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AUSTRALIAN IMPORT
Condition: Brand New Factory Sealed
To say that guitar guru Carlos Santana got a huge career boost from Supernatural, his 1999 album of genre-spanning collaborations, is an understatement: The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer reached a whole new audience with the multiplatinum-selling, Grammy-laden album, which paired him with Rob Thomas, Dave Matthews, Wyclef Jean, and the like. Given Supernatural's magnetic charm, it's no surprise that Santana applies a similar formula to his much-anticipated follow-up. And while the going isn't always "Smooth," this shaman pulls it off. Even with a somewhat more uneven guest list, Shaman dazzles with tantalizing moments. "Feels like Fire," which sets Santana's hypnotic playing against the almost hymnlike vocals of Dido, is nothing short of stunning, and the easygoing, horn-pumped "The Game of Love," with teen rocker Michelle Branch, suggests a South of the Border Sheryl Crow. Likewise, Seal's slithery singing perfectly matches the soulful lines that Santana unspools for "You Are My Kind." The chemistry is less successful when the guitarist joins forces with the new generation of hard rockers: He all but disappears amid the bluster of P.O.D.'s "America," while Nickelback's Chad Kroeger proves entirely unsympathetic on the grandiose "Why Don't You and I?" Those rough patches, however, are offset by a passel of sexy mid-tempo tracks, such as the serpentine "Amore (Sexo)," which boasts one of Macy Gray's typically showstopping vocal turns. Equally interesting are the tunes that delve into Santana's Latin heritage, from the light and airy "Hoy Es Adios," with vocals by Alejandro Lerner, to the tough-talking "One of These Days," on which he's joined by the members of Ozomatli. Once again, this six-string sage proves his mettle at spell-casting, dreamweaving, and, above all, hit-making.
TRACK LISTINGS
1. Adouma
2. Nothing at All - Musiq (Soulchild)
3. Game of Love - Michelle Branch
4. You Are My Kind
5. Amoré [Sexo] - Macy Gray
6. Foo Foo
7. Victory Is Won
8. America - Pod Buda
9. Sideways - Citizen Cope
10. Why Don't You and I - Chad Kroeger
11. Feels Like Fire - Dido
12. Let Me Love You Tonight
13. Aye Aye Aye
14. Hoy Es Adios - Alejandro Lerner
15. One of These Days - Ozomatli
16. Novus - Plácido Domingo
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