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Santana - Borboletta Audio CD

A fair review of the Santana "Borboletta" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Santana reviews here, or go back to the Santana tabs.

Santana Band: Santana
Title: Borboletta
Rating:
Release Date: 2008-02-01
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Spring Manifestations (Sound Effects) 2: Canto de Los Flores 3: Life Is Anew 4: Give and Take 5: One with the Sun 6: Aspirations 7: Practice What You Preach 8: Mirage 9: Here and Now 10: Flor de Canela 11: Promise of a Fisherman 12: Borboletta

Maybe That Should Be "Bore-boletta"
The beautiful cover of this album is by far its strongest element, and the butterfly makes an ironically apt symbol for a collection which contains the last few fragile flutterings of a great career on its headlong rush into slick, superficial pop mediocrity - where, with very few exceptions, it has remained ever since. With his sixth studio release, 1974's BORBOLETTA, Carlos Santana finally ran out of things to say - musically, lyrically, atmospherically or in any way that mattered.
Sure, there are some passable jams ("Flor de Canela," "Promise of a Fisherman") and pretty, sleep-inducing passages ("Canto de los Flores," "Aspirations") among the dross here; but who really cares anymore? The pseudospiritual nonsense of numbers like "Give and Take," "Practice What You Preach" and (worst of all) "Mirage" is what sets the tone of this set, and no amount of flashy fingerwork or reverb can redeem it. At best, this is a reasonably good half an album of instrumentals - which themselves really just explore overworked territory once again - balanced with a group of schmaltzy (if tightly played) MOR songs that are almost laughable in their sophomoric feel-good philosophizing. Fans of the later, even more commercial Santana sound may be impressed, and older loyalists can probably find an agreeable nugget or two by skipping around the more painful stretches; I myself, however, consider it more rewarding to switch the covers of this album and WELCOME and pretend that that's how they were released in the first place.


Supernatural
My older brother had the LP and played it all the time. I first heard this "album" in 1976. What struck me then was how the rhythms were structured, and how much soul was in the vocals and guital playing. The music just made me want to pick up an instrument and play it. As my musical tastes matured and I learned more about music, this album became an inspiration. It is, simlpy put, brilliant. Tears well up in my eyes when I hear "Promise of a Fisherman", it's such a spiritually powerful song. In my opinion, the guitar playing on that song is some of the best, most soulful, most powerful ever played and recorded, by anyone. On that track, it's as if Carlos Santana's soul was ignited and inspired so, that it touched the outer reaches of the universe itself. That's what I see in my minds eye when I hear this. Magic. A great collection of songs. .


Good Job
Thanks. Even though you sent the CD by Pony Express ( it took 6 calendar days to receive it from Kentucky to North Carolina), I did receive it.


another great classic album
In fact, I easily put it on the same level of enjoyment as Abraxas and Caravanserai. Borboletta is yet ANOTHER great Santana album.

Santana just knows how to write excellent songs and back it up with some of the most beautiful guitar playing of the 70's (yes, I'm fully aware how many great guitarists there were back then, and Santana is right up there with the very best).

By now you should know what a Santana album sounds like, because as much as I love these early 70's albums, they all pretty much sound the same. One major surprise on this album is a song called "Promise of a Fisherman". Talk about INCREDIBLE! The keyboard jam in the middle is scorching hot, and the guitar playing that comes and goes is just flat out brilliant. It's the best song Santana ever did, and I wouldn't just say that unless I really meant it. It's absolutely incredible.

The rest of the album is more or less normal Santana sound, style and songwriting, and that's a GREAT thing in my book, so the album gets an easy 5 star rating. .


The beginning of the downslide
Santana, both the individual and the band, has never been the same since. My review title basically sums it up. . . irregardless how many albums he's sold.


You can see a complete list of all Santana discography, or go back to the Santana tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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