Clandestino

When you're in Mexico, and you go downstairs at whatever dive backpacker hostel you're staying in after a huge night drinking the shitty local imitation Corona, this is exactly what the seedy cunt who owns the hostel will be playing as he has a ciggie and hoses the vomit off the floor. He somehow won't be hungover, but you'll want to die. You'll also remember, through the haze, getting knocked back by that cute fair-weather hippie chick who is staying in one of the other rooms. You thought her flowing skirt, flirty behaviour and see-through top were a come-on, didn't you? lol. Just drink your breakfast beer and hang your head in shame, loser. Maybe you should give googol bordello a go if you're serious about trying to root chix who are pretending to be free spirits for the duration of this one holiday. Throw your standards out the door; just do it. Snarky disses aside, this was pretty catchy. 3/5.

Well, that was a delightful surprise. This album was just fun. It was energetic without being frantic, proud of its roots while staying accessible, complex without being too complicated. I really enjoyed it.

I expected to say "I respect this, but it's not for me" and call it a day, but it was way more listenable than I expected. Plus, who can resist a lyric like "Welcome to Tijuana / Tequila, sexo, y marijuana"? Best track: Welcome to Tijuana.

este album es wank

Es difícil hablar chido sobre un wey que creó un personaje con este disco y que luego se lo creyó hasta que que el Manuel Chao, ciudadano francés, desapareció por completo. Un wey que seguro tiene un pinche castillo en Francia o algo así por el estilo pero que en algún momento representó cierta posición política altermundista, de izquierdas pues, que era interesante. Para empezar, puedo decir que el wey nunca superó este disco. Ni lo hará. Creo que en Clandestino volcó todo lo que tenía que decir. Y ya no hay más que agregar. O mucho que agregar. Y está bien, no pasa nada. Eso que tenía que decir es esa idea de mestizaje desde el primer mundo, Barcelona mestiza. Yo siempre le olí un poco de turismo de clase a ese pedo. Digo, al final muy vivan los zapatistas y no sé qué pero vives en Europa, carnal. No es lo mismo. No es lo mismo tomar esa posición en México o en Chile que en la España del capital. Pero al menos lo intentó, hizo algo con eso, me caga la palabra privilegio, eso. Pero fuera de esa disonancia que siempre estará presente en lo que haga Manu. Igual les platico el ciclo con Manu Chao (que me ha pasado con muchas bandas): Lo amé, me formó. Me cansó, me hartó y luego me cagó. Odio, mucho odio. Escuchando el disco hoy, enero de 2020. Creo que tiene más sentido que antes. O al menos lo entiendo mucho mejor. Ritmos cubanos, ska, reggae, trompetas de esas que los españoles llaman fronterizas, flamenco. Me da esperanza, me da orgullo (¿?). La fuerza de nuestra región, la riqueza de nuestras expresiones. Creo que lo más chido es que es un disco profundamente melancólico. Celebrando la mentira, la muerte, lo ilegal, lo que se oculta. Una melancolía vital. Una que alienta la esperanza porque hay que estar vivos para sentir esa melancolía. La malegría. Trisfeliz dice un gran amigo. Mención aparte tiene Welcome to Tijuana. Es raro verme representado en el rock o como quieres llamar a esto. Está lleno de bangers este trip. 14 rolas, 14 likes. Bye.

Habe dieses Album auf dem Weg zum Splash 2011 gehört, obwohl das LineUp weiter weg von Manu Chao nich sein könnte. Aber so bringt man sich halt in Stimmung. Irgendwas zwischen 4 und 5 würde ich als Bewertung da lassen, aber Rationale Zahlen sind ja nicht möglich. Danke Entwickler.

Love the vibes of this one. Something that will definitely make my rotation since I'm always looking for good world music to vibe to.

