Santana - All That I Am

Year of Release: 2005
Label: Arista
Catalog Number: n/a
Format: CD
Total Time: 00:00:00

This is one of the few times I decided to look at a few reviews before listening to a CD, I found pretty much the same thing about the new Santana album All That I Am. People are saying each album with the guest star configuration has gone down hill in quality and the format has worn out its welcome. I tend to agree that its time for Carlos to move on and try something different however I do not see where his recordings have lacked depth or energy. I am a total Santana nut; I am the kind of fan that will buy obscure recordings from cut out bins. So you are now wondering, now that I have given myself away, can I be objective? Well, of course, I can; that is my objective.

This is a solid album; this is Santana regardless of all the guest stars. Who is making music like this now? That is right amigo, one man, Carlos Devadip Santana. He still plays like a man on a mission and his Latino rock burns with passion and fire just as it always did. As the title indicates, he says this is All That I Am. How could he possibly match the success of Supernatural? I overstated the importance of Shaman and said it would surpass that incredible album; I really believed it was that good. I do not think that this album is as good as the previous releases, nevertheless I cannot stop listening to it, and I do love it.

Michelle Branch steps in and does a nice job again on "I'm Feeling You," a track aimed straight at the top 40 charts. I think they hit the bull's-eye, even if it sounds like the previous efforts with the popular Branch center stage. I like the way the album kicks off with "Hermes," it's definitely one of the highlights of the recording, its vintage Santana filled with all the Latino percussion and trademark lead riffs. "My Man" is little too R & B and Rap for my taste although I could appreciate Carlos's stinging guitar lines. The very popular Los Lonely Boys are a good fit on "I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love." That was probably the best pairing on the entire album. How did they ever put Steven Tyler of Aerosmith with Santana is beyond me, its does not make any sense right? Well Tyler's voice is better for this format than you would initially think, and as it turns out, he sounds melodic and stays with Carlos quite well on "Just Feel Better." The weakest track is "I Am Somebody" featuring will.i.am, its uninspired and boring, not even great guitar playing could save it. Now the runner up on American Idol gets his shot, Bo Bice, thanks to Clive, and he does a nice job with "Brown Skin Girl," yet another one that I think could be a big single. The dude does have a great voice and he certainly is off to good start with his cameo appearance on this album. "Twisted" is also a great tune with Anthony Hamilton, a potentially chart riser if they release it. So there at least three or four tracks that could be big hits that would push this album into the top ten, but time will tell.

I loved the instrumental "Trinity." I wish Carlos would put out an entire album out like that. He absolutely cooks on that track - give me more! Possibly, next time out he will give this guest artist thing a rest so people will stop complaining. I the meantime lets enjoy it, there is a lot of great music on this CD and there is only one Santana, celebrate his life and music, give this CD a few spins, you will love it.

Tracklisting:
Hermes / El Fuego / I'm Feeling You / My Man / Just Feel Better / I Am Somebody / Con Santana / Twisted / Trinity / Cry Baby Cry / Brown Skin Girl / I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love / Da Tu Amor

Musicians:
Carlos Santana - guitars
Chester Thompson - drums
Benny Rietveld - bass
Dennis Chambers - drums
Andy Vargas - vocals
Karl Perazzo - timables, percussion
Bill Ortiz - trumpet
Jeff Cressman - trombone
Tommy Anthony - guitars, backing vocals
Raul Rekow - congas, percussion Guests: Michelle Branch & The Wreckers, Mary J Blige & Big Boi, Steven Tyler, Will.i.am, Anthony Hamilton, Kirk Hammett & Robert Randolph, Sean Paul & Joss Stone, Bo Bice, Los Lonely Boys

