Clandestino

This is a classic that was basically played on repeat in every backpackers hostel I stayed in throughout the 2000s. It's kind of a vibe, that defined that generation--a vibe that is underappreciated in North America but a powerhouse in much of the French, Spanish and Portuguese speaking world, since Manu Chao speaks all three. This is the first album he released under his new name, having softened the harder ska-punk approach of Mano Negra. It's not a perfect album but it's damn consistent and a little better than its follow up. The consistency may be also its weak point--some of the background tracks to songs are the exact same--Mano Chao is lazy with his beats sometimes. But the singing and lyrics are different enough that it works. 5/5

I had heard Bongo Bong before, I moderately enjoy it. The rest of the album I enjoyed less, but it was still fine. Latin rhythms, Spanish lyrics. It's OK but not for me, and I can't say whether it was a good choice for the list, but I guess it's not another US rock group for which I should be thankful. I'd still like a Latin music expert to tell me if this was a good representation of the genre or if it is what it sounds like to me, which is something to put on in a Mexican restaurant when tourists come in. I did read about this album on Wikipedia - the story of its production is much more interesting than the final product.

this was my second time listening to this album and i enjoyed it. dated, but fun

No idea why is being sung but the rhythm is good. I 2.5/5

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Wold, latino och lite baktakt. Väldigt lyssningsbart. Har svårt att inte tycka om detta album, det är engagerande och avskalat instrumentalt där man plockat bort mycket av förstärkta instrument och konventionella trummor och ersatt med blås och rytminstrument. Detta ger ett äkta och i brist på andra ord ett sympatiskt sound. Omöjligt att inte gunga med i musiken och tycker inte det är spår som avviker från det. Bättre an vad jag förväntade mig och detta album vill jag lyssna på igen så det blir en 4a. Bäst är Bongo bong, Je ne t'aime plus, Mentira, Welcome to Tijuana, La vie a 2, Minha galera, La despedida

Genuinely incredible, even for basic entry level Spanish speakers you can understand as well.

не мое, оценка обоснована лишь моим мнением

I know a surprising amount of these songs. Shows how popular this album must have been i guess. I can see why. It’s laid back, cool Latin rhythms, a balanced mix, sungs in french, English , Spanish. I’ve never understood what type if muaic ia at a ‘World Music’ festival and always assumed tribal bands and entho specific folk or traditional music but maybe it is bands like this, mixing genres and languages. It’s an easy listen.

Absolutely fine

Might be worth a 3 if I could understand what's being said. Mind if the bongo song is a anything to go by, then maybe not.

On another day maybe it could have scraped a 3

It's catchy and has a nice flow to it, although I wasn't fond of the descending bleep effect he kept using

I dunno I guess this is fun and groovy and cool and everything but I don't really care about it all that much? maybe if I was a giant pothead this would be my absolute favorite thing? Nothing wrong with it, just a lil boring for yours truly.

Superb, perfect summer afternoon music

Highly enjoyable background music

Amazing! Amazing! Amazing!

One of the best summer listens and summer musicians out there! Masterpiece from top to bottom! Have it on vinyl!

Cohesive, meaningful and engaging album, that is not in primarily in English? More of this, please. 9/10

Best summer album

New to me. A breezy, summery pop album but a bit "world music for 6 music dads".

Enjoyed it as it’s holiday time

New to me- enjoyed this a lot. Enough variety to retain my interest for the whole album.

New to me and not terrible at all, “Bongo Bongo” was a good song, but not something I’ll be listening to again. One star but no where near the very worst of the one stars. Tom.

Not feeling this. Below average.

Surprisingly listenable for a non english album

Didn't know the language

latino. gostei. good vibrations.

não tava dando nada, mas é bem bom. Ele começa bom, melhora e se torna obra prima.

Hmm. Seems I've got another world music album on my hands, though I don't remember seeing this album cover when I took a scroll down the genre page about a month ago. Anyways, Clandestino, Clandestino, Clandestino... Obviously, this album is going to be in Spanish, though what type of Hispanic is up in the air. Fuck it, we're rolling with a Mexican dance album because clandestine is the name of the album and drug cartels and whatnot. Hooray for racial stereotypes. Alright, here goes. A reggae rock album from a Spanish-Cuban musician residing in France. Alright, 1001 albums list. Ya beat me. This was fine. Just a perfeeectly okay time, though there's nothing in here that I haven't heard before or am particularly enthused by. I don't think reggae rock is an adequate descriptor for this album since the music bears much more of a Spanish influence. Truth be told, I would have preferred more of a reggae sound as the stretches of this album which incorporate that style were generally my favourite bits. I particularly favour the loopy, laid-back, distinctly reggae organs which appear on "Bongo Bong". By comparison, the Spanish-influenced remainder of this album was able to hold its own at first, though my attention span promptly dropped off during the second half of this album, where the songs generally started to blur together. The vocals also kind of suck. For the most part Chao is a subpar, yet tolerable vocalist, though the babbling quality that he adopts during the livelier and busier stretches of this album are quite jarring and grating. All in all, this album made for a tolerable 46 minutes of listening action, but not to where I feel like revisiting this. Book time. This album was the product of Chao's journey across Latin America, with the samples of this album being recorded in various places around the world. "Where [Manu Chao's previous band] sometimes got lost in their exuberant forays from punk to ska to salsa, Clandestino seamlessly melds Chao's Latin-tinged stream of consciousness, [...] each song melting into the next like entries in an intimate travel diary." Chao sings in French, English, Spanish and Portuguese on this album. Quite political, with it heavily sampling speeches from Subcommandante Marcos. Wikipedia says that the few critics who reviewed this album were favourable to it, with the French version of Rolling Stone notably ranking this album as the 67th best French rock release of all time. The album had a surprising performance on the charts. It charted in 11 countries, notably peaking at No. 14 in Germany, No. 13 in Austria, No. 12 in Hungary, No. 9 in Switzerland and No. 1 in France. The album also had a very surprising performance on the year-end charts, appearing on the Swiss charts for two years, the Belgian charts for three years and the French charts for five consecutive years from 1998 to 2002. Notable placements include No. 6 on the French charts for 1999, No. 35 on the Swiss charts for 2000 and No. 52 in Belgium for 1999. Yeah, I'm content with letting this album through. Europe appears to have liked this album, and I'm generally in the corner of these world music picks because of the much-needed variety that they offer. I cosign this inclusion.