3.3 - This album immediately transports me to a hostel lobby circa 2001. There are tapestries of Ché Guevara and Bob Marley hanging on the wall. I'm sipping on a lukewarm cup of Nescafé waiting to use the communal computer so I can book my next train ticket. Some Belgian chick who I just met is sitting across from me explaining why George W Bush sucks. I nod my head politely, mostly tuning her out and listening to this music bumping in the background. "Did the singer just rhyme 'Tijuana' and 'marijuana'?" I think. This scene which may have excited me when I was 20 just seems tiresome now that I'm older. And that's exactly how I feel listening to this record. There's a chill vibe throughout but it's overall uninspiring.

Spanish shite. Like the stuff you hear when you're hungover, eating breakfast in a bar in Benidorm

So far I like this one. I think the soundbites add some interest to the songs, and I like the sound of Spanish music. I liked this one a lot. I would consider downloading this one.

The sound of white dreadlocks.

Was not in english so not for me

An old favorite from way back. I mean, he's the king of Bongo Bong, what more is there to say?

I'm not always on board with the mood Manu channels, but the craft of that channeling is immaculate as far as I'm concerned. The mixing of vocals into the rest of the sounds is especially perfect. The dash between "French" and "Spanish" on Chao's Wikipedia is audible. Feels good to really love an album on the site again. No single track leaped out at me, which gives me more confidence in the score.

this just rules. I don't know anything about this genre of music, and I'd never heard of Chao, but this was such an enjoyable experience. it's sort of beneficial that I feel like I don't know what's going on (due to both language and genre), because I can get very lost in the music!

This is one of my favorites ever. Manu Chao is an absolute party - incredible talent, catchy, great melodies, spectacular use of language. And a damn good concert.

Really enjoyable music to have on while cooking dinner. Easy and interesting to listen to. The songs seemed varied but not too far from each other in theme/feel. Was a bit confused that some of the songs seemed to be in French but then Google told me he is a French born Spanish musician and sings in many many languages.

A total fiesta!

Enjoyed this a lot - sultry latin vibes for a cold winter's weekend. Whenever it threatened to get a bit samey he'd chuck in a louder or softer number to keep things fresh, or sing in a completely different language just for the hell of it. Earns its fourth star for absolute commitment to the album format - I don't think anything else on the list so far has flowed so seamlessly between tracks.

Heh, I don’t think Manu Chao had much of an impact on the UK, but he was apparently massive a lot of other places. I first encountered his music while backbacking around Thailand around 2000, as was the custom at the time, and a guesthouse owner kept asking me “Do you like Manu Chao?” and I assumed it was Thai for something, food, or drugs or lawd knows what, and when I said I didn’t know what Manu Chao was he just kept repeating “Manu Chao! Manu Chao!” and waving his arms around - in retrospect to get me to pay attention to the music that was playing - but I was utterly baffled for an embarrassingly long time… The music is alright, I guess - chill, polyglot, a bit juvenile from what I do understand. Probably a three star album, but I'm awarding an extra star for the above anecdote associations... Fave track - "Bongo Bong" which I'm pretty sure was the track that was playing in that guesthouse...

Loved it. I was impressed when after 4 or 5 songs he had shifted from Spanish to English to French. Apparently Minha Galeria (track 14) is in Portuguese. But aside from his mastery of different languages, the style is upbeat, the beats are catchy, and his lyrics are interesting (at least from what I could understand from English and French...minimally Spanish). Regardless the language, there's lots of neat wordplay. One knock is some cheesy studio effects added in periodically (e.g., the 80's video game missle sound in Desaparecido and other songs). My favorite tracks were Malegria (crazy cool pace), Dia Lunadia Pena (his best vocals and elegant melody), Welcome To Tijuana (weird and wonderful), Je Ne T'Aime Plus (great beats, which were the same as Bongo Bong but lyrics not as cheesy), Clandestino (nice intro to the album), La Vie a 2 (simple guitar arrangement combined with intense vocals).

