A Second Look At The Man in Black| Posted March 08, 2017
Worship duo Caves has created a name for themselves playing a unique variety of events throughout the United States and Canada. Chances to play outside of traditional church settings led to adding a Johnny Cash cover to their set, an experience which created such a special creative energy that Josh McCabe and Matt Shaban decided to extend it to a full four song EP.
The track choices for the Cash EP hold more or less to the classics. "God's Gonna Cut You Down," the cover that sparked the idea for the EP, kicks the collection off on a high note. The slow build from the musically spacious opening to the aggressive, full-bodied climax causes the listener to take a second look at this familiar Cash classic.
"Ain't No Grave" features the blistering vocals of Thousand Foot Krutch frontman Trevor McNevan, his signature searing style playing well off Josh McCabe's smoother vocal approach to create a dynamic, powerful rendering of the track. Hearing these voices take on the lyrics "there ain't no grave that can hold my body down" brings the yearning for the eternal into fresh perspective.
"The Man in Black" dials back the energy a little while providing some insight into why a worship band connected so deeply with Cash's work to begin with. The lyrics are almost Davidic in their sense of lament, captured here in a simple ballad style that perfectly offsets the tone. "What On Earth Will You Do (For Heaven's Sake)" shows a similar deep empathy for the least of these, complemented again by a more mellow musical approach.
The greatest challenge with cover projects is the balance between reinvention and respecting the original. Caves shows a sense of musical tact in primarily honoring the structure of the legendary classics, interpreting them into contemporary tones just enough that as a listener we're prompted into reevaluating the familiar lyrics.
The Bottom Line: Caves' Cash EP is the project you didn't know you needed in your library. This masterful recasting of one of the best songwriters of our age is addicting, thought-provoking and a genuinely enjoyable listen from start to finish.
Song to Download Now:
"There Ain't No Grave" (Get it on iTunes here.)
to add lyrics if not listed.
