Reviews (page 3 of 8)
Nothing much to say other than this was a very good album. I enjoyed this a lot and will probably listen again to it. Very refreshing to have two four star albums in a row. Standout track - Welcome to Tijuana
felt like i was on holiday
claro
welcome to tijuana (tequila, sexo, marihuana). kinda slapped tho ngl
Not something I’d regularly listen to (perhaps just because of the language barrier), but there are some sonically interesting things going on in this album. For example, vocals that are prominently placed on top of other vocals, almost like someone is speaking to you as the song is playing.
I don't know this one at all but apparently it's like the soundtrack to shitty hostels all over the world? That's seems weird and oddly specific. So the hostel thing totally fits. I feel like this is a good album if this kind of music is your jam. It's not really mine. I didn't mind it once through but was ready to move on before it was over. I don't think I'd come back to this or really explore anything else from him. It was a one and done for me. 2.75/5
I enjoyed learning the story around this album (that it was recorded in various locations around the world on a "clandestine" laptop).
Beaucoup écouté au début des années 2000 mais le tout a perdu un peu de sa force…
Maybe more so than being king of the bongo, Manu is king of using 80s video game sound bites. Am I the only one who keeps hearing Galaga/Space Invaders in the background? This was an enjoyable listen and he uses the organic sounds recorded out in the real world very nicely. They compliment the mix and add to the overall feel.
Fun little album to mix things up and get the hips shaking. Not something I’ll have in heavy rotation but fun to mix things up. I think gotye stole a note and tone from Bongo Bong for somebody that you used to know.
I used to think I was king of the bongo...but Manu Chao is the true king of the bongo. 3.5/5
Silly, but with style. This guys has lots of sex. How could he not?
Just not for me
Never listened. Expectations: None - Verdict: Great - Brilliant album. The reggae beats, the horns, the vocals, I really like all of it. This is pushing towards great I think. Some of the more modern production choices almost remind me of Gorillaz.
I can tolerate this.
Maybe it’s because it’s 5am and I’m getting ready for work and it’s raining but this ain’t for me
I was surprised by how much I liked this. Bought back sone good memories of travel through Mexico and South America. Would play it again on the right occasion but probably won’t go onto my year round listening rotation
Etwas albern… bing
World music is a nice addition but I'm not crazy about this one. It feels very monotone and samey across the board. Usually the music can transcend a language barrier but in this case it doesnt quite hit the mark. Also his voice is very high and it can be a bit grating.
Normally I am all about the kind of stuff but I dunno. I really didn’t like this guys voice or performance. Very nasally and weird. Musically it was good but vocally it wasn’t up to snuff
Solid three bumped to four based on Bongo. Fun album!
Like how seamlessly the tracks ran together. Dislike the weird high pitched noise that appeared in almost every single track.
Meh
Not bad. Listenable at least.
Not bad - no complaints.
This has aged very well, not a lot of people have tried to copy that sound. Somehow inspiring. Favourite Songs Clandestino and Bongo Bong
This was pretty cool and pleasant. Not something I feel like I'd relisten to much but I liked it.
Fun-energetic-upbeat I enjoyed this.
I always have complicated feelings assessing an album that is, primarily but not exclusively in this case, in a different language than the one I speak natively. On those songs I over index on the music to the detriment of the message the lyrics may be carrying — and yet I often feel like this focus on the musical content also has some benefits too. It would be great to be able to flip that focus switch more easily on all music. To be able to critically appreciate the different registers or modes in play at all times would be optimal. And yet, it's so hard to do. Manu Chao's Clandestino is sharing a message that we may be able to suss out even with a language barrier between the ear and the mind, and while I can appreciate it, I am saddened that the depth of appreciation can only go so far in these circumstances. And the music? Since it is what I'm most attuned to in this instance, I enjoy the blending of genres. This, to me, isn't "world music" but it is worldly and borrowing from different traditions while signaling how it leans on them only enough as starting-off points on a new journey.
Not my jam, but it is a jam
Let me start off by saying that I definitely don’t have the rights to do an actual review on this album since I don’t know Spanish, so I won’t. All I’m going to say is this: This album is fairly minimalistic yet diverse; I don’t know what most of the songs are even about, but strangely, they all had very strong identities. Anyways, great album, wouldn’t recommend.
I liked this a lot! Spanish music is vibe
I liked the music more than the vocals.
this one is hella vibey, wish I understood what the lyrics were saying theres this one song that has a cool transition between 2 songs and its so fire
2- Stars (4/15)
This was just such a fun album. The Latin rock influence is palpable, remind it of my hotstel travels and being on the beach. Mix that with the album's punk sensibilites when it comes to class solidarity and critiques of colonialism through it's sound and lyrics, and you have one hell of an album. Highlights include Clandestino, Desaperecido, and Luna y Sol.
автор трека me gustas tu, который не на этом альбоме в целом вайб именно этого трека звучит богато, живо и аутентично ничего плохого только затянуто 3.3
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. Interesting that something that comes across so Latin American is from a French guy. Plus, who can resist a lyric like "Welcome to Tijuana / Tequila, sexo, y marijuana"? Best track: Welcome to Tijuana. 3⭐️
This is the second Spanish language album I've gotten this week. Actually this one has some English and French as well. Manu Chao is a talented artist and I enjoyed this album more than I expected to. But it's not the type of music I see myself revisiting again anytime soon. 3/5
Initially interesting, started to sound all very samey near the end and started to get on my wick
I really vibed to this. Simpsons: No
As many others have said, it's a vibe. It's a little loose and doesn't seem intent on being too poetic or musically intricate. I didn't know about this album but from the very top I had a sense of what I was about to hear, just from the cultural relevance and prevalence of this sound -- thanks in no small part, I'm sure, to Manu Chao himself. But I'm not sure I'll remember having heard this album, given time.
Demasiados recuerdos con esta música . Si pudiera darle más de cinco estrellas se las daría!
¡Álbum fantástico! Standouts: Bongo Bong, Welcome to Tijuana, Clandestino. 4/5
*1998. Spanish. *This is super fun. It sounds like being in Latin America, and I'm here for it. *Really catchy songs. Would revisit. RATING - 7/10
Liked the Caribbean groove
Fun for a few songs, but it all sounds very similar throughout the album
3 Mageløse lyt. Det fungere sindsygt godt som arbejds musik. Måske lige pånær når det bliver engelsk. Tilgengæld er "Bongo Bong" et kæmpe højdepunkt på en objektiv banger liste. - Jeg bliver ikke forstyrret af lyrik, men bare kan nyde stemningen.
Eklektisk og legesygt album. Der synges på spansk, fransk og engelsk. En sjov oplevelse der til tider sender mig mentalt på strandbar med en piña colada i hånden og en cubansk cigar i munden. Det er dog ikke en tur der er så god, at jeg har lyst til tage 3 gange på en dag.
great sound. such a unique artist. loved the album
I tend to enjoy songs by their lyrics, and since I don't speak Spanish/French, I feel like I can't really get into them. Sonically, it sounds good, though. I was very surprised that I had already heard some of these songs before tho.