Very interesting mix. The music itself seems to be more Latin American inspired but the lyrics are sung in many languages including Spanish French and English. The music is infectious and very danceable. My Spanish isn’t as good as it used to be so I don’t understand as much as I like, but from what I’ve read, the lyrics have an anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist

An absolutely fascinating. So many styles and really interesting sounds. Each song seems to have something compelling about it. I like the switch from Spanish to French and back again. I have no clue how to classify the music on this album but I do know I am very much looking forward to the next listen and discovering more layers of goodness. 4.5 stars

Manu's grasp on languages and genres is impressive. You never really know what you're going to get on each song. I feel like a lot of the record is influenced by early hip-hop (including the two rapped tracks earlier in the track list). A solid 3.5 from me. Favorite tracks: "Luna y Sol", "Mentira"

Really fun! A nice variety of moods and feels, but they all make me want to dance.

Reggae. By a French artist. Singing primarily in Spanish. Its very chill. Nice.

The album has a beautiful sunset feel to it. I also like the minimalistic production. Would have never guessed this guy is French-Spanish.

Kinda lost me at "king of the bongo" but I thought this was overall quite enjoyable

Surprisingly tasty, and apparently recorded on his laptop!

Not for me to judge but here I am.

A few tracks are alright, but most are either forgettable or actively annoying.

Manu Chao’s “Clandestino” is a really fascinating tapestry of cultural and geographic musings that fall into each other without really ever clashing. Chao, a polyglot, sings in up to four languages on the album, and with each language, he pulls influences from the respective cultures, making the album a melting pot of ideas and sonic structures that are still cohesive. probably because Chao is selling a message of universal oneness and peace. but that cohesion, a few songs in, begins to breed repetition, till the music blends into itself. the album is light and breezy, sure, but that lightness begins to work against it: all of it fades into the background, with nothing truly lush enough to stand out. though i admit this is not music i would naturally gravitate towards, i can appreciate the courage in Chao’s ideas and thematic leanings; how he not only sings of unity, but strives to sound like it too. but the music just lacks the gusto to really hold itself together — and maybe that alone says a lot about the world it’s hoping to unite.

Interesting listen, much different from anything I would normally listen to. Not really my thing but I thought some of it was enjoyable. Really impressive that he made the whole album on a laptop in the 90s while traveling the world.

I bet The Jesus from The Big Lebowski tells everyone this is his favorite album, but he's probably never even listened to it. Good on him.

Nah sorry

french artist multuple languages

Wild vibes. Loved it. All over the place, linguistically and musically.

I thought I didn’t recognise the name Manu Chao, but after some extra research I definitely do know Me Gustas Tu. That’s not on this album though. The album cover gives Mexican vibes, but more googling tells me he grew up in Spain and France. Anyway, the music. I absolutely love this album. The way that the tracks flow together makes for a really pleasant album experience. The way that Chao flips between Spanish, French and English impresses me every time. Despite being objectively not this genre, it reminded me a lot of la musica cubana, pero él es de España y Francia. De todos modos, me encanta este álbum. Lo buscaré en la próxima feria de discos.

Got me moving and grooving in a few songs. Also i feel his spanish intonation is good so could be cool to try to study the songs and understand them for learning spanish.

Un ensamble único.

Why is French and Spanish rap so much better than English?

The songs, firmly in the minor key mode category, are underpinned by acoustic instruments, giving the tracks an exotic edge. Meanwhile the vocals and arrangements are upbeat and groovy, making the album stylish and very listenable fusion style, sunny pop music. The tracks don't outstay their welcome either. Superb all round.

Stylish, upbeat and groovy.

Breath of fresh air. I love delving into music I haven't spent a lot of time in. This is awesome. The title track is irresistible.

MINT

Very catchy in 1998. Very catchy in 2024.

JAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Nice. Relaxing, just a bit global, would listen again.

taitavaa latino-indie runoutta...