Overall: 3/10 Sorry. Not bad, but I didn't really get any enjoyment out of this. Not for me at all. Fav Song: Luna y Sol

Some of the songs I liked, but others didn't hit the same. The instrumentals are nice and the vocals aren't the worst but nothing about this really grabs my attention.

The King of the Bongo Bong is French. A tender cow saved the life of The King of the Bongo Bong. What a glorious fever dream this album is.

I think I could cook some meth to this album.

Just not my type of music, I can take a song or two but that is it!

A Spanish singing castrati

This is a great album to get ready to, very much bustling around the house music. I liked the groove, but I did think it was slightly too long. All in all, I would listen again!

Wasn’t drinking, was hanging out cooking. I couldn’t get through it. Whenever RS rates something that high it usually sucks.

Background music at best.

toller sound - und gut gealtert! ich weiss nicht wieso nicht 5 sterne?!

Ein grossartiges Album welches wohl überraschend auch erfolgreich war.

It has a certain charm. Some of the other reviews are sniffy because it is popular with backpackers. That may well be the case, but it is still a decent album - organic, groovy, and heartfelt.

This was interesting and fun. I don’t think I’ll listen on repeat, but great find

I was a backpacker in the early 2000’s. Some of your reviews left me howling with laughter and slightly embarrassed. Manu Chao really was the soundtrack to our generation.. the holier than thou do-gooder world traveller. I regret nothing and would do it again. Proxima Estacion: Esperanza is the essential Manu Chao album, this is merely a good precursor. Musically, it gets quite repetitive and the vibe wears off before the album is through. Still, it was a blast to listen to.

good album, all the songs worked well with each other. good listening experience

La primera mitad es increíble y desp bienvenidos a tijuana tmb, las otras están bien, no muy memorables igual. Sería un 3,5 pero por la portada y bongo bongo le pongo 4.

not sure why i have a sweet spot for this album. maybe nostalgia? anyway, i find it uplifting and very entertaining listening to it.

The reviewer who said that this transports you to a backpacker hostel in the early 2000s has it spot on. But there are worse places to be.

Entspannte Urlaubsmusik für die Hängematte. Kommt mir teils auch sehr bekannt vor. Manchmal vielleicht etwas langweilig 7.5/10

already listen

Lágrimas de Oro saved this from being a 2.

Nice with something different

Listened to it twice. Didn’t realize how popular this guy was! Really fun and energizing. Will be back to listen to more of his stuff.

Was expecting musique a la crêpe and ended up with fajita fiesta. Still listenable and will play during my next taco night. But not a whole lot of variation between songs. All in all good for a theme, but felt repetitive.

I went into this thinking I would not like it based on the cover. I was wrong. Great energy and cohesiveness between tracks. This is music to move to.

Smart, fun, chill, and catchy Spanish street music (with great playing) from a Frenchman. What more do you need to know?

Not really my style but not bad

Oh wow, right from the start this is a really fun album. The beats and instrumentals are beautifully crafted, and the multi-lingual lyrics add a lot to the experience. I loved this album front to back.

I remember seeing this album a fair bit at the time and hearing it was quite radical, not sure what I was expecting but thought it would be a bit more rousung.

This obviously has something about it for some people but when it's not in English and I can't understand the lyrics and therefore what the song is about then I'm not one of them. Decent tunes though.

Fun vibe with almost every track being a banger. Love the different languages throughout the album. Very unique

Honestly not bad, but really painfully repetitive. I could only get about halfway through it. The bongo joke song is kinda funny. ⭐️⭐️

Listened before?: yes Clandestino - 4/5 Desaparecido - 5/5 Bongo Bong - 4/5 Je ne t'aime plus - 4/5 Mentira... - 4/5 Lágrimas de oro - 4/5 Mama Call - 3/5 Luna y sol - 4/5 Por el suelo - 3/5 Welcome to Tijuana - 3/5 Día luna... día pena - 3/5 Malegría - 4/5 La vie à 2 - 3/5 Minha galera - 3/5 La despedida - 3/5 El viento - 3/5 Average score: 3.6/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ it's a fun listen. it had a fairly strong start, but there's little diversity of instrumentation, so most of the songs just started to sound the same after the first 1/3 of the album or so. it'd probably get at least 3.5 stars anywhere else though, which isn't bad at all in my opinion

No bad in places.

Pretty forgettable. Impressive Spanish singing for a French singer, it had me fooled.

this felt like a movie in the background it was awesome

Vague memories of his former band Mano Negra. Loved the different Latin/European/World sounds and multi lingual singing. More punky than Buena Vista. Gotta be a staple at Bar Kelvinos as that sun goes down. One to revisit. 4

Not bad, maybe a little cheesy in parts. Did really like the Tijuana one, also La vie a 2.

Strange mix of languages, nice background music if cooking fajitas, but little more. To be clear, this will not be on the playlist at the mythical Café Kelvinos. Policy notice: Despite only existing in my mind, the cafe does not do playlist requests and anyone who makes such requests or attempts to influence the playlist will be subject to a virtual lifetime ban.

quite enjoyable

I kind of groan to myself whenever its a foreign language album as I dont often get much from music if I can't pick out the lyrics. Every rule has an exception and this is one. Fucking fantastic album.

3.5

1st time listening but not the last! Really good.

Laid back Latin vibe with occasional French flourishes. Don’t know what it’s about but it’s enjoyable.

alr, there's some good tracks, but mostly just ok, not really catchy enough for me

guy who hacked me on spotify played this kind of annoying shit. fucked up my stats.