Es mischt Reggae, Latin und Weltmusik, arbeitet mit Samples und Mehrsprachigkeit und Macht Spaß zu hören - Nicht nur “Bongo Bong”
A very latin-inspired album with multiple languages used and seamless transitions between each song. I thoroughly enjoyed the overall vibe despite being a foreign album. Feels like music I'd hear on the radio in Mexico. Did some research on the opening track "Clandestino". A nice composed song that talks about the issue of immigration. With "Bongo Bong" being a very quirky tune that surprised me. Rest of the tracks were good. Wish I could understand the lyrics more. However, an enjoyable album in general.
I know I’m not the target audience but this style can be very repetitive.
So clandestine I’d never heard of it.
3.5
- Kan godt lide det - Har aldrig været kæmpe fan af at lytte til musik, hvor jeg ikke forstår sproget?? Eller jo synes det er fedt at lytte til musikken i det, men det siger mig bare ikke lige så meget, som når jeg forstår teksten
YEAH HERE WE GO. I have this album on CD and it’s beat to hell, I’ve listened to it so much. A friend studied abroad in Spain in 2003-4 and came back to spread the good word of Manu Chao. This album sounds like treating myself to a little fancy cheese and a bottle of cava on a summer afternoon, it was the first non-English-language album I ever bought. If it wasn’t for Manu Chao I wouldn’t own Rosalia and Bad Bunny albums. The music is eclectic and chill, the review that called it a “stoner classic” is correct. I love the collage of sounds that make it up, and that even with all the samples and snippets, it still feels organic.
I’ve never heard a truly multilingual album like this before, so that was really cool. The songs are pretty good, and I think the language barrier makes it a little more difficult for me to fully appreciate them. The music is very enjoyable, pretty laid back and comfortable beats with Manu Chao’s smooth singing over top. I’m glad I heard this one before I died, but not sure if I’ll revisit it.
555/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑 Discazo!
Fascinating lyrics and refreshing beautiful instrumentation, offputting vocal style. Also I noticed a lot of these songs started to blur into one another. Reminds me of the exact situation I had with Pescado Rabioso's Artaud (exactly the same setup except Spinetta's voice is gorgeous) but less worthwhile. An interesting effort and obviously put together with a lot of passion, but not for me.
Sounded like every other Manu Chau album I have heard. Interesting to start then more of the same
This is one of the best worldbeat albums on this list, a truly great mix of different genres and cultures. It was one of the first CDs I have bought in the late 1990s and listened to it many times, while my sister started learning Spanish and we tried to translate the songs on the album. Bongo Bongo with its incredibly catchy tune and amateurish looking videoclip became a big international hit in a time when everything was perfectionised and sterile not only in pop but also in rock music. Manu Chao traveled a lot from Europe to Mexico and South America and these influences are clear in the music. He sings in Spanish, French, Portuguese, English, and even have voiceovers in languages like Russian. The songs are catchy and diverse, and the album doesn't overstay its welcome. It's still a good album that I like to listen to.
Muy bueno, la vdd se sigue sintiendo muy actual
helt greit dette
Favorite songs: Clandestino, Bongo Bong, Mamá Call
As I’m writing this, it’s freezing outside. It’s dark and the porch is recently shoveled for snow. There is no way whatsoever that I can judge this album fairly. It’s not something I would listen to casually, but I wouldn’t mind it being on in the background at a summer party. Except for Bongo Bong, which is a horrible little tune.
Enjoyed it French is good and relaxing. Will listen again.
though this reggae latin pop rock genre thing is not for my taste, i thought the album was nice and vibey. chill music. i wish i knew some spanish of french, i feel like i would've enjoyed the album a little bit more this way
Ciao
Nice! At least 3 different languages. The rhythm of the guitsr and drums ept me interested all the way through. What is with that video game noise though?
Fun and versatile, he bongs his bongo with pep and cheer
Didn’t hate this but it didn’t really do much for me
not my thing 1.5/5
Amazing album but it feels like it should be illegal for a frenchman to make music that sounds like this
Actually better than I was expecting having heard only one or two songs. High 2s.
I'm always interested when they include music that's not primarily in english, not enough of those from what I've seen from the list! With that said, this isn't too impressive of an album. I'd like some latin influenced music that's not also a marketable kinda bland pop record. It's not terrible, but I see no point in ever hearing this again. Maybe if go and hang out in mexico I'll recognize Clandestino playing in some bar somewhere and I'll shazam it and be like "oh yeah! now that I'm hearing this again I'm liking it". Fav: Clandestino Worst: Bongo Bong probably
I dig it. Eclectic, fun and always keeping things interesting. 8/10 Favorite tracks- "Je ne t'aime plus" "La vie à 2" "Malegría"
Manu Chao seems like a very chill guy. That being said, the music is a bit underwhelming. He has talent, the instrumentation on this album is pretty good and he can be diverse, but most of the songs kinda go nowhere or have pretty boring vocal performances. It starts off well but quickly drops to just ok.
Nice Summer songs
I’m sure in the right environment (burning in the sun with an ice cold drink in my hand) this would be great, but it’s raining and this is doing nothing for me. Sorry, Manu.
Perfect!
2,5
It sounded okay, don’t speak a word of spanish tho so
3/5
Exactly what you'd expect a French dude teyijf to sound Mexican to be like.
This was better than I expected. It’s some classic Spanish music with fun beats and decently catchy melodies.
I know it can be hard to appreciate foreign language albums, but I though this was a good listen. Amazing that I am only four songs into the album and he's already sung in three different languages (maybe more). There is a bit of a minimalist approach to a lot of these songs, but they don't seem to suffer as a result, which is a testament to what he has constructed. Bongo Bong is a perfect example of this, a catchy track that has a relatively limited background sound, allowing for an accentuation of the rhythm he creates with his lyrics. That this then folds into Je ne t'aime plus was very cool. Same basic structure, even the same background music, but a totally different song in a different language. Very creative. A good record.
Finally an album sang mainly in Spanish. Well, there were some salsa and other latin projects that included a bit of Spanish, but not at the level this record does. I've heard a lot about this man and his previous band "Mano Negra". They were very famous around here, Galicia, thanks to his father coming from this land and the rebellious image associated to the artist, so I was very curious to know how he sounded. And it didn't disappoint. This album is great. The record is basically a mixture of cultures, not only due to the combination of different genres like Hispanic American Music or Reggae, but also he singing in four different languages: Spanish, French, English and Portuguese. With all these elements, Manu Chao creates a sad sounding record that also has some very infectious rhythms and melodies. The sad part does not only come from the music itself, the lyrics contribute a lot, talking about different themes such as immigration, loneliness, lack of affection, drugs, politic and rebellion. This allows the record to acquire a quite depressing connotation. Furthermore, if you read about the context of this project, it is stated that this person almost ended his life during its writing, so it adds even more value to it. One little trait I would like to point out is how well connected are some of the songs, specially the first four ones. It is a super small detail, but I really appreciated it. In conclusion, I really liked this album. I would not say there is a bad song in here, regardless of some being weaker than others, but they all show a lot of emotion while also being very catchy and easy to dance to.