Could listen to this on endless repeat. Gorgeous blend of language an instrument. What am I even writing?

Absolute classic. Bangers.

ei voi prkl käyttää lyriikkaa I'm the king of bongo bong ja ei vittu järisyttää maankuorta bongoilla... siitä huolimatta, olipas hauska albumi. manu elvistelee kulttuurisuuttaan käyttämällä eri kieliä (ei suomea, only dogshit laguages) . vähän toispuolinen sillä b-osio vähäm kyllästyttävä muttatotanoin faktaa on nyt se... ett' koko paska on hyvin tehty... welcome to tijuana.... tequila sexo marijuana... mentira

GREAT

Funky fresh, trilingual experience

Ich weiß gar nicht, warum ich diese Musik nicht öfter höre. Sie ist unglaublich beschwingt und macht gute Laune.

Awesome Brazilian music - really dug the vibe...big fan

This album is quite good, with the laid-back, sun-drenched sound associated with places like Tijuana. Favorites are "Desaparecido," "Bongo Bong," and "Lagrimas de Oro." Also, this is an album where I feel that the audio samples work quite well- even if I can't always understand the words.

Genius. Excellent from start to finish.

What an awesome album! I knew a couple of songs off this one but never listened to the entire thing. Glad I did!

I grew up with this, and I speak spanish. The lyrics are very important; I will have to give it a 5. But for a non spanish speaker (and no attachment) maybe this would be a 3,5

Amazing ability to blend songs in 3 languages with distinct styles that complement each language. Great guitarist

5/5 This is the perfect vibe for a hostel, and I love the soundbits scattered throughout the entire album. Quintessential Mexican music, I was bopping my head through almost every track.

Love this

As cool as it is for Manu Chao to be seen as the patron saint of run down hostel and hippie backpacker bar background music, for anyone who sees his music as little more than a fun amalgamation of styles and languages, I recommend reading up a little about his career and political stances, and digging slightly more into his discography. For instance, the same songs that sound chill and laid back on here, are completely transformed in a live setting. 5 bongs out of 5 ⚗️⚗️⚗️⚗️⚗️

An absolute joy. I knew Bongo Bong, but this whole album is Latin infused with a French wit and so many styles, but still feels coherent and smart.

Enjoyed his work with Amadou & Mariam and heard the name thrown about but otherwise completely ignorant. Not sure if it's a blessing or a curse for the random album generator to spew this one forth on a cold, dark December morning. Doesn't feel quite right listening at 10am with the lights on in the house. Feels simultaneously 90s and timeless. Or perhaps it's just songs like Bongo bong, which if we get more of will negatively affect the score. I enjoyed it more when it morphed into the next track even though it's almost the same, odd. Lagrimas de oro and Luna y sol had me properly bobbing my head. Welcome to Tijuana stays just the right side of daft with the reworking of Tequila. Anyway yeah this album cheered me up on a miserable morning. I'm sure he's singing about important stuff in places but I don't speak the language. Apparently the samples running throughout are from the head of the current wing of Zapatistas in Mexico. So it's a shame I don't speak the language I guess. Would like to sign off with a line from another review because I thoroughly enjoyed it: Está lleno de bangers este trip.