Music was fine but way too much talking

This is a cool album. It's very playful, and I didn't realize this was where the song Bongo Bong came from. Not every track hits for me, but I definitely enjoyed a lot of it.

I never imagined that a fusion of Reggae and Latin music would work, but it kinda does. Although I'm a bit surprised that a French band would use so much Spanish. I'm not sure if understanding the lyrics would help or hurt my rating here. As it stands, I would not mind putting this on very low in the background as I do other thngs. It's a vibe, and there's certainly a place for it. Gonna give it the benefit of the doubt and not deduct points based on my own lack of understanding. Musically it's pretty good, I actually enjoyed the majority of those weird inserts they do.

The article said he tested songs on children when building this album. Congratulations, you made an album that sounds like an album of children's songs. The article mentioned the album being full of sound bites, but the only one that I noticed was the 80's era video game bomb-dropping sound, which was used repeatedly throughout the album, but is gimmicky enough that it ony should have been used on one song, maybe briefly on a second one as an intentional forshadow/throwback. Nah, this wasn't good.

Enjoyed a lot - but what's going on with the 80s video game effect that pops up every now and then? Also, I assume the lyrics in Spanish are as banal as when he sings in English, but it sounds so much better when you don't understand.

Yea, got a good beat to get you through the workday. 4/5

favs: bongo bong / je ne t’aime plus lágrimas de oro welcome to tijuana día luna…día pena rating 1.3/5

If you can handle, not understanding the language, this album absolutely slaps... but mostly Spanish. There's some French and some hard to understand English as well and some easy to understand English. Welcome to Tijuana!!!

dreadful

Loved it.

Nice!

Welcome To Tijuana was a big tune for a while there. Rest is pretty good, too, though I mostly have no idea what he's singing. Haven't heard this since it came out and to Manu's credit it is not as dated sounding as I expected.

What a great gem from the strange hinterlands of this collection. Aside from his crazy Basque/Cuban/Spanish/Galician/French history, Manu Chao probably wins the award for the longest name in this collection (José Manuel Tomás Arturo Chao Ortega). And I can totally see how this album found a home in backpacker/budget hotspots around the world at the end of the 20th century, especially given how he compiled and composed most of the album in the midst of wandering through much of Latin America. I enjoyed nearly every track on the album (and the many videos too), and was often reminded of Gorillaz (more in spirit than sound, although tracks like "Welcome to Tijuana" or "El viento" get close); my favorites are probably the title track, the "Bongo bong"/"Je ne t'aime plus" medley, "Luna y sol" and "La vie a 2". I'm almost tempted to see if I'd enjoy his previous band (Mano Negra) as much as this, as well as his followup albums (after this project eventually ends, I suppose).

new to me. Great beats for a lazy Sunday morning.

This was literally everywhere back then. A few classic songs, but many others are less memorable. Not that amazing in retrospect, but slightly biased due to nostalgia.

10/07/2026 I didn't really understand it, but that's okay, because it was better than most English speaking songs. Spotify listeners: 15.2 million

Not for me

Lots of fun! I wonder if proxima estacion will be on here, that’s the one I’ve heard of before. Highlights were Bongo Bong, je ne t’aime plus, and La vie a 2

fun! short! enjoyed!

🕺💃

Fun listen, I think my favorite track was the bongo song for obvious reasons. The shortness of the tracks was a good reprieve from some of these other albums.

Manu Chao, the former frontman for Mano Negra, is a one of one performer. Coming off somewhere between Joe Strummer and the Buena Vista Social Club, Chao’s solo debut is a moment in time, much like the Tropicalia movement of the mid 2000s, it captured a lot of attention for a specific genre of music for a short time, whoch is unfortunate, given what Chao stands for. Today, I could go miles before I’d find someone who knew who he is offhand. That doesn’t diminish his music, which as a Spanish immigrant to Paris, has a particular flair that is difficult to replicate. Songs like the title track and Bongo Bong are true earworms, and worth a listen.

Muy bueno

Admittedly my enjoyment of the French artists on this list so far has been very minimal, so I was surprised by how much I ended up enjoying this. It’s not something I’m likely to listen to again, but I can understand why it’s on the list and appreciated listening to it.

I wasn't aware of Manu Chao before today, but he seems like a decent guy who is driven by sticking up for fellow migrants. The songs are all political, but they create a joyous atmosphere despite some of the heavier subject matters tackled on here. Chao can speak multiple languages and this is showcased on this record. The addition of voices being added onto Chao's music is a welcome production choice that makes it feel like you are strolling through a small but bustling community somewhere in Latin America. This record isn't something that I would choose to put on, but I bet it sounds perfect paired with sipping a cold beer in a warm climate.

music was relaxing but listened to at near full volume compared to other recordings.

It sounds like what would be playing in a mid tier Mexican restaurant. Not sure why this is on the list

#180/1001 🇫🇷🇪🇸 My first listen to this record although I saw Manu Chao live many years ago at a festival. Really enjoyed it and its certainly something that i'll want to come back to. Best tracks: Luna Y Sol, Clandestino, Welcome to Tijuana, Mama Call

Impressive lyrics and contagious energy. Love and peace vibes, but with a deeper message, not just for the sake of it. A classic of latin music (or it should be)

Immaculate vibes, just in time for Summer. Exactly what I needed rn

It was okay even though I can’t speak Spanish and I want to really bad!

Not really my thing, but this was a fun listen. 2.75/5.

2.5

Vaery nice and playful multi language multi style reggae

Not sure what to do with this one. We’ll say a neutral 3.