I have generally had a positive experience with the majority of Latin music I've encountered, and it's a good question as to why I don't make a habit of listening to more of it. As someone who grew up on Ska, though not directly related, the influences of Reggae and Dub on lots of Latin-American genres should be intriguing alone. I think the biggest obstacle for me is that I, of course, don't speak Spanish, Portuguese, or even French in the case of Clandestino. While I can read into translations of lyrics and break down cultural references, it just has a harder time connecting with me due to my international ineptitude. Even without understanding all the lyrics, I still thoroughly enjoyed Clandestino. The amount of interesting and eclectic production on this densely-packed LP is infectious and vibrant. Even with the language barrier, the political intent of a lot of these tracks come through, which shows just how effective they are as universal protest songs. When I first started the record, I was certain I'd never heard of it, but at some point I've definitely heard Bongo Bong as I recognized it almost immediately. In general the progression starts really strong, I was fully ready to call this near perfect after the first five tracks, but does lose a little steam near the end. The album never lingers on one track for too long, so it definitely keeps you on your toes. Overall I did really enjoy the album, it made me realize I should stop sleeping and go listen to more Latin Alternative.
Cool album. Worth the listen but probably won't listen again
Simple but catchy, infectious songs. Chilled.
Fun Tri-lingual album that had some pretty good songs
its basically impossible not to mention the unique circumstances that the album was made under...entirely on a laptop (in 1998!!) during a nomadic life period following the breakup of chao's previous band. its impossible not to mention not just because of the novelty of it but because it rly does feel incredibly entwined with the record itself, with genre shifts and radio samples and lyrics in four different languages...the backstory doesnt "justify" the music, which is good enough to not need justification, but it undeniably explains and expands its vibrancy. the extremely cool semi-lo fi production does a great job creating that feeling of aimless loneliness while the world rushes and changes outside u. sometimes it feels warm, sometimes melancholy, sometimes kinda snippy and funny, and ofc all of it more or less feels Like Life. not one of my v faves or anything but once again a v unique object im sure i will vividly remember from this project.
General thoughts: First impressions. Just looking at the cover, I wasn't expecting much; in fact, I was expecting a completely different sound. The cover resembles the wave of cringy urban artwork we received in Latino America during 2000-2010, and somehow this is both a really close and really far guess at the same time. The sound is experimental urban, with eclectic instrumentation drawn from Latino genres such as bachata, salsa, bolero, and reggae. At first, I hated his voice because he sounded very awkward in Spanish, but I got used to it after a few spins. I also sense some influences, like Café Tacuba or Willie Colón. For this reason, along with the samples, this album feels very LATAM 00's. It's very nostalgic in that sense; he nicely captured the feeling of México during those times, the discomfort but also the warmth of the Latinoamerican voices. There's this rhythm section running almost nonstop in the background, almost like a trance, which nicely adds a layer of cohesion to the album. “Clandestino” and “Despedida” + “El viento” are conceptually decent openers and closers. It's like a cycle. A journey to an unknown land as a "Clandestino" and a farewell at the end. Next stop - wherever the wind will take me. The flow is like a roller coaster, with a strong start and multiple ups and downs. The tracklist includes too much filler, and most songs are rather simple structurally and sometimes repetitive. It's not very consistent, but it's very coherent. The album experience is really enjoyable. Songs blend one into another, and we get tons of callbacks between songs. We're always reminded we're listening to CLANDESTINO. Conceptually, this album is, of course, about immigration; we get some social commentary about this when we're not in the middle of a filler track. Here's a fun fact - through the dialog samples, we can infer strong support to the EZLN movement, a hot topic in Mexico during that era. Actually, much of the commentary comes from their "4th declaration of the Lacandona Jungle". (https://palabra.ezln.org.mx/comunicados/1996/1996_01_01_a.htm) Their ideals resonated with the people, though there was controversy and dark implications unveiled in the subsequent years. This is an unexpectedly weird album. It's surprising, of course, it's fun, it's pop, it's experimental, sang in 4 languages, conceptual, and somewhat high in social commentary. Probably, it’s much more enjoyable to Spanish-speaking audiences, though. It should have all the elements to make a perfect album, but something is missing for me. I didn't really feel much. Musically, it was great, but I've heard instrumentals that have moved me more. Maybe it's because this isn’t my usual genre, I don't know... Here's a small sample I liked, which really sums up México (whenever) - "Mr. Delegate, what about hearing out our eviction problem? What do you think?" "But who remembers problems right now, dear? Go around, have fun." Outstanding song(s): Malegria, Bongo Bong, Desparecido Weakest song(s): Je Ne T'Aime Plus, La Vie A Cover: As I said, it's so bad that it really throws you off on your expectations. Real rating: 3.59
Different. First time hearing this artist. Not my favorite but enjoyable
I think I just gotta start going into every album with low expectations so I can always be pleasantly surprised!
Never heard of Manu Chao before and, regardless of me being British or not, it's really nice to have something originating outside of the UK to listen to on this list. The difficulty with listening to music that is sung in a language you don't understand is that you don't feel fully connected to that music, even if you can appreciate the musicianship of the artist in question. Listening to "Clandestino" and "Desaparecido", the first two tracks on the album, this became immediately apparent. Whilst I loved his voice and the dreamy south American inspired vibes of this, it was difficult to fully appreciate the music. Despite this, the general vibe of "Luna Y Sol" was incredibly uplifting, proving that music can still have an emotional effect even without understanding it's lyrics. The whole album was pleasant to the ears; Chao has an incredibly soothing voice and his ability to sing in many different languages is nothing short of remarkable.
Why do I love this so much?
I was in a bad mood so maybe not fully the albums fault but this did not hit
This had me at first, but starting dragging halfway through. I appreciate the vibe they were going for.
hmmp not bad at all. Not really in my bailiwick but I do like this one.
Really highlights to me how provincial my musical tastes are. I guess I'm mostly okay with that.
Really not into this one.
Album koji se nikad ne bih sjetila odslušati a bilo je predispozicija da mi se baš dopadne. I ispade zaista vrlo dobar, srećom uz nekoliko pjesama koje su mi skoro kao legendarna Bongo Bong/Je Ne T'aime Plus. Neironično, mislim da je ovo muzika koja bi se sviđala Che Guevari da je sad uz nas kad nam je najpotrebniji. Sviđaju mi se i prelazi između pjesama pravo. Druga šansa: nije tehnički druga šansa jer stalno slušam. Zaslužio je brat peticu.
Eh
Not my cup of tea
Another that just faded into the background. Nothing too offensive to turn it off but also nothing that really stuck out. Like buck owens, I could easily listen to this in the background of the right place without even flinching. Gets a 3 cause I would willingly listen again
I first heard Manu Chao many years ago with the song Bongo Bong. I was very impressed. I listened to this fun song over and over again, forgot about it for a while, but now I've added it to my favourites list so that I can listen to it again and again with a big smile on my face. I didn't know the rest of the album yet. Although I'm not really into this genre, I enjoy this album so much that I'll gladly listen to it again. 5/5
No way, er jo king of the bongo for faen! Og så kommer samme låta på fransk rett etterpå? Based. Til å være langt utenfor mine musikalske preferanser, er skiva ganske god. Jeg liker ikke alt, men låter som Mentira har en veldig fin vibe. God & spennende produksjon!
