Being John Carter Cash is pretty tough. The son of classic country lineage, John has a lot of expectations to live up to. “Santa Monica” is the closest he comes to evoking his father, Johnny Cash, with a sturdy piano and a voice that trembles just like his old man. Tom Paxton’s “The Last Thing On My Mind” keeps within expectations. The band cranks it up a bit heavier for “Uncle Sam Is Dead,” “Shadows Cross the Seine,” which adds some heavy-metal guitar solos, and the title track. Loudon Wainwright III’s “Swimming Song” is given a classic-rock kick with keyboards, guitars and drums joining in with Pete Seeger on banjo. Blue Oyster Cult’s “Godzilla” goes to the piano for an unusual cover. “Killarney” is a lovely folk performance. “If God Made Anything Better Than a Woman,” “No One Gets Out of Here Alive” and “Unforgettable Dance” are the touching country songs that sound little like Cash Sr. but keep the Nashville tradition alive. It’s an extremely diverse collection.