I'm calling for Perfection (Supernatural - Santana)

Member Name: Lakerfanster

Product:	Supernatural - Santana
Date:	17/07/09 (60 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The Calling, just about every other track aswell

Disadvantages: Are you kidding??

**Introduction**

For my second review in my music review instalment I have decided to review one of my favourite albums of the 90's. Carlos Santana had been an established artist for over 20 years thanks to his unmistakable guitar playing when Supernatural was released in 1999. Although he had huge success in his earlier career nothing would have prepared him for the response to Supernatural. This album has sold well over 25m copies worldwide and won an astonishing eight Grammy Awards. In this review I hope to give my opinion on why this album was just so successful.

**Supernatural**

The concept for this album was to feature a range of artists from the world of music. On Supernatural we have an amazing range of artists including Eric Clapton, Eagle-Eye Cherry, Lauryn Hill, Dave Matthews, Cee-Lo, Wyclef Jean, Mana' & Rob Thomas. Released on 15th June 1999 this album was conceived by Arista legend Clive Davis and produced by a star studded list that also included Jerry 'Wonder' Duplessis, The Dust Brothers, Alex Gonzales, Charles Goodan, Lauryn Hill, Art Hodge, Wyclef Jean, Fher Olvera, K.C. Porter, Dante Ross and finally Matt Serletic.

**The Album**

1.) Da Le Yaleo

This is a spanish track which opens the album extremely well. Carlos Santana's guitar is backed by the piano and a funky beat which is accompanied by a very good bass guitar hook. This is a great start to the album and hints at what is coming in the following tracks on the album.

2.) Love of my life

This is a beautifully laid back track with Dave Matthews. I am not a fan of his work with his band but I have to admit he does a very good job on this track and his vocals are tender enough to be believable when he's singing about someone being the love of his life. Again Carlos Santana shows great emotion with his guitar work on this track.

3.) Put Your Lights On - Santana & Everlast

This opens with an acoustic guitar and then the distinctive guitar comes in from Santana as Everlast opens with his distinctive deep vocals. This is a very flowing track and is a great collaboration between the two. Santana's guitar work on this track is superb and really shows the speed at which he can play at. This track has Elements of Rock and Blues.

4.) Africa Bamba

This is a great example of his fusion between Latin jazz and Afro-Cuban rhythms. This is not one of my favourite tracks on the album but that is just because the quality of the others is just so high not a knock on this track. Another great track.

5.) Smooth

This was a massive single when it was released as the lead single from Supernatural. This features Rob Thomas who is the front-man from Matchbox Twenty. This is a track that has a melody with a really great flow and you can see why this was such a popular track. This really launched the career of Rob Thomas and his band Matchbox Twenty.

6.) Do You Like The Way

Showing the eclectic nature of this album this one sees Carlos Santana collaborate with Cee Lo Green and Lauryn Hill. This blends Santana's distinctive guitar work with a wonderful hip hop beat and some outstanding
Horn work in the background. This is fabulous in every way you look at it, Fabulous musicianship teamed with great vocals.

7.) Maria Maria - Santana & The Product G&B

The key to this collaboration between Carlos Santana and ex Fugee Wyclef Jean is the incredible beat which opens the track and runs right through until the end. This seismic bass line is a real toe tapper and adds a different dimension to the track. The Product G&B contributes the main vocals with Santana coming in every now and again in Spanish. This is a great track.

8.) Migra

This is a fabulous track which you may remember from the Renault car advert
I believe it was. This uptempo track has a really great feel and shows the vibrant guitar tones that Carlos Santana is known for, This is another very good track indeed. Great stuff.

9.) Corazon Espinado

This is a very flowing spanish language track which again features some great guitar work from the Mexican legend, This features Mana' who does a good job on vocals. Some of the guitar work from Carlos Santana on this track is superb and is very quick indeed.

10.) Wishing It Was Santana & Eagle Eye Cherry

Back in the late 1990's Eagle Eye Cherry looked like he was going to carve out himself a very good solo career but it didn't quite happen. Here is evidence of his talent with a very good collaboration.

11 El Farol

This is a very laid back track with a great taut beat and some emotive guitar licks. This is a great example of the range of his guitar playing and all round musicianship as he can do something like this as well as he can do something full on up tempo. This is a very good track indeed.

12.) Primavera

This features KC Porter on vocals and his voice reminds me of Enrique Iglesias. This is another very good track indeed with some great guitar work from Carlos Santana and some great musicianship from his band as well. All in all a really great track.

13.) Calling - Santana & Eric Clapton

This is the crowning glory of this album, This is an epic guitar fest from two of the worlds greatest guitarists of all time. You'd think that it would be the only great thing about this track but you'd be wrong. As well as the incredible guitar work from both is the fabulous beat which is really something to behold. This really shows how good a recording they have done with Supernatural. Put this on very loud!! if you have a great hifi setup then prepare to be amazed beyond belief by the all around appeal of this one. Astounding is not even expressive enough for the quality of this track. To top off everything else this also has a superb Gospel choir which sing the only lyrics of this track.

At the end of this track there is a twelve second silence and then the hidden bonus track Day of Celebration comes in. This has a very latin feel with the spanish guitar that opens the track with the drums. This is a very good hidden track that you should wait for (that is if you are not too euphoric after the previous track "The Calling" of course.

**Overall**

So having done a run down of all of the tracks on Supernatural what is there left for me to say?. Well I can keep on about how good this album is until My keyboard doesn't work anymore but I thought better of it so I will say that I would recommend this album to you. The Calling is the best track but don't just skip the others and go to that one as you will miss some very good music indeed. There is not one bad track on the album and the best is really remarkable material. This is a staggeringly good album with a great cast.

Summary: Read review.