Denne plata traff meg bedre enn jeg trodde den skulle. Har allerede måttet sette på "Bongo Bong" flere ganger etter gjennomhøring. Åpenbar banger. Liker soundet godt, og jeg kunne godt hørt denne plata med henda bak hodet på divanen, men det blir fort litt ensformig. Flere av låtene høres litt ut som varianter av den samme komposisjonen. JEg trodde "La despedida" og "Mama Call" var da capo for "Bongo Bong", som jo er litt mye når de faktisk har den på fransk allerede.
Would give bongo bong 6 if I could
Thoroughly enjoyed this one
Incredible.
Put me in a good mood all day! Best paired with an urge to dance
I listened while driving through the redwood tree lined hills of woodside, CA and this was a perfect companion for the ride.
Traveling through Latin America in the late 90’s and early aughts and hearing Manu Chao at a bar or hostel meant you were in the right place.. You didn’t have to understand all the words to get the message and spirit of these songs. This album and Esperanza will always have a special place in my heart.
Si quieres mejorar tu español y divertirte! ✅✅ Luna y Sol
Loved this 20 years ago, love it now. The first 6-track run in particular is just insane. You could say it’s a repetitive album, but you could also say this is why albums exist. Incredibly cohesive. Imagine how fucking powerful this guy will become if he ever discovers a third chord!!
Super chill backpacker music noice
King of my bongos!!!
ngl loved the bongo song
2.5 - Meh
I know it doesn't seem like much, but albums like this make me appreciate my high school Spanish teacher immensely. Even if I could only understand a quarter of what the lyrics were saying, it's all because of my former teacher. Every beautiful moment I had where I understood this wonderful language was because of her. And the album was a banger. Great Latin beats.
If listening to Spanish reggae sung by a French guy isn't stepping out of your comfort zone, I don't know what is anymore.
banger after banger on this
Not for me but good to see on this list
Quite enjoyed this. Made me feel like I was on vacation somewhere instead of in this winter hellscape. Fun album.
5.0/10
Fun album Standout songs: Bongo bong Mentira Malegria
Really great vibe on most of the album, but I think the last 2-3 songs drop off a bit, and it loses some of it's magic. Even though, I liked it very much.
hola me gusto mucho what the frik ‼️‼️‼️🐐
Remarkably unremarkable Latin fusion. Not offensive, but no reason to listen twice and I’ll forget this ever existed in 3…. 2….
Standouts Bongo Bong
..
8/10
Possui uma sonoridade interessante, meio que lo-fi. Uma faixa derrete na outra, transições ótimas que tornam a escuta fluída e agradável. A voz do cantor às vezes fica um pouco irritante, mas ainda assim acho notável o quão eclético o disco é, nos estilos vocais e musicais. Também acho curioso o fator poliglota do álbum, que vai do espanhol, pro português, francês e inglês. O som passa rápido. Uma escuta divertida, animada e reservada simultaneamente. Recomendo e escutaria novamente, mas não mudou minha vida. 3/5
Judging by the # of plays on Spotify, dude must be a big deal south of the border. Hell, after a play through I can see why. This was a highly entertaining listen -- dusty production throughout with some marijuana anthems, kooky samples, and plenty of musical variety. Given the latin-American flair, sampling, and dance grooves balanced with acoustic rhythms this album has an almost familial bond with one of my favorite electronic music producers Nicolas Jaar. Bongo Bong sounds realllly familiar. Kind of goofy, but I dig it. Also really vibe with Mentira and Welcome to Tijuana. Dia luna...Dia pena may only be an interlude, but I love something about it. La vie a 2 is also very nice. Gotta say, something about this album feels just right. Maybe not for January -- but certainly a nice soundtrack for sandy days. High 4 in my book.
This album is a party. Luna y Sol was a standout. Repetitive at times, but I didn't mind it. Definitely was jamming at points to this one.
That was one of the weirdest albums i have ever listened to. Never thought I would hear French reggae. The French words in this style are hilarious sounding. Bongo Bong was an absolute heater I must say that was fun. There were some really cool interesting songs on here. But some really bad songs. Hard album to rate so we will go 3.
The transition from Bongo Bong into Je ne t'aime plus is pretty sweet. This started out as a potential 4 but slogged on. Still a very solid 3.
Really didn’t think I was going to like this but it goes pretty hard lol 3.5/5
This was such a fun listen, total vibe from beginning to end. Latin reggae rock that is chill at times, up-tempo at times. Maybe some of the allure is because it's in a language(s) I don't understand but I will be returning to this for a long time. Standouts are the first five tracks, but after that it doesn't lose much momentum and is great from start to finish.
Loved this album, threw me back a fair few years to my brother showing it to me. It’s fun, energetic, bouncing music. Could listen to it all day, made me dream of the sun shining on my face. 4.2/5.0 Best Song: Bongo Bong
His voice becomes quite grating after a while. I like some of this album but a lot of it is very similar, the beats are a lot of fun, and there is great use of the Brazilian whistle in there. Also Bongo Bong is so fucking massive
good vibes. Upgraded 3 to 4 while listening
I'm sure I'm not the only person, but I first heard Bongo Bongo in a college class when a professor played it. At that point I had heard nothing like it and was hooked. Then I tried to listen to the rest of the album at the time and didn't really appreciate it like I do now. Is this what music in a hostel sounds like all the time?
Fun and lively album. Sound bites are interesting, but don’t always work. It’s easy to listen to and pretty good. 3.5/5 Will listen again
I'm a sucker for music. That makes me feel like im somewhere warm and sunny and this is no exception. The rhythms, the vibes, the breadth of the ideas and the presentation all make this music to smile to.
A homeless guy right in my ear! But really some interesting grooves and subject matter.
Enjoyable
this is more a case of this not exactly being my type of music rather than there being anything wrong with the music itself. it'd probably be a 3-star if i was into this and/or understood the lyrics
Pleasant Album. Understated global hobo sound. Reminds me of Joe Strummer’s last albums, but more professional
Fun, fresh, music I would be happy to dance to or enjoy on a drive
An almost pleasant listen although it is not my preferred style of music. Plus the hit "Bongo Bong - Je ne t'aime plus" aka "King of the Bongo". 2,5
Wouldn´t listen to it again but its good for sure
Echt van genoten, met lyrics erbij kon ik ook echt goed meekomen met het Spaans en echt grappige tekst. Man heeft wat gemaakt.
I really liked this album. I love the beats, some of the songs are downright infectious. This is a very good discovery on this list.
