Product: Santana - Live by Request (2005)
Rating: 2.0
Not quite supernatural........
This is the 3rd installment of Carlos and Friends and, quite frankly, I'm tired of it. I mean really, who's career is the record company looking out for? I hope this is the final installment and so Carlos can get back to being an artist.I purchased the promo CD that Target offered and I was very suprised at how bad this set is. The sound is terrible to start. The first track, "Smooth" is ok, however there should have been a bridge to "Tu Amor" to make it sound logical instead of a gap. Carlos sounds weak on guitar through out - could be the editing.....or lack of. Or...it could be this is Santana's way of expressing his frustration of being a pawn for the record company. And the brass section......need I say anymore?I did see a copy of the DVD at the store and the whole package looks cheap. Poor photo's, packing, and overall presentation. Based on it's appearance I would have guessed it was a bootleg than an offical release from the record company. Yieks!!A by track critique:"Smooth/Tu Amor" - sloppy, over kill on the horns, and no bridge to "Tu Amor" - which makes the whole song sloppy."Black Magic Woman" - probably the best track. Sounds like Greg Rolie on vocals?"Oye Como Va" - the other good track on this set."Maria, Maria" too ghetto to be cool. The Product G&B; are too busy 'keepin' it real' and cause a big distraction to the song - the crowd seemed to love it, however."The Game of Love" - sounds like a rehersal more than anything else. Michelle Branch who is usually good sounds terrible and Carlos.......is he plugged in? I can't seem to hear him."Europa" - terrible arrangement. Carlos isn't allowed to shine. I guess the 20 something crowd has never heard this song - on the "Sacred Fire" disc the crowd knows the opening riff. At the end of the song the band receives a "golf clap" and rightfully so. This song is usually a show stopper."Soul Sacrifice" - terrible arrangement. Over kill on so many levels.If you want a great live CD, get "Sacred Fire" or "Supernatural".