New releases: July 4, 2006

There's only one new release you need to worry about next week, and it's American V: A Hundred Highways by the late, great Mr. Johnny Cash.

This ain't no posthumous recording vault-raiding. The news release issued by label Lost Highway features an interview with producer Rick Rubin, who reassures that Cash worked specifically for this album -- "This," says Rubin, "is the music that Johnny wanted us to hear."

And there seems to be some evidence to back up that bold claim. Cash and Rubin started working on "American V" the day after they finished work on "American IV" in 2002. Some instrumental and mixing work was done after Cash's death, but the vocals (and two new songs) are all his, all for this album, some days taking all the energy he had as his health dwindled.

You're free to do what you want this July 4, America's Independence Day -- but me, I'm going to exercise my right to hear what this particular great American had to say at the sunset of an amazing life. God bless Johnny Cash.