Clandestino is pleasant and gently immersive, but it never quite sinks its hooks into me. The stripped-down acoustic grooves, looping motifs, and multilingual fragments create a light, almost weightless atmosphere. It’s easy to have on, and there’s an undeniable warmth to the sound. At the same time, that lightness works against it. The repetition that gives the album its cohesion also causes it to fade into the background. The songs blur together, and while the vibe is consistent and agreeable, it rarely turns visceral or emotionally gripping. I appreciate what it’s doing more than I feel pulled into it. This feels like music meant to accompany life rather than interrupt it, and in that sense it succeeds. For me, though, it stays in the realm of “nice” rather than “compelling.” A solid three stars: likable, atmospheric, and easy to live with, but not something that demands focus or repeat intentional listens.
I have never listened to French rock before so I am excited for this. Right off the bat, track 1 is giving reggae vibes. This definitely is in Spanish, not French. I will say that the lyrics are a big part of why I enjoy the music I do, so not understanding what they are saying is definitely a challenge. However, I think it is helping me appreciate the music more as the art it is, instead of making it something to relate to. Track 2 is good, I wonder if this was the foundation for Spanish music or if it was influenced by something older because it seems like this style of music has persisted throughout the decades. Track 3 has English lyrics, which is nice. I like this song, it is catchy and a little whimsical. I am not sure if I just wasn't really paying attention, but I liked the transition from track 3 into track 4. This song is, in fact, French. It is honestly impressive that we are only four songs into the album and have already heard three separate, and might I say very contrasting, languages. I like track 5 a lot as well. Track 6 reminds me of Gianni Morandi's voice, in a good way because I enjoy some of his music a lot. There is some rapping in this song, which is incredibly impressive. I am enjoying this album very much considering I don't understand it entirely. I like that track 11 connects back to track 6 as a much slower, calmer version of the same main melody. Overall, this album was really really good. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing a mixture of languages, tempos, and general vibes throughout the album. This is definitely my second favorite album so far, behind Led Zeppelin II.
Utterly enjoyable. An album with voice, music and lyrics that are sublime.
I really enjoyed this album. There were many different styles and languages to experience. I was very engaged and definitely plan on listening again. Favorite songs: Clandestino, Bongo Bong, and Luna y Sol
Легкий, музыкальный и интернациональный.
Very minimal beats, Latin originality, very simplistic and sad music.
I really liked it, I had no idea there were gonna be non English albums but it makes sense. His voice sounds very familiar
poppy light a fun. Overall a pretty good album.
I was a bit disappointed at first to find out that this album wasn't actually by someone from Mexico, but the music did win me over. I'm not at all familiar with the traditions he's pulling from, but it all sounded cool and a bit sound collage-y at times? Normally sound collage stuff doesn't do much for me but it did here.
Didn't know this existed and it's great, thanks for the tip off.
It was okay for some background listening and I ended up adding "Clandestino" to my liked songs, but for the most part I found it very repetitive. Honorable mentions to "Welcome to Tijuana" and "Bongo Bongo."
You know that toy Lazer gun sound in really cheap toys. Manu Chao likes that as I've heard that sound throughout the album & it makes me giggle everytime I hear it. It is very prevalent in Welcome to Tiajuana. The language barrier is kinda hard to overcome but the wonderful guitar picking is nice. He seems to put a nice earwormy grooves around interesting soundbites I don't understand. Bongo Bong is a fun quirky song. I'm getting a French-Spanish Bob Marley vibe. 3
If you’ve ever sat in the common room of a backpackers and enjoyed a rambling semi-coherent conversation with a fellow clueless itinerant, you’ll very likely love this record. I have. And I do. Though part of me wants to explore the seeming contradiction of an anti-globalisation cultural polyglot … the feeling I get here, above all else, is that Manu Chao captures the feeling of youthful excitement at the potential of the world. His flitting around genres, bouncing vocal delivery and faux-naive schtick is charming; that swarthy fella in the corner of the backpackers who reports all the cliches of “world traveller” but matches it with swags of charisma. I’s hope that I get the chance to spend an impossibly long afternoon in the sparsely furnished common room of a backpackers again one day. And when that day arrives, it’ll be “Luna y sol” I’ll be pairing with my Estrella.
Really like his multilingual approach. Unfortunately frontloaded and a little too long
This was a fun random album that I never would have come across on my own, so thank you 1001 album generator. “Clandestino” is a very catchy world beat album that combines reggae, ska, and various other worldly genres. It’s very multicultural, featuring lyrics in Spanish, French, Portuguese, and English. The instrumentation is diverse, with guitars, bongos, congas, and subtle synth and electronic elements that are very effective at creating a good atmospheric sound.
01) Clandestino - 10,0 02) Desaparecido - 10,0 03) Bongo Bong - 10,0 04) Je ne t'aime plus - 10,0 05) Mentira... - 10,0 06) Lágrimas de Oro - 9,0 07) Mama Call - 9,0 08) Luna y Sol - 9,5 09) Por el Suelo - 9,0 10) Welcome to Tijuana - 9,0 11) Día Luna... Día Pena - 9,0 12) Malegría - 8,5 13) La vie à 2 - 9,0 14) Minha Galera - 9,0 15) La Despedida - 8,5 16) El Viento - 8,5 TOTAL: 9,25 (93/100) Current ranking: 33/776 Te lo dije bien clarito No todo lo que es oro brilla Remedio chino e infalible!
Ganz angenehm.
Dolid vibes
Pleasant surprise. A few misses here and there but an overall solid album.
I wish I knew more Spanish. This album rocks. It reminds me a lot of the Once Upon a Time In Mexico soundtrack, they have the best song on that. Loved ‘Bongo Bongo’ and few others. I think this is between a 3 and 4 for me but I might lean 4. Not that I’d listen super often but it just rocks.
This record really grew on me as I listened. Definitely expected to be giving this one a 2/3, but the album just kept getting better. A lot of catchy and vibey songs. If I would have listened on a hot summer day with a joint it might have gotten 5*!
Total vibes
Vibes senor
Great Spanish lesson.
If you want to know what's playing on the jukebox while you're nursing a cerveza and sitting in front of a steaming plate of arroz y frijoles in the sketchiest cantina in Tijuana, it would be this.
Pretty enjoyable latin album.
Artiste connu mais pas apprécié. Je n'ai pas pu aller au bout de cet album, je n'aime vraiment pas le reggae/world. =>1/5
manu chao er fransk??!!??
Ret groovy men også pænt dumt. Not My Thing.
Easy listening even though it was in 3 different languages at least xD
Not something I would ordinarily listen to, but I certainly didn’t mind.
