Santana: Supernatural

Very little of the music on Supernatural is traditional Santana—like his contemporaries, he has become infatuated with the technological advances in sound since the late '60s. Newer amplifiers, thicker effects, and synthetic instruments live parasitically in the background and make their obnoxious presence felt in solos. Programmed drum machines drive "Maria Maria," a composition without much other distinction. The artificiality seeps in everywhere: Eric Clapton's guest guitar on "The Calling" is distant and forced, and even the songs, arranged in the style that worked so well on classic, older albums feel mildly over-produced.

The best work on Supernatural is grounded firmly on the "Tick-tock" rhythm of bongos and cowbell, as on "Smooth," which also boasts human energy from Matchbox 20's Rob Thomas, at times in call-and-response with Santana's fingers. Here technology, applied in moderation, doesn't disrupt the song's flow. Filters applied to Thomas' voice, though gratuitous, demonstrate the influence of Santana's vocals on Thomas' angsty style. Lauryn Hill muses over a hip-hop beat and a Santana progression on "Do You Like the Way." While the production is clearly hers, the performances of vocalist Cee-Lo—channeling Al Green—and Santana fuse Latin soul and Motown beautifully.

The music's lowest moments come in the form of self-references, if Dave Matthews' call to Carlos during the mediocre "Love of My Life" can even be called music. Santana's albums have always included shouts of his love for music, but never with the self-promotion common in rap and heavy metal. The songs have to stand on their own, and to hear guest vocalist The Product G+B sing praise of, "the sound of the guitar played by Carlos Santana" cheapens the playing. It also turns Carlos into a guest on his own album, an uncomfortable position for listeners, though apparently not for the performers.

Despite excellent moments, Supernatural lacks the cohesiveness of earlier Santana. Indeed, more on this album is unnatural than super. (Arista)

—Stuart Rosenberg

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