track. Wrapping the release is Johnny's trademark Ring Of Fire. Overall a pleasant trip through Americana music with a thick taste of Johnny Cash.

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