Fun!! 3.5/5 Songs added to playlist: - Bongo Bong - Mentira - Luna y sol - Welcome to Tijuana
manu hallou! de dude isch huge gsi i rember mini eltere au meega glost. es isch biiitz reggae. bitz gutmensch bitz jooo kiffe. clandestino aber sehr geil dure zweistimmig. uuh disst er sini alt band? wege mano negra illegal. desaparecido irgendwie sehr cute. kenni au. wird glaub fast alles mol ghört haa hä. ok es wiederholt sich seeehr fest. ok bongo bong au huuere iconic. er het s meiste uf sim laptop underwegs ufgnoh? im 98i?? what? ah es goht flüssend in je ne t'aime plus übere huere noice. ah und endlich französisch. fun dass er eimol glichzitig tous les jours und sie mon amour singt überenand. goil. lagrimas de oro salsa?? luna y sol chli techno okay? ich finds mit de ziit bitz nervigggg??? welcome to tijuana seeehr weird. ich find er tönt immer als hetter gad spanisch glernt. sochli gad vom ustuschjohr heicho type of guy. würkli tequila sexo marijuana?? ES ISCH UNAGNEHM CHLI?? dia luna dia pena isch sehr herzig. boah isch das erfrischend zumen uf französisch ghöre bi la vie à 2. würkli ischmer nöd klar gsi wasi mengmol a ihm komisch gfunde ha aber uf franz tönter sooo viel authentischer.
uuultra gspaannt hotte chline taktwechsel ER SINGT RECHTS hahaha bongo bong lose ohni as acid denke isch UNMÖGLICH wiso funktionierts so guet?? es isch soo goofy s flowt soo guet RIESE SAMPLE damn heavy background vom manu :( hmm ich han spass aber d lieder sind schochli glich gad für mis ohr jaaa de schluss het sich zoooooge. weg dem glaub eifach es guets 3
Wonderful. Each song is unique enough to enjoy separately, while still managing to weave itself into the greater tapestry of the album. An addictive sound. Favorite Track: Welcome to Tijuana
Discovered this album as a whole a few years ago and realized I had known Bongo Bong since I was very young. Delighted to see it on this list! I absolutely adore the overall style and atmosphere, and I'm always down for a chance to revisit this favorite.
This is another reason why this app is great- discovering stuff like this. I would have never thought to listen to this and I am glad I did. Reminds me of a more chill and older version of what the Crystal Fighters put out.
I really liked the first few songs on this. The second half I could do without. I wish it stayed in Spanish and was a little shorter. The whole thing was pretty chill though. Light 4.
I have no idea how to review this album. It's jsut so far from anything I have familiarity with to feel like I'm being fair. Positives: Really impressive to hear at least 3 different languages on this album, and if I understood the spanish lyrics correctly I enjoyed the theme of immigration and cultural mixtures. It was also pretty cohesive as an album given the cool transitions. Negatives: His voice was not very good and I cant say any of the melodies were particularly memborable, I cant see myself ever listening to this again
The story behind the album is really cool, but listening to it didn't really do much for me. I don't speak Spanish so I'm sure I'm missing a lot of good lyrical content.
Tropico 4 ahh music
It's worth translating the lyrics - there's a depth to them.
Some groovy beats. Language barrier was significant
Not as bad as I expected it to be.
Fun
This is fine music to have on in the background of a Peruvian restaurant while you're sitting alone at the bar drinking a watery paloma waiting for the off-track betting joint next door to open so you can go gamble away your alimony. Not all of it! But most.
Easy going vibes that is quite impossible not to like. Nothing spectacular but it certainly makes my head nod to the beat
Pop with some folk thrown in. Manu Chao is all lyrics and stories for spanish speakers, which I am not. The music is kinda boring, mandolins and acoustic guitars with a bit of percussion. This album is at least 60% lyrics of which I can understand very little of and care to even less.
3
I could see this guy knowing how to carry a room. This was pretty fun. Solid 4-4.5 but gonna round up to remember.
Imprescindible. Uno de los mejores discos latinos de la historia. Manu pasó de Mano Megra de Casa Babylon a este debut en solitario de un modo natural y en evolución. Se alejó de Punk, del Ska o del Hip Hop (incluso del metal) de la banda francesa y se metió de lleno a sonidos latinos, bien entendidos. Solo Los Fabulosos Cadillacs podían aguantar el envite. Este disco está al nivel de cualquiera de sus discos con Mano Negra (más casa Babylon que Patchanka o Puta´s Fever). El disco es un viaje, y era una manera de dar esquinazo a la sombra de la depresión de haberse quedado sin sus amigos. Aqui hay verdaderos clásicos como Clandestino o Desaparecido. Guiños a Mano Negra como Bongo bong (auto-reciclaje) o referencias francesas como Je ne t'aime plus. Mestizaje que se decía entonces y rock latino, aunque lo que hay es lo que Manu siempre ha tenido: buen mano para las canciones. Mis favoritas: Por el suelo y Welcome to Tijuana. La producción recurre a los trucos habituales de Manu: Doblaje de su voz en agudo y grave. Discursos esta vez del Subcomandante Marcos entonces muy en boga. Continuidad de canciones enlazando temas e incorporación de sonidos de bazar, loops, samplers como si fueran los Public Enemy, multilenguaje...“No puedes cambiar el mundo, pero sí puedes cambiar el barrio”. Rumba, world music, pop, rock, salsa, electrónica o reggae... en apenas tres acordes y guitara, así de simple, así de bonito. El siguiente paso, Próxima estacion, no fue igual de bueno pero sí tanto o mas exitoso. El directo sí que muestra todo el potencial con Radio Bemba y luego ya con Tren de hielo y fuego la banda no pudo seguir a Manu. Ni siquiera él mismo. Pero ahí dejo este monolito. Un disco que con los años reluce aún mas que entonces. Gracias
Ik heb altijd het idee dat Manu Chao latin muziek voor dummies is, waar het alle stereotype boxjes aan vinkt en de zomer in huis brengt. Dus het zou moeten aanslaan bij mij, aangezien mijn kennis der Latijns-Amerikaanse muziek waanzinnig gering is. En met dit weer ben ik best gevoelig voor elke kans om de zon in huis te halen. Toch moet ik zeggen dat het toch wel voelt als een veelzijdige weergave van een muziekcultuur van rondom de Caraïben. Elke keer denk je dat het langzaam gereduceerd wordt tot die stereotypische strandtent muziek, maar hij herpakt zich best vaak met een verrassend sterk liedje. Al met al niet onaardig, en het vult de nodige vitamine D weer een beetje aan in geluidstrillingen en vibraties. 7/10 Highlights: Clandestino Bongo Bong Mentira Minha Galera
Gek plaatje is dit. Manu Chao heeft echt dikke hits gescoord en veel daarvan staan op Clandestino, inclusief het gelijknamige nummer. De sfeer is dan ook wel genieten en mooi hoe er in meerdere talen wordt gezongen. Ik kan dan wel genieten van het Spaans en Frans. Maar het zijn ook een beetje gekke nummertjes. Het wordt soms niet veel en elke keer komen van die radiofragmenten terug. Het is eigenlijk net goed genoeg om serieus te nemen zodat Manu niet in het rijtje komt met de Macarena, Despacito en Juanes. 6/10 Highlights Clandestino Bongo Song
What a gem of an album! This is exactly why I love this 1001 Albums Before You Die journey - to gain exposure to albums/music/artists I otherwise may have not encountered. This was a fun and different style than my usual and I appreciated the trilingualism as a French-American from Arizona. Will definitely dig in more to the artist, history, and lyrics when I have more time. Stand out for me was the very catchy Bongo Bong seamlessly transitioning into the contrasting Je ne t’aime plus.
