Santana’s latest release, Supernatural, has taken the U.S. by storm. Deservedly so, the band has taken center stage under pop music’s spotlight with a creative, modern, soon to be classic album that blends Carlos Santana’s distinct sound with emerging and established artists from R&B, Latin, Rock, and Alternative worlds. In the vein of Frank Sinatra’s wildly successful Duets album (although this sounds much better), artists that would never be on a K-Tel compilation together sound like cousins here:Everlast, Mana, Eagle Eye Cherry, Lauren Hill, and Eric Clapton share themselves with the master. Hell, even the techno Dust Brothers add to the magic with some lush production.
Whoever Santana invites sounds good. Everlast’s "Put Your Lights On" is a moody, haunting alternarock track softened by Santana’s strings, while the hit single "Smooth" featuring Rob Thomas is the epitome of cool. "Corazon Espinado"a rousing track featuring Mana (one of Mexico’s top rock bands) deserves some radio play to neutralize the effects of all that Ricky. "Maria Maria" with Wyclef Jean is not quite up to par lyrically, but is still very melodious. R&B’s "It" Girl, Lauren Hill, delivers punch with her velvety voice on "Do You Like the Way" along with Cee Lo. "The Calling", a duet a la guitarra with Eric Clapton, sounds like what a duet with Eric Clapton and Carlos Santana should sound like. "Wishing It Was", sung by Eagle Eye Cherry (Neneh’s younger, talented brother) is seductive and fun. Dave Matthews sounds a bit like Sting with a salsa band on "Love of My Life", but that’s OK.
Roughly half of the tracks are pure, unadulterated Santana. The group has not lost its edge nor its core audience in the last twenty years. The cd’s opening track, "Da Le Yaleo" has the energy of their live album Milagro from a few years back, and other instrumentals pepper the rest of the album. In "Migra" we see that Santana is still fighting the good fight: "Migra pinche Migra, dejame en paz…me necesitas tu a mi mas y mas que yo a ti", which roughly translates to " INS, fucking INS, leave me alone…you need me much more than I need you." On "Africa Bamba" and "El Farol" Santana makes his guitar sound as ancient as the congas. Spirituality pervades this album both musically and lyrically, providing a peacefullness that won’t be found on most rock releases.
With this all encompassing blend of Spanish, English, R&B, rap, rock, jazz, soul; my God, what else do you need?
Santana Supernatural