The sound and vibes on this album are incredible. It transports you to a place and time in your imagination that feels so specific. The point of view here is beautiful. It feels like a really faithful execution of an artist vision. I can definitely see myself putting this on to capture the vibes. People in other reviews talk about this being the music played at a hostel and maybe that's right but that is also a feeling I want sometimes. Not for everyone but yes for me. 5/5

Not being a fluent Spanish speaker, this album comes across as 100% vibes based and it's pretty successful on those terms. 'Bongo Bong' is one of those songs that you've heard in a thousand movies, TV shows and commercials for that very reason- it effortlessly sets a super specific tone and never strays from it (incidentally, this track reminds me a lot of Gorillaz, whose first album wouldn't come out until a few years later).

Por fin algo en español. A Manu lo descubrí cuando era chica y me creía revolucionaria. Ya había escuchado este álbum varias veces, es súper fresco y original. Gran artista y gran músico.

enjoyed the Tijuana bits but it went downhill quickly.

Wasn't sure at first. But I don't mind it at all. It's sunny outside and this fits nicely. It's a bit fun, a bit chill. I like how it flows flawlessly too.

It’s a refreshing switch up from the glut of classic rock albums on this list and I can really appreciate that about it and I like the genre bending nature of it. But when you compare it to the other albums like it on this like the Bueno Vista Social Club album I think it falls short.

Yes, this is the sound of being in a hostel at 2am whilst trying to sleep and the guys in your dorm are having a party and talking in Spanish. Mildly interesting for 5 minutes but soon gets a bit boring.

It’s slightly repetitive but it does have a groove that I can appreciate. It just keeps going throughout its run.

Honestly, a pretty solid listen. Usually in the category of albums where I don't have the cultural history with the genre to properly rate it, but this one was a vibe. Still gonna rate it in the middle, but solid album.

Its like when the contractors working in your neighbor's yard have their radio on too loud.

marijuana illegal

Nice enough. The language barrier is always going murky the waters of a review. It was a thrill to hear the original versions of Bongo Bong and Je Ne T’aime Plus after only knowing the Robbie Williams covers from 2006. I preferred the French language songs near the end particularly ‘La Vie A 2’

Did I understand the lyrics? No. Was it still a fun listen? Definitely Really enjoyed this one, perfect to listen to while we have a heat wave in the UK

Annoying. Hey, just pick a language, mate, and stop playing video games. I'm sure he's talented but I didn't appreciate what he's done with that talent here. Nope. Won't be listening to this ever again.

You find us here, listening to Manu Chao, in what passes for a Salford heatwave, and I think this album was the first time in all of this particular episode of stifling heat that was 'fun' rather than 'annoying and a sure sign of climate breakdown'. It's super laid back, got some nicely eclectic instrumentation - including real Brazilian influence, all the way down to one song switching to Portuguese I think. It's probably not one to bang on very often, but the next time you're trying to retain your sanity by popping a Solero down your drawers, this would be a very nice accompaniment.

Serious good vibes from this album! Such a hit parade.

Great vibe and an upbeat album. Was expecting a retro style album but the King of Bongo Bong shattered that preconceptions. Really ennjoyable

Interesting

Honestly I kind of liked this album for what it was. Latin reggae is nothing that I've really ventured into but it was honestly a pleasant combination of sounds but it would not be anything that I would find myself listen to on any kind of regular basis. My only critique is, why was he playing Galaga throughout the entire recording process? (6.8) ★★★

Usually don't like reggae, but like how it is mixed with latin music here. 4 stars

I thought today's album was okay. The first 5 tracks were the best and I thought I might initially go higher, but I kind of tired of it by the end. 3 stars.

3.5

No es para mí, Clive. I wouldn’t mind a mega cheesy latin reggae album from Señor Chang but this Manu Chao chap can fuck right off. Una estrella.

I know enough Spanish to know what he's singing about, but this i just the same riff over and over again. It's reggae lite. It is whole unworthy of a place here. Period.

The wikipedia entry says this album was a sleeper hit, building five million sales through word out of mouth especially amongst backpackers. That makes total sense. This has a fun but laid-back vibe that I can see playing really well in youth hostels across central Europe, SE Asia and South America with its easy charm, polyglot world music gumbo approach, and vaguely leftist, 420-friendly, backpacking hack-sack-dude philosophy. I mean, you can't listen to Bob Marley 'Legends' all the time, right? It was a smart choice to discard most of the drums and electronic tracks from the mix. It gives it a more organic and relaxed feel (compared to the pounding high energy of Chao's previous band, Mano Negra). Pleasant enough.

A bit of a switch up from 90% of this list so far. Still didn’t find anything that special but I’m glad to finally see an entry for Latin music and not another rock or electronic album… 5/10

The instrumentation on the songs on Clandestino is kind of bland and Chao's style is a smattering of different Latin American genres, none of which are performed particularly well. There were a few songs that were interesting and those were generally the songs where Chao pushed his sound in new and interesting directions. Unfortunately those moments were few and far between.

Fine.

Not bad!

Great for a sunny afternoon in the garden

I was pretty unsure about this going into it, but that opening track sets a brilliant mood and eased any uncertainty I had. That transition between Bongo Bong and Je ne t'aime plus instantly caught my attention as well. The concept behind this record and the process of recording were an interesting read and really set this record apart. I really enjoyed this. The list cooked with this pick.

Interesting in parts in terms of production but a lot of the songs drift and wither.

Not my thing

Listens: 4 or 5 Standout Tracks: Bongo Bong / Je ne t'aime plus, Welcome to Tijuana, Malegria Well then, continuing my trend with thoroughly enjoying "world" music, I must say, this album goes fucking hard. Quite simply, it slaps. I get major "Narcos" vibes from a bunch of the songs, and the "ting" on Bongo Bong/Je ne t'aime plus is practically hypnotic. There's also several really really smooth transitions between songs that I greatly enjoy. I don't even care that I can only understand two of the songs. That's not a concern to me. Its all about the vibes, and I am here for it.