Jaunty and calming! I have to wonder if I could understand the lyrics more if this would land harder with me, although the occasional English track (e.g. Bongo Bong) have Sesame Street level lyrics,so maybe not.
I Don’t Have To Listen To This Again To Give It A 10
3 stars
So is this dude Spanish or French. I don’t get it.
Latino swing. Fine for an upbeat tapas restaurant. Not for me.
This is #day479 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... one star goes for "Bongo Bong," a song from my childhood. That same soundbite, used throughout the whole record, also rings a bell, like the low-battery whine of an old toy or gadget, if you know what I mean. It was fun to learn about the album's recording process and that "the songs that resonated most with the children were the ones that ultimately made the cut." Otherwise, this is a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day480.
Enjoyed this more as it progressed
Clandestino 3.7 Desaparecido 3.5 Bongo Bong 3 Je ne t'aime plus 3 Mentira… 3.3 Lágrimas de Oro 3.2 Mama Call 3.4 Luna y Sol 3.4 Por el Suelo 3.5 Welcome to Tijuana 3.2 Día Luna... Día Pena 3.3 Malegria 3.5 La vie à 2 3.3 Minha Galera 3.2 La Despedida 3.1 El Viento 3.4 Score: 3.3125
Expected to hate this since I’ve not been fond of others in this genre in the 1,001. Surprisingly it was pretty good. Decent melodies and singing. Weirdly, this debut album plus his second from 2001 and his most recent from 2024 are all in Dolby Atmos surround on Apple Music. The 4 in between 2001 and 2024 are not. I need to join a group of 1,001 Surround Sound Albums You Need To Listen To Before You Die…
Solid album. Didn't understand much, since it's almost all in Spanish, but nice vibes
La mentira is still amazing
The Bongo song is equally catchy and absolutely grating. Impressive. 2.5/5
3.5/5
Enjoyable. Appreciate the artist. But not my go to genre.
Didn't understand most of it, but it had a decent rhythm.
I find this music extremely irritating. Nails on chalkboard. I hope I never have to listen to this again.
A really good album, I liked Clandestino, Bongo Bong, Je ne T'aime Plus and Luna Y Sol the most. Will definitely listen to the album again.
Okay, such a vibe! I loved this one.
Pretty good Spanish language album. Pretty laid back. I enjoyed my listen.
Not the biggest fan of Many Chao
Not my style of music
A cool sound and quite the relaxing listen.
First Listen. 3.5 I really enjoyed this album. I appreciated the motifs that repeated through some of the songs, and liked that there was diversity in the instrumentation and moods of the songs. Favorite songs: La via a 2, Luna y sol
2/5 for me
I can appreciate the talent but it’s not something I’m going to seek out for my listening pleasure.
Gear: 64 Audio Duo Artwork: ✌️🪴🦓 Production: 🎧👂🧈 Music: 🌄🪕🌈 Ratinng: 🌻🌼🌷(🌹)/5
Up until today I thought Manu Chow was a post-career foray into the pet food market by a former Spurs legend. Anyway, this is great! Five patchouli petals.
Largely fuelled by nostalgia for a past life and a sense of freedom that came from my youth - this album brings me back to some beautiful memories. I can almost feel the joy of singing along with strangers I had just met travelling who became quick friends. This album is a real joy (even without the flashbacks).
It’s okay
Eclectic, low-fi, poppy album that has some bangers yet takes several artistic turns.
For those who don't know, Manu Chao is a French-Spanish musician who played in several groups, most notably the punk-infused Latin rock group Mano Negra. Unfortunately, that group broke up after years of strife and touring through war-torn Colombia, leaving Chao in a fragile state. He continued performing solo while battling restlessness and depression, albeit mentally wrung to the point of nearly taking his own life. That was until a chance encounter with a cow, whom he described as "tender", gave him a renewed sense of purpose, and Chao formally started recording a solo release. The recording process was rather unconventional and driven by chance. Chao immersed himself in various locales such as Tijuana, Mexico, Spain, and Paris, with a portable recorder in tow and working alongside producer Renaud Letang. A technical glitch in Letang's computer inadvertently caused most of the electronic elements and drums to be stripped from the tracks, leaving behind a more acoustic, organic sound. Songs were chosen for the cut after being tested out on the children in Chao's neighborhood. Thus, Clandestino proved to be a unique and cathartic album for Chao, and if anything, I'm glad that he found a renewed sense of spirit that happened to be well-received across Europe and South America. As for the music, this is a solid collection of reggae rock tunes with a melting pot of influences, including salsa, punk, and French chanson. I have to commend Chao and Letang for how they organized the tracks such that they seamlessly flow from one to the next, with Chao himself effortlessly switching his singing across Spanish, Portuguese, English, and French. Checking the translated lyrics, it is evident that Chao put his internal struggles on display while trying to find the brighter side of life as he gives an informal tour of the various locales he visited. Sure, the subject matter does come off rather repetitive across multiple songs that could easily blend into each other with little variance in song structure. But, there's enough conviction in the delivery and performance that I feel it's coming from a sincere place, and that is worth commending. As such, I think Clandestino deserves to be celebrated as the cultural mixture of sounds it is. I'm glad that Manu Chao came out on the other side with a more positive outlook.
very surprised by this. wasn't expecting to like it; not my style at all.
Absolutely rules. Perfect working music, a nice combination of chipper and soulful and heartfelt. I love the multitude of languages used here (unless I'm really mistaken). So worldly, makes me ashamed of my American-ness in a good way, and also makes me want to go on vacation and walk around soaking the new things to do and see BAD.
pretty good
Another nice change of pace
A great album. The exact reason I started this project- to be exposed to music I don’t usually listen to. Being that English is my first language with limited French, I didn’t understand most of the lyrics. But the album had a pleasant vibe overall. There’s a nice variety in the songwriting, especially having songs in 3 languages though majority are in Spanish. A really pleasant, fun listen and an album I’ve added to my library.
As with the Buena Vista Social Club album I rec'd earlier in this project, I don't understand a word of this, and that's fine. However, counter to being able to feel the passion and the emotion behind the music despite the language barrier on the BVSC recording; this is completely devoid of any of that. 2 stars.
I really have no knowledge of this type of music, so don’t know if it’s good or bad. I didn’t dislike it, but every song sounded the same, and nothing really seemed to go anywhere. It’s … fine, I guess?
Didn't listen in full but good vibes.
A very familiar album to me, and brought back some good college memories. My first reaction, withou re-listening, was to give it a 3. It's good, but not remarkable. And maybe the nostalgia kicked in when I listened, and I think that alone bumps it to a 4. I will most likely listen to it again in the future, unprompted, because it's a very cohesive setlist, and the songs really flow together. Actually enjoyable.
love the genre and language mixing
Not my bag but I get why it’s on the list
Very pleasant surprise!!
