Santana’s New Album ‘Blessings And Miracles’ Critiqued

Santana

‘Blessings And Miracles’

BMG

Carlos Santana’s new album ‘Blessings And Miracles’ features a plethora of guests. Of most interest to Rock fans are Kirk Hammett, Corey Glover, Steve Winwood and Rob Thomas.

According to the press release ‘This album delivers one of the most ambitious, inspired and flat-out magical records of Carlos Santana’s career’. Well, let’s see if it lives up to expectations, shall we…

Upon listening to the album, the tracks that will make their presence felt to Rock fans are the cover of ‘Whiter Shade Of Pale’ featuring Steve Winwood, before original songs ‘Peace Power’ featuring Living Colour’s Corey Glover, ‘America For Sale’ featuring Metallica’s Kirk Hammett and ‘Move’ featuring Matchbox 20’s Rob Thomas. All of these are worthy of repeated listens to really pick out the nuances of how good they are.

There are quite a few instrumental tracks which appear on the album, ’Ghost Of Future Pull-New Light’ and ‘Ghost Of Future Pull II’, ‘Santana Celebration’ and ‘Song For Cindy’ are real self-indulgences of Carlos Santana i.e. it’s an excuse to showcase his guitar playing to the full and for those of you who enjoy that, great, but, it definitely ruins the flow of the album, which is a shame.

Aside from the instrumental tracks, it features songs:‘Rumbalero’, ‘Joy’, ‘Break’, ‘She’s Fire’, ‘Breathing Underwater’, ‘Mother Yes’ and ‘Angel Choir-All Together’. These are interesting to listen to and there’s enough going on to satisfy you’re interest as opposed to the instrumentals.

Summing up, for me it’s a good album in places, albeit a little too self-indulgent in others. I can’t help but feel that it could’ve been a essential listen, however, with more songs instead of instrumentals, this album ‘Blessings And Miracles’ could’ve take the listener to new heights of listening pleasure. Oh Yes!