Very tricky one to rate, this, as with all non-English music I've had so far. There's nothing here I really hated but nothing I liked. 16 tracks is probably slightly too many, and some of them do sound quite samey. Overall it ranges from annoying/bad to alright.

lowkey this flowed so well and was all so chill and light yet a little eerie guitar at times and lovely all around

2.5

Not my thing

"master, what's a bongo?"

Fabulous album. Really enjoyed it.

I never like Manu, sorry

Latin music and reggae with vocals in a mix of languages. It was ok but I found the songs a bit simple and repetitive. Bongo Bong and Je ne t'aime plus even the same repetitive backing track.

It's...fine. Listenable, seems pretty playful, not too much jumped out at me (although the French and Spanish lyrics washed over me). Nice, not sure I'd go back to it.

Busker puts out a record - usually you pay $5 for this at the show at the bar, or off the street from them. It was exactly what was on the label.

Not a lot of votes from me on this record. I enjoyed my time with it, but probably won’t even remember it next week.

4.5, ya le hace falta un remix/remaster

The music is jangly, digitally ornamental, crawling and sprawling, and full of latin flavour. Chao's voice does become mosquito-esque at times, but maybe I'm just hungover and pissed off.

Good listen

This was ok, but nothing that special. I’d had a copy of this around the time it came out from a friend, and it didn’t resonate with me then either. I didn’t hate it, but didn’t really hold my interest. After three or four songs I was bored.

Delightful for the whole family. DELIGHTFUL, I SAY!

There’s an old saying that punks are nice people who dress up to look mean, while hippies are mean people who dress up to look nice. This thought, plus various musings on backpackers and my former role as one, meant Clandestino had a lot of prejudice to overcome. I mean look at the album cover for Christ’s sake. So. Did it win me over? No. Did I hate it? Also no. Sounds like a mostly harmless three stars and move on to me.

Definitely an interesting record. Not sure I’d listen again, but I’m not complaining if it’s on.

Had wel enkele goeie nummers maar verdween een beetje naar de achtergrond precies.

the whole album is a soundtrack of a certain period of my life. The kind that you are not listening to but everyone else around you is, and then when you hear it 25 or so years later you are instantly transported to a time and place and realize that you completely absorbed this sound. It is part of you. It is you, in a way.

This was SO much fun! I loved this album. Did it start t sounds similar? Sure. The vocal harmonies are so good and the instrumentals are so interesting. This was absolutely fantastic. It didn't feel too long and the transitions were really good. Liked Songs: "Clandestino" , "Bongo bong" , "Je ne t'aime plus" , "Lagrimas de oro" , "Luna y sol" , "Por el suelo" , "La vie a 2"

This wasn’t as bad as I expected from my vague memories of hearing it in the 90s, but it wasn’t good either.

Such a chill groovy album. It flows incredibly well. This third listen made it click, and reading a little of its backstory helped. This guy should have a movie of his life leading up to this, I mean, a tender cow saves him from depression! How incredible!

Good to have a non-Anglophone album on this list. Unfortunately, this one didn't really grab me, I thought it a terrible mish-mash of influences.

Really fun, pleasant, upbeat album.

years ago i showed my ex my new book with 1001 music albums to listen to, i use this book til this day (every morning at work, to discover new music). i told him to circle the albums that he considers must listen, and clandestino was one of them. i was suprised, since he was a radiohead snob intelectual nerd type of guy. but i loved the album so much and i happily come back to listen to it from time to time <3 back then i was too young to understand the importance of diversity in someone's music taste. i didn't think much of it at the time, unlike today. another boy taught me to appreciate seamless transitions between songs on an album. it's funny when you think about it — every guy i've dated ended up contributing to my character development in some way. thanks to all of them, i'm who i am today, and i'm genuinely grateful for it. i recalled it when i heard the smooth transition between "clandestino" and "desparecido", mmmm!

Yeeee heerlie

Dit album is naar Frankrijk gaan op vakantie vroeger! Je weet gelijk dat het Manu Chao is, niemand klinkt zoals hem. Ja weet niet wat ik meer moet zeggen maar ben enorm fan!!!!

een erg goed album om in de zon een bed in elkaar te zetten

Está difícil este. Por un lado me gusta. Es piola cómo mezcla sonidos, mashea instrumentos y cosas ajenas a la música y con eso moldea varios temas y géneros. Los hace propios y únicos a sus temas. Nadie duda al escucharlo que es Manu Chao. Y si no es él, es una imitación. Y las letras, siempre comprometidas a lo que está pasando. Pero por otro lado lo escucho y lo siento tan ajeno a algo qué escucharía hoy que me dio cansancio cuando iba llegando al final. No dura mucho, las canciones son cortas, y aún así se me hizo eterno. En otra época hubiera sido más alto el puntaje. Hoy, por los hits nomás y lo que supo representarme, es un 5/10

A really nice, well-rounded record! Some high-energy anthems paired with more intimate moments. So rarely do we get a non-English album that has some crossover appeal and still feels fresh. “Bongo Bong” caught me by surprise, I had lulled myself into assuming there wouldn’t be any English on here. Given this songs memorable, simple intro, it’s a standout for me. There’s a little synth/key hit that reminds me of a similar sound on “Somebody That I Used To Know”. “Lagrimas de Oro” was a fun, more traditional cut with some excellent horns a couple minutes in. “Luna y Sol” also had some exciting traditional instrumentation with a VERY fun vocal hook. “Welcome to Tijuana” was one of those more intimate efforts, equal parts personable and a little funny in its rhymes. “La vie a 2” had a nice little guitar loop that captivated my attention right when I thought this record was running out of steam. Sleeper 4/5

Real good shit.

Manu Chao's Wikipedia page has a section entitled "Interview with the University of Southern California (2010)" that consists of 5 paragraphs summarizing an interview he gave to the University of Southern California about his views on different world issues. This sounds like tourism but it's pleasant for the most part

Quite enjoyed!

Excellent album. Creative. Different. Timeless.

No me gusta.

