SOUND CHECK.

JOHNNY CASH: ``American V: A Hundred Highways'' (Lost Highway) - Four stars

When Cash exhales a raspy breath after singing ``asthma's coming down'' on ``American V: A Hundred Highways,'' listeners should feel a chill. The line is from ``Like the 309,'' the last song the iconic star ever wrote and recorded. Far from a dirge, though, ``309'' rolls along in a pleasing manner as the train song it is -- even if death is a passenger, as it is in one form or another on all of the album's cuts. (Cash recorded these songs with producer Rick Rubin before his passing in September 2003, months after the death of his wife, June Carter Cash.)

``American V'' (in stores Tuesday) begins with the moving, stark prayer of ``Help Me'' by Larry Gatlin, before moving on to the fiery ``God's Going to Cut You Down.'' Cash's voice was not as a strong as it once was, but it still carried an authority that set him apart from other singers. That allows for some unexpectedly moving moments, like on Gordon Lightfoot's ``If I Could Read Your Mind.'' With the slickness stripped away from elegant elegy, Cash sounds regretful and vulnerable, yet tender.

Rubin's production is stellar throughout, spare but with the right touch, whether it be foot-stomping or the addition of a simple keyboard. There may be a melancholy to ``American V,'' but it's not all sadness. You get the feeling Cash took a hard look at death, smiled slightly and went on to the next song.

-- Rob Lowman

INDIA.ARIE: ``Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship'' (Universal/Motown) - Two stars

After a few listens, India.Arie's first volley in four years begins to resemble an episode of ``The View.'' There are self-help lessons galore, bromides with titles like ``I Am Not My Hair,'' ``Wings of Forgiveness'' and ``There's Hope,'' and a so-so remake of Don Henley's ``The Heart of the Matter.'' The essential message: Lose the anger and be thankful for what you've got. Although drawing on strong soul, folk, gospel and pop instincts, Arie's ``Testimony'' simply falls short of the earthy neo-soul peaks of her debut, which was among 2001's best efforts. But in spite of frequently lackluster material, there are some fine moments. ``Summer,'' with its wistful harmonies from Gary Lenox (Rascal Flatts), and ``I Choose,'' a refreshingly funky item with biting guitar from Bonnie Raitt, belong on everyone's iPod.

-- Fred Shuster

KRIS DELMHORST ``Strange Conversation'' (Signature Sounds) - Four stars

Boston-based folkie Delmhorst hit upon an idea that could have been precious and academic -- reworking a bunch of great poems into song lyrics -- and turned it into a rousing, tuneful celebration of literate and lively music. Drawing from sources as diverse as Browning, Byron, Whitman, cummings and Rumi, she crafts an impeccable, stylistically diverse cycle that celebrates both language and melody, and all of the sweet spots where they intersect. Alternately moody, euphoric and transcendent, this is the smartest good time you'll have with a disc all year.

-- Bob Strauss

SARA TAVARES: ``Balance'' (Times Square) - Four stars

Poignant simplicity and delightful African rhythms infuse this touching set from the acclaimed Cape Verdean singer-songwriter. Tavares sings of being torn between cultures in such a general and uplifting way that the casual listener may miss the details, but they'll almost certainly pick up on the emotional core. The startling amalgamation of styles on such standouts as ``Poka Terra'' and ``Planeta Sukri,'' topped by one of the international music scene's sweetest voices, make ``Balance'' one to seek out. Tavares appears Sunday afternoon at downtown's California Plaza and Monday night at Temple Bar in Santa Monica.

-- Phillip Zonkel

THELONIOUS MONK WITH JOHN COLTRANE: ``The Complete 1957 Riverside Recordings'' (Riverside) - Three and one half stars

No doubt the justified hubbub surrounding last year's discovery of a Monk/Coltrane Carnegie Hall concert inspired the folks at Riverside to put together this double-disc set. It includes all the recordings that Monk made with his eager disciple, recordings that have been repackaged several times. There are two new alternate cuts that will interest obsessive fans only; otherwise stick with the single-disc ``Thelonious Monk With John Coltrane,'' which was remastered six years ago and contains the six essential takes from the legendary sessions. It should be noted, though, that the packaging is first-rate, and producer Orrin Keepnews' insightful essay about the making of these sublime recordings is almost worth the price alone. And since the two discs sell for the price of one ... OK, jazzheads, go ahead and buy this.

-- Glenn Whipp