Discography:
Santana (1969)
Abraxas (1970)
Santana III (1971)
Carlos Santana & Buddy Miles! Live! (1972)
Caravanserai (1972)
Love, Devotion and Surrender (1972)
Welcome (1973)
Greatest Hits (1974)
Borboletta (1974)
Lotus [live] (1974)
Illuminations (1974)
Festival (1976)
Amigos (1976)
Moonflower (1977)
Inner Secrets (1978)
Oneness: Silver Dreams Golden Realities (1979)
Marathon (1979)
The Swing of Delight (1980)
Zebop! (1981)
Shango (1982)
Havana Moon (1983)
Beyond Appearances (1985)
Live (1985)
Freedom (1987)
Blues for Salvador (1987)
Viva Santana! (1988)
Spirits Dancing in the Flesh (1990)
Milagro (1992)
Sacred Fire: Santana Live in South America (1993)
Santana Brothers (1994)
Soul Sacrifice [Retro Music] (1995)
Brothers (1995)
Between Good and Evil (1996)
Live at the Fillmore (1968 (1997)
Santana [Japan Bonus Tracks] (1998)
Santana III [Japan Bonus Tracks] (1998)
Jam Live (1998)
Supernatural (1999)
Hot Tamales (1999)
Center Stage: Live (2000)
Jingo-Manic (2000)
Mother Earth (2001)
Nuclei, Vol. 2 (2001)
San Francisco Mission District Live 69 (2001)
Fried Neckbones and Home Fries (2001)
Prologue (2002)
Shaman (2002)
Fillmore Performance: San Francisco (1968) [live] (2002)
Greatest Hits (1974)
The Sound of Carlos (1982)
Viva Santana! [Columbia/Sony] (1988)
Early Magic (1989)
Persuasion [Magnum] (1989)
Best of Santana [2 CD] (1991)
Ballads Collection (1992)
Australian Collection (1992)
Very Best of Santana (1994)
Super Collection (1994)
Ballads (1994)
Santana Jam (1994)
Soul Sacrifice [Onyx Classix] (1994)
Jin-Go-Lo-Ba (1994)
Love Songs (1995)
Dance of the Rainbow Serpent (1995)
25 Hits (1995)
Salsa Samba & Santana (1995)
Samba Pa Ti (1995)
Star Box (1995)
Evolution: Original Recordings (1995)
Best Of [3 Album Box] (1995)
Definitive Collection [2 CD] (1995)
The Best of Santana [Intercontinental] (1995)
Guaranteed Fresh (1996)
Definitive Collection [Single CD] (1996)
Evil Ways [Delta] (1997)
Jingo (1997)
Collector's Edition (1997)
Santana/Abraxas/Santana (1997)
Greatest Hits Live, Vol. 1 (1997)
Greatest Hits Live, Vol. 2 (1997)
Greatest Hits Live, Vol. 3 (1997)
Guitar Hero (1997)
Summerdreams (1997)
The Ultimate Collection (1997)
The Masters [Eagle] (1997)
The Best of Santana [Columbia] (1998)
Between Good and Evil (1998)
Santana/Abraxas/Santana [Remastered] (1998)
Latin Rhythm & Blues (1998)
The Best Instrumentals (1998)
Abraxas [Japan Bonus Tracks] (1998)
Guitar Legends (1998)
Awakening (1998)
Masters [Cleopatra] (1998)
Santana [Compilation] (1998)
Latin Tropical [Magnum] (1998)
Acapulco Sunrise (1999)
Viva Percussion (1999)
Best Instrumentals, Vol. 2 (1999)
Forever Gold (2000)
Profile of Santana (2000)
Forever Gold Live (2000)
Tropical Spirits (2000)
Persuasion [Hallmark] (2000)
High Profile (2000)
Dueling Rock (2000)
Mystical Spirits Parts 1 & 2 [live] (2000)
Evil Ways [Legend] (2000)
Latin Tropical [Dressed to Kill] (2000)
Odyssey [live] (2000)
Viva Santana! [Polygram International] (2000)
The Best of Santana, Vol. 2 (2000)
Nuclei (2000)
As the Years Go By (2001)
Great (2001)
Persuasion/Latin Tropical (2001)
Jam (2001)
The Legends Collection (2001)
Gold Collection (2001)
Selection of Santana (2001)
Acapulco Sunrise/Odyssey (2001)
The Ultimate Collection [Live Bonus CD] (2001)
Legends Collection, Vol. 1 (2001)
Legends Collection, Vol. 2 (2001)
Early Classics (2002)
Black Magic Woman (2002)
San Mateo Sessions (2002)
Classics (2002)
Soul Sacrifice [Get Back] (2002)
The Essential Santana (2002)
Best Instrumentals, Vol. 1 & 2 (2002)
Milagro/Sacred Fire (2002)
Shaman (2002)
The Essential Santana (2002)
Ceremony - Remixes & Rareities (2003)
All That I Am (2005) Acapulco Sunrise: 1968 Demos (2009)
Woodstock Experience (2009)

(plus a "ton" more in compilations)

Genre: Rock

Origin US

Added: November 13th 2005
Reviewer: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck
Score:
Artist website: www.santana.com
Hits: 2872
Language: english