Classic

Love international music

Manu Chao's debut solo album, Clandestino, is a masterpiece that captures the essence of street culture and celebrates diverse cultures from around the world. Released in 1998, the album has stood the test of time and remains relevant today. It's an eclectic mix of musical styles, blending Latin rhythms, reggae, punk, and electronic beats, creating a unique sound that's both energetic and infectious. From the opening track, "Clandestino," Manu Chao sets the tone for the rest of the album. The song features a catchy melody, upbeat tempo, and lyrics that reflect his experiences as an immigrant. He sings about the struggles of living in a foreign land, trying to make ends meet, and finding love in unexpected places. The song's chorus, "Soy un clandestino / Soy un pobre clandestino," ("I am a clandestine / I am a poor clandestine") becomes a rallying cry for anyone who's ever felt marginalized or oppressed. The next track, "Desaparecido," continues the theme of dislocation and social justice. Manu Chao uses his signature vocal style, singing in multiple languages, to tell the story of a disappeared loved one. The song's haunting melody and poignant lyrics capture the pain and longing that comes with losing someone without a trace. One of the standout tracks on the album is "Bongo Bong." This upbeat anthem features a catchy chorus, hand claps, and a driving beat that's impossible to resist. Manu Chao's lyrics are both playful and political, referencing everything from Bob Marley to the CIA. It's a feel-good song that never fails to put a smile on my face. Another highlight of the album is "Je Ne T'Aime Plus." This ballad showcases Manu Chao's ability to write heartfelt lyrics and deliver them with emotional depth. The song's simple melody and acoustic accompaniment allow his voice to shine, making it one of the most beautiful and intimate moments on the album. But Clandestino isn't all love and politics; there are also moments of pure joy and celebration. "Mentira" is a prime example. This Brazilian-inspired groove features a bouncy bassline, percussive elements, and a sing-along chorus. It's a party in a song, guaranteed to get any crowd moving. Other notable tracks include "Lágrimas De Ouro," which features a stunning piano melody and soulful vocals; "Mama Call," a reggae-infused anthem with a memorable hook; and "Luna Y Sol," a dreamy ballad that showcases Manu Chao's poetic lyrics and soothing vocals. What makes Clandestino such a remarkable album is its diversity and authenticity. Manu Chao draws inspiration from his travels and experiences, incorporating sounds and rhythms from across the globe. He sings in four different languages, representing the multiculturalism that's at the heart of his music. His message of unity and resistance resonates deeply, especially in today's increasingly divided world. In conclusion, Clandestino is a classic album that deserves every bit of praise it receives. Manu Chao's innovative blend of musical styles, combined with his powerful lyrics and distinctive vocal style, create a truly unforgettable listening experience. Even if you don't understand the lyrics, the music itself is enough to move your body and stir your soul. It's an album that belongs in every music collection, a true masterpiece that will continue to inspire generations to come.

Man this album brings me back! I first heard it while on a 4 month solo trip in Brazil. I was (at the time) staying in a hostel perched high above the bay in Rio with a view down Ipanema. I was a journalist at the time, so I would sit on the roof deck writing articles while this album came heavily on rotation. Needless to say this isn't a pure review of the album, but the life I lived when I first heard it, because I have barely revisited this album since being back in the states. Overall such a wonderful flow and tons of fun! Bongo Boy is, ofc, the standout, but I really loved how much this album blends languages, music types and themes to pain this picture of hispanic culture. Outside the album, I decided to visit his Wiki page (as I do with all the artists), and was extremely surprised to find his beliefs to be both refreshing and non-ludicrous. I feel like its worth people reading themselves , but I'd recommend a read - just an all round brilliant dude who makes banging music! Nice!

i love this album cuz it makes me want to respectfully shake ass with a coconut in my hand and not a care in the world

Grrrrrrreat album.

Excellent - can't believe I have never listened to him before!

Incredible iconic album, one of the best ever

Discazo de Manu Chao. Vinilo.

Ну как можно не любить Ману Чао? 100/10

Un classico!

Curto muito, das antiga já

Not sure I'd call this "rock", but I really enjoyed it.

Buiten is het code geel door de regen, maar hierbinnen in men kantoor te Schoten schijnt die zuiderse zon als nooit tevoren. Heerlijk album met nummers die al in wat zomerplaylisten van me zitten zoals Clandestino en Bongo bong.

Loved

Wasn't sure what to expect from this, but ended up quite enjoying it. "Bongo Bong" and "Welcome to Tijuana" are my top picks.

Very unique and diverse album.