Nah

Actually wasn’t bad

Clandestino exceeded any expectations I had for this record I never heard of a few hours ago. Picking up Spanish as a second language 8 or so years ago has actually prepared me for this moment. Manu Chao is an excellent songwriter and it's crazy how he can do that with multiple languages. Terrific

Mmmm no sé. Siento que es de esos álbumes que hacen los blancos para gente blanca y le ponen género “latino”, lo que sea que esos signifique. No voy a negar que hubo algunas canciones que sí me gustaron, pero hay otras que sí están para escuchar en otro estado y no en tus cinco sentidos.

The language switch ups on the songs is a refreshing touch. Likes: Clandestino; Desaparecido; Bongo Bong; Luna y Sol

fuck yeahhhhh! good vibes!

ok, gøy med noe litt annet

Love how playful this is. Bongo bong into Je ne t’aime plus is a highlight here. So strange to have three different languages blended together. Luna y sol and its return later is also fantastic

eh

I was in a car crash with an ice cream truck and went to Heaven. “Sorry,” said St. Peter at the gates, “you can’t die yet. You haven’t heard ‘Clandestino’ by Manu Chao.” “Okay, lay it on me,” I said, and Peter played it on his Bluetooth. “All right,” I said afterward, “that was fun, a little goofy, not bad. He’s got a song on there where he calls himself King of Bongos and there’s not a single bongo on the track. Kinda weird, fine. But c’mon man,” I persisted, “did I really have to hear that before I went up?” “That’s not up to me,” said Peter with a glance over his shoulder as thunder rolled in the near distance. “Besides, you have about 500 more of these to go before I can let you in.” “Man, why’d He even send that truck at me?!” I said—and the thunder sounded again, much closer. “I. Don’t. Make the rules, son,” said Peter with a hard stare. “All right, I get it,” I said, sitting down on a bench. “Next album better be Sabbath or some shit.” And that’s when the lightning struck.

Dope

Okay okay...

Really enjoyed the brilliant sound of voice and music….played it several times

Pretty chill album!

Not for me.

I was hoping for some warm and joyful Latin music to lift my spirits on a dreary Scottish day. But bar the occasional bust of sunshine, I was left a little disappointed.

Not a fan of latin music sadly, though it could be worse. Btw, the music line in bongo bong is driving me nuts. I've definitely heard it sampled in some other alt song but I can't figure out which.

What a beautiful blend of varied culture, language and musicality. Great summer vibes brought to a grey morning.

only knew a couple of songs from this, liked them but never though of listening to the rest of the album. but the whole thing is lovely! i quite enjoyed the pace and the variety.

mama was queen of the jungle

this was lowkey a bop, lots of bangers Would I listen again: yes Deserves to be on this list: yes 3.5

I listened to this on a prematurely (for the season) hot, swampy, summer day. It was perfect. This will be a go to for the crusty hot beach vibe.

first heatwave of the year today. listened to this one while studying. makes me feel like I am actually outside.

8.5/10

I love Manu Chao's sound. This album makes me emotional every time and it's a go to when I just want to tune out the world. Helps if you speak french and/or spanish.

waar Mano Negra de soundtrack voor een feestje is, is dit meer de soundtrack voor de opkuis erna

This is an interesting one, as we get a mix of both Spanish and French-spoken tracks, with some English here and there. Everything flows pretty well too, offering more of a laid back vibe throughout. That's...about it. It's an easy listening worldbeat/reggae album that doesn't do much more. Side note: I can't be the only one who kept hearing that little Galaga sound effect, right? Seemed like it was in almost every track. Interesting choice.

With so many brilliant Latin recordings in the world, Dimery chooses one with no energy, no passion, and no virtuosity (the three characteristics that define great Latin music). This has more in common with the other 90s albums on this list than it does with great Latin albums: a stoner of questionable talent wrapped in 90s studio gimmickery to create limp and lifeless hipster pop. There are easily 1000 Latin albums everyone should hear before they die; this isn't even on THAT list.

Secret French album but they say sexo a lot. I think this is the first non-English language album in here that I haven't particularly liked. Feels like someone trying to replicate and put a spin on a style but doesn't work well. Not sure why it's on here.

Prob a 2.5. Some of this reminded me of Gorillaz…I guess that’s weird.

Started off strong but I was tired of it by the end

Latin

Latin pop / ballad-vibe

Just not my vibe. A couple of good vibes

Very fun

I don’t like the term “world” music but man do I tend to like it more in the generator I like the descending synth sounds that sound like Pac-Man dying

V nice vibes 7 / 10

I liked this even though I couldn't understand most of it. Mostly a fun Latin album. 4/5

7/10… latin / world / *1998

Fun. French?

ok

What a stunning energy this album has. The vibrance & flow of the tracks are so enjoyable to listen to - every track exudes it’s own energy & atmosphere without being too over-the-top. The multi-lingual vocals were a great surprise too. I’m not usually one to go out of my way for Latin music but this was a real treat. 9/10.

interesting

This album starts out strong, but as it went on I slowly lost interest. This album is good, but it starts to sound like the same song over and over again. Still a decent album though. Mid 3.

Me encanta que sea en mi idioma, es un sonido muy particular de la cultura centro americana. Me gusta mucho escuchar este tipo de música. Más allá de no descárgame la mayoría de las canciones, me parece un álbum fantástico.

Nice. Probably too early for a modelo but shit

Very enjoyable if not particularly memorable. Will definitely wait for the weather to warm up and put this on while out in the yard with a drink with some fruit in it.

The album equivalent of Top Thrill at Cedar Point: all the excitement at the front and then a long flat coast to the finish. There is some variety in flavors and the smooth transitions are neat, but that second 3/4 is pretty unremarkable.

Another album where did I know every single world? Hell no but was it still a vibe? Hell yeah and I think if I ever need a smile, I think I need to put on bongo bong. I’m just really enjoying Latin music right now five out of five man. I enjoyed every song.

Manu Chao sings in front of Maradona. Maradona cries. An event of epic proportions that should be taught to new generations in hopes of making the world a better place.

Something’s holding me back from giving this the full five stars, but it was a very enjoyable listen. Just missing a bit of magic.

It’s listenable I guess

No private session used for Spotify. Music was bad, did have me craving some tortilla chips and a cerveza while over looking the ocean, if I listen to this album again that will be the scenario. Guy's voice was a little nasally.

Another album that I used to listen to a lot and have not dipped back into in years. Great to hear it again.

It was fine, it sounds sunny at least. Stand-outs - Bongo Bongo - Je ne t'aime plus

Great album!

Never heard of Manu Chao or his music so I had no idea what to expect. I was a bit surprised by how much I enjoyed this album. While it sounds mostly Spanish-influenced, there are a lot of other things going on that make it very interesting to listen to. It is always nice to hear new (to me) and good music.

- most languages spoken in one album so far I think - I liked this - good vibes for the most part - will probably listen again

All blends together (in a good way) and hits a really fun mood. Highlights: "Mentira", "Luna y sol", "Malegría"

Har ikke overvundet mig Har hørt albummet 2-3 gange. Synes det er fedt med blandingen af sprogene, men er ikke særlig vild med mixen, der falder lidt fladt og hvor upoleret albummet lyder som en helhed.

Would not have assumed this guy was French, sounds like it draws from a Latin American sound to me. Was alright background music, can only really remember that king of the bongos one, I suppose as it was in English. Couldn't really say there was anything that grabbed me mind. 2.5, I'll be generous and round up.

I always have a bit of a soft spot for Latin music. From being first exhibited Buena Vista Social Club, to getting into a Daddy Yankee phase when I was 18. Big fan of Rodrigo y Gabriela, seen them live a few times. I hadn't heard of this chap. Strong rhythms, mix and fusion of beats. Clandestino, Lágrimas de oro, Mama Call, and Luna y sol were the standouts.

Recognised bongo bong, but not sure where from. The rest was fine, nice on the background. Nothing more. 2.5

Some tracks are cool (Luna y sol) some are preeeetty lame (Bongo Bong and Je ne t'aime plus...) but generally the sound is coherent enough without dropping into droning or grating. I like featuring three different languages lyrically while keeping the same sonic identity, that's interesting. I'd call it just good enough to get a 3 exactly. All that said, this is the second time this week the French have fooled me into thinking I was about to get some sick ass tumbao bass or something similar but then I DIDN'T and I'm getting a little MAD (I know Manu Chao has Spanish and Cuban parents but he was born in France).

This was good latin fun.

Enjoyable. But one of the songs in the front half of the album ends with the worst sounding cotton mouth I have to deduct it aT LeASt one whole star for that bs.

Very difficult for me to rate non-English albums, since I'm missing so much context when I listen to them. Sounded nice at least.

I wish I was better with my Spanish, but I enjoyed the listen. Did not finish it, unfortunately.

Mid

me ha encantado y tenía 0 expectativas

😐

Not good at all

I like. Going to add this one to my library. Also going to look more into Chao's catalog.

Not bad but also not really my thing

Kinda interesting influences and songs, a nice change of pace. I'd listen to it again.

Einföld en þrusugóð

Allt eins, en ágætlega gott eins. Tvær og hálf stjarna hækkuð í þrjár.

I don’t speak Spanish. 3

I didn't get it.

extra star for being bilingual

Im just not a fan of most Latin music

Mierdo.

Very repetitive and uninspiring. Not for me

Fetishising music for not being in English is just as droll as complaining about music not being in English. Language is not a proxy for quality. Album itself is okay. It has a cool unique flavour but its pretty uneven and comes across a bit hit and miss.

Centri sociali. Bongo Bong è carina

Very few people know that Spain, the country, actually sued Len Houmous and demanded a cease and desist so he could never play Spanish guitar again - he was simply too good. 3.7 3/16 Bongo Bong

This album is a proper little gem. While listening I felt this warm, wandering kind of happiness mixed with a bit of sadness and rebellion. It’s got that perfect mix of upbeat energy and melancholic undertones that makes you want to smile and sigh at the same time. It’s not really a strict concept album, but the whole thing feels like one long journey through borders, exile, love, politics, and street life. Manu Chao blends reggae, Latin rhythms, rock, ska, and French chanson with Spanish and French lyrics, throwing in samples and street sounds like it’s all one big multicultural party. Songs like “Clandestino,” “Desaparecido,” “Bongo Bong,” and “Je ne t’aime plus” just flow into each other so naturally. The production is raw and lo-fi in the best way — it feels alive, like it was recorded in someone’s backyard or on the road. It’s political without being preachy, romantic without being cheesy, and danceable without losing its soul. I really enjoyed every listen. It’s not flashy or perfect, but it has so much heart and character that it’s hard not to love. One of those albums that puts you in a good mood even when it’s talking about heavy stuff. Highly recommended.

Uninspiring beach bar music

Done

ehh

This is was fine. Nothing special. 2.75

1. clandezetino - 2 2. dezaparecido - 2 3. bong - 1 4. pluz - 2 5. mentira - 1 6. oro - 1 7. mama - 1 8. luna - 2 9. zuelo - 2 10. tijuana - 1 11. pena - 1 12. malegria - 0 13. vie - 1 14. minha - 2 15. dezpedida - 2 16. viento - 2

Few songs added to the summertime playlist from this album!

Not my type of music.

Bongo bong is a tune tbf

bongo bong

Chill, interesting blend of elements.

Pleasant in parts. Repetitive throughout. Very chilled, slightly humorous. It's fine.

I have to apologize to Manu Chao. I was not aware of his game. Bongo Bong was still charting when I visited Europe so that was my only exposure to him. I assumed he just did goofy joke songs. Turns out he’s actually a pretty serious musician.