Rating: 9/10 Best songs: Clandestino, Bongo bong, Je ne t’aime plus, Mentira, luna y sol

¡Este álbum es fantástico! Me encanta la musica y la voz. Suena como la banda sonata de Narcos México. Las tres primeras canciones son mis favoritas. Me gusta como Bongo Bong se convierte sin problemas en Je Ne T’aime Plus. Bien hecho. Estaré escuchando este álbum muchas veces en el futuro.

I know nostalgia is making me overly generous but I'm sticking with it.

There’s a school of thought which ascribed to Spanish culture a reactionary and backwards character which prevented any significant artistic or cultural products emerging from the Iberian peninsula. The origins of this character is rooted in the belief that Spain’s subordination to both Islamic and Christian fanaticism has imbued its people with a lingering aversion to the enlightenment values which gave life to some of the most precious artefacts of European artistic achievement. (see: the Black Legend on Wikipedia for more on this stuff). Truthfully, you can kind of see what is meant by this theory, even if there are glaring historical inconsistencies underpinning its premise. While I am not even 200 albums through this project, the contribution of Spain to the canon of popular music is practically nonexistent. Its folk music lacks universal appreciation, and when it comes to popular music you can just forget it. The eruption of punk in the country, which had already invigorated most of Western Europe in the late 1970s, came too late and with seriously derivative results (a prevailing trend). What has this to do with “Clandestino” by Manu Chao? Well, I would argue that the ex-Mano Negra member achieved one of the most significant Spanish contributions to popular music with this offering - even if he isn’t exactly, well, Spanish. His ancestral connections to the country are, in fact, to the Basque Country, which is a less than enthusiastic participant in Spanish identity-building. That being said, Manu Chao’s use of the Spanish language is some of the most poetically ingenious you will hear. While the general locus of the record is found, rather predictably, in the idea of loneliness and nomadic uncertainty, he illustrates this sense of vagrancy with some really biting social commentary and sardonic wit. The multi-lingual approach to his songwriting compounds this placelessness which doesn’t so much torment the narrator, but rather confronts him as an inescapable reality. Additionally, the record has a lot going for it sonically. It’s a really unique hybrid of Latin folk, hip-hop and punk which just works on so many levels. It’s a blend that’s hard to describe without sounding too reductive, but just listen to the subtle combination of genres on tracks like “Bongo Bong” - it sounds equally at home in the sun-bleached bars of Havana as it does in the rustic Parisian ghettos. It’s a concept album in the loosest sense, but is so rich in thematic depth - and these two things should not be conflated. The album is so far from pretentious, that it delves so profoundly into its philosophical material. So… Vive La France? Arriba España? Gora Euskadi? Yes…

absolute banger album

<3

Album divertido, pegajoso y con buenas letras. Super disfrutable

I had never heard of this artist before, but loved it! Good variation of sounds (and languages) and I enjoyed all of it. Listened to it twice and enjoyed it just as much the second time. That’s five stars from me dawg.

I knew of Manu Chao from a few tracks a friend had put on some mix CDs twenty years ago. I was definitely a fan, although I never looked for more of Chao's music. I've been missing out. This has such an interesting and engaging sound, and with only a basic knowledge of Spanish, I caught enough to want to decode the compelling lyrics further. I loved listening to this and I would like to listen to more!

Musically this was fun. Lyrically, I cannot really judge, so the album gets a pass on that. If only some of the other albums that we’ve had were not in English…

Varied, interesting, and fun. Will listen again!

I have a few songs by Manu Chao from some mix tape I received many years ago, but never listened to an entire album. Really enjoyed this! The French-Spanish angle was interesting too. Great!

I was honestly quite shocked, as I think I made a preconception based on the album art. But this truly blew me away, with a good sonic blend and both emotion and playfulness staggered throughout.

Makes me want to travel :)

See listening notes to this. Current fave: la vie à 2.

Fun all the way! Party in Europe.

Damn nice