Good ..not great..obv I don’t understand most of the lyrics..but that’s not really a huge problem..but I felt as if the whole album has an amazing sound that deserves some chaos uk? Like I wanted there to be an explosion..but I was just left disappointed…some tracks like Luna y Sol gave a taste of that..but ye..apart from that pretty solid..not bad but solid.

I’m sure I’ve heard this record about a billion times cause it sounds exactly like the soundtrack playing at every Mexican restaurant I’ve ever been to. It’s fine in that particular context, but I’m never listening to this on my own for fun. 4/10

Quite fun and easy listening. A lot of the accompaniment is very, very similar 3/5

better than expected

Didn't understand the lyrics but enjoyed the musicality a bit. 2/5

Interesting. I think this is the most multilingual album I've been assigned. It's chill but I kinda like it.

Het is echt niet het weet voor dit album zeg... Zo zonde, want dit is echt wel een lekker zomers rock(?) albumpje. Zonnetje, blouseje, drankje. Ik vibe m wel hoor! Bongo bong is natuurlijk een ontzettend bekend nummer, maar ik heb bij alle 4 de eerste nummers sterk het idee dat ik het eerder heb gehoord. Kan zo zijn gezien de plays, maar kan natuurlijk ook gewoon komen doordat dit een heel erg lekker album is om weg te luisteren. Zou me weinig verbazen als dit voor veel mensen de makkelijkste manie is om buitenlandse muziek te gaan luisteren. De muziek zelf is ontzettend 'Cubaans'? Althans dat is de relatie die ik er bij heb. Nooit gedacht dat de guy van dat bongo bong nummer daadwerkelijk een goed album zou kunnen afleveren, dat daarnaast ook wat serieuzer is dan op het eerste gezicht lijkt. Het druipt van de sfeer en dat komt grotendeels door de soundbites die door het hele album zitten. Daarnaast ook de muziek die gewoon 'vibet'. Alleen, misschien is het gewoon het genre, maar ik ben er na een half uur eigenlijk wel heel erg klaar mee. Latin muziek, het is gewoon niet heel erg mijn ding als ik niet aan het strand zit en/of een cocktail in mn handjes heb. FAVO: Desaparecido, Bongo Bong, Welcome to Tijuana

Je ne t’amie plus Desaparecido Bongo Bong La vie a 2 Clandestino Malegria

I don’t know much about Latino music but I like this, it’s melodic rhythmic and easy to listen

Extremely listenable, even if not understanding the languages. It's bare bones approach plus sound snippets make it very intriguing. Looking forward to listening on repeat.

Clandestino look what we've got here is a concept album of an aging revolutionary putting into song the history of Cuba, so the new generation understands what the CIA did. Operation Mongoose: The sabotage, the poisoned cigars, the chemical warfare. Operation Peter Pan: The kidnapping of 14,000 kids Operation Zapata: the Bay of Pigs. Operation Northwoods: The plans to blow up American ships and blame Havana. Operation AMLASH: The poison pens Operation 40: The specialized hit squads roaming the Caribbean he does it well this shit fucks. Phenomenal touch to close it with the wind, the wind of change

Woke up in a narcos episode listening to this. Is that racist ? Probably because the only Latino media I've consumed is from that show. Emaculate vibes either way. Solid 4

3 straight down the middle son Good vibes good times. Bongo bong - generational track and my vote for “song of the challenge so far” Don’t say it don’t, say it - did this influence/influenced gorillaz? The transition from this English track then to the French continuation/remix after was seamless and very enjoyable. Was very pleased by the language weaving couldn’t recognise any more. Unfortunately the start was the albums peak (went back and listened to it twice). I felt I may have scored higher with all the outro parts/intervals etc with the Spanish dude on the phone so I could catch the themes. Manu chao has revived us from hell all hail manu chao the king of bongo. That was a tough two day stretch. Enjoyed dipping into a different genre I’m normally indifferent to. On a flight to Ireland had nothing better to do than provide a long winded review. Don’t know if I’ll have time to listen to Thurs/fri unless I get the AUX cord for the drives. No The Doors.exe detected.

I love the bones of this album

This is very different than most of the list, which is a good thing. It was interesting how many songs were sung in Spanish, some in French and some in English. I liked how the songs blended in with one another and the acoustic guitar playing was pretty tasty.

++*: Mentira..., La Vie à 2 ++: Clandestino, Desaparecido, Bongo Bong, Je ne t'aime plus, Mama Call, Luna y Sol, Por el Suelo, Welcome to Tijuana, Día Luna... Día Pena, Malegría, El Viento +: Lágrimas de Oro, La Despedida +-: Minha Galera 9,7/10

Pure Latin goodness - from a French guy no less! Music to shake your ass to.

At the very least, this album was super interesting to experience. French dude making an entire album in not just French, but mostly Spanish and English? Cool stuff. Unfortunately I did not like most of it lol. But I understand it’s one of those “I see the vision but it’s not for me” albums.

A French dude made this!! It's a whole stew of genre influences at play here, which he mixes into a mostly seamless, very uniquely laid-back listen. It's nothing short of mesmerizing! Standouts: Bongo Bong • Lágrimas de oro • Luna y sol • Por el suelo • Welcome to Tijuana • Minha galera

FUCK YEAH LET'S GO I LOVE THIS ALBUM. First heard it on the Rolling Stone Top 500 list and it immediately caught my attention as it sounded nothing like what I was normally listening to at the time. It really keeps a consistent vibe all the way through but is always varied enough to surprise me.

I really had absolutely no expectations for this album but wow. This really feels like the document of someone who travelled the world no absolutely no plan, to try to find themselves, and befriended the Zapatistas along the way (as you do). I appreciate that that may sound insufferable to some listeners but it's a really romantic image of unshackling yourself from the confines of the modern world to experience life, culture, philosophy, and people from all over the world. This is escapism at its best. For those of us so lucky to have travelled in our youth, it can trigger some beautiful flashbacks to a simpler period in our lives. It's an aimless mess, apparently with songs selected based on how appealing they are to children. But I love it.