The Lonely Planet of albums, music for tourists who insist on calling themselves travellers, the Che t-shirt of artists. A topical tropical dream of counter-globalization, of a world of cultural exchange as resistance, of hybridity and translation and multi-lingual genre hopping code switching as a global musical commons, of joyous self expression and feel good partying. A dream that curdled over and after the 1990s and was revealed to be just a French guy on holiday, primarily a project of bourgeois first world self-making, just as subject to the stultifying forces of capitalist co-option, of commodification, standardization as any other cultural product - something that becomes just another cultural signifier, the default soundtrack of a certain kind of bar, hostel, or cafe in the gringo district of whatever popular backpacker region. Still, some of those evocative trumpet parts, latin harmonies, and Jamaican basslines really are pretty nice and laid back. An album I've heard a thousand times without ever putting on myself but never minded at all.
World music, but catchy. What's not to like? Except the fact that this has unfortunately served as backdrop music in way too many sleazy backpacker joints. Still an outstanding album, though.
not for me. not an enjoyable listen but it's not the worst thing ive ever heard
This is fun, festive Latin music that randomly and occasionally spirals into French pop. Sort of a bewildering album as a result, but on the whole it's undeniably fun and would be a great soundtrack to laying poolside with a margarita in Cabo.
Interesting and fun. Vocals are double tracked and panned hard left and right.
Looooove Manu Chao
beautiful, hypnotic. Cool samples, many languages, different vocal tones - very nice. Deserves and will get many listens
That was great, the songs flowed perfectly into each other. Fun international music that goes by fast. Rating: 4.2
This album was okay. I feel like it would have been better if I spoke Spanish, but it all seemed like a blur to me. 3 out of 5.
not for me
voelt aan als Narcos
- Verassend plezant - 0 nummers toegevoegd aan MMMM - 1 nummer toegevoegd aan ZZZ
I can smell this album and feel the sunshine of Mexico in it. And maybe a little bit of sepia.
Actual fucking banger, I misjudged this album art heavily.
Good vibes but it’s November in the UK so not the ideal setting for this. I’m probably never coming back to it tbh.
Love this album. Heard it when travelling around South America. great memories. Cool beach jungle vibe for me
Manu Chao’s 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘰 is a colorful, borderless mix of Latin folk, reggae, and worldbeat, stitched together with radio snippets and multilingual lyrics. It captures a restless, global spirit and carries a strong political message about migration and identity. Still, the heavy use of loops and recycled motifs makes the album drag after a while — what starts as hypnotic can become repetitive. Inventive and important, yes, but not quite the masterpiece it’s often made out to be.
Surprisingly good. It was maybe a bit of a guilty pleasure back in France but the album is remarkably well constructed and though it may be a bit too sprawling for its own good the first half is solid.
Nice change up. Interesting mix of reggae and Latin styles and French, Spanish, Portuguese and English lyrics. Never heard of the artist or this album before. Interesting story behind it, and even more curious it found success. For me it's a bit haphazard stylistically and the fact there's two songs with identical instrumental backing is a bit distracting.
Pretty sure I have the song “Bongo Bong” on my poolside playlist. I laughed when I realized this was the full album to that song, but I enjoyed it! This album would sound better in a bathing suit with a piña colada.
Interesting beats. Need to be in the mood, but doses would be something to use to pump up the mood!
En mi ingenuidad (al igual que con Gotan Project) pensé que este era un proyecto latinoamericano. De la poca representación de este lugarcito del mundo en esta lista. Pero no, Manu Chao es francoespañol. Que lata. Fue como tomar coca-cola y al final darme cuenta de que tenía endulzante.
I loved it when I was younger and it still holds a special place.
Not sure what was going on here.
Groovy. Bongo Bong SLAPS.
Wow, deux albums non-anglophone d'affilées, je pense que c'est la première fois en 918 albums que ça arrive! Pis en plus, il est bon, le Chao!
Dios me encantó. Me gustó un montón la vibra y me parecen super bonitas las harmonías q hace idk. Lo Palo q muchas canciones d Manu chao son básicamente iguales pero si t gusta mucho una canción supongo q da igual escucharla 14 veces
Largely all blended together for me. Not my jam.
One of the most notable elements here is, of all things, the song transitions. Seriously. I didn't even notice the change between BongoBong and Je ne t'aime plus. It's so simple, and yet insane, genius. Desaparecido, despite having a similar name and melodic hook to Despacito, is infinitely better. A lot of that is because it's less overplayed, but Desaparecido just feels... genuine. Smooth, simple (there are essentially only two chords), elegant, and perfectly atmospheric. I like the transition to Bongo Bong. Which, by the way, I wasn't expecting to recognise. But I've absolutely heard Bongo Bong before. I'm not a huge fan of the deadpan semi-rap thing – it's very out of place for the genre – but the rest of the track is ridiculously catchy. The majority of the albums tracks are, well, just as catchy. I like the guitar sound. Unfortunately, there are a few tracks in the album's latter half that just aren't memorable at all. They make no attempt, genre- or texture-wise, to stand out from the crowd. Songs like Malegria or La despedida. They're fine, and honestly pretty darn solid by themselves – but in the album's context, they act as filler. In a 16-track selection you can easily cut some of these out and extend the length of some of the others that are much too short to make the most of their high quality. Clandestino, Je ne t'aime plus, and Bongo Bong – three of the best songs here – are all well under 3 minutes. It's a travesty. One of the 1-star reviews is simply: "Was not in english so not for me". To which I have to ask: why are you doing this project? To re-listen to your favourite psychedelic rock and punk rock and hard rock records time and time again when there are already countless critics and fans singing their praise? Branch out a little. That's what 1001 Albums is for. 4/5 Key tracks: Clandestino, Desaparecido, Lágrimas de oro
Now this was fresh! Something out of the ordinary and loads of fun. Frenchman singing in Spanish about tequila and marijuana? Sign me up! Seriously, wonderful Latin grooves and a fun, bouncy sound. You don't need to know what he's singing to have a great time.
This album was a whole lot of nothing. I wish I liked it more than I did, but it just bored me.
5/5. Reggae strikes again! This was honestly perfect, each song did not over stay its welcome and it travelled from one song to the next with such ease. The melodies were catchy and even the "skits" were not annoying, maybe because I didn't understand what they were saying but it still felt correct and created an air of relaxation but still danceable. Although it didn't break the mold per se, there was a lot of 2000s music I heard in this while releasing in 1998. I wouldn't be surprised if there was some influence other artists took from this record. It was wonderful, not really any notes. Best Song: Bongo Bong, Mentira..., Luna y Sol, Clandestino
An enjoyable listen with lots of different sounds, influences, languages and genres. My limited understanding of Spanish and French etc does mean im probably missing a big part of what makes this album important but musically i could still enjoy the variety. I also enjoyed the quick trip to English to tell everyone how great he is at bongos. Also really love how smoothly each track merges seamlessly into the next. Not a spectacular album but certainly a real easy listen. Favourite track - Bongo Bong smoothly into Je ne t'aime plus. Or Minha Galera. 7/10
Another album where it’s not my style of music but I like the singer’s voice. I’m not big on music where I can’t understand the lyrics. Standout Songs: Je ne t'aime plus Welcome to Tijuana
Fun one
A friend of mine brought this one back from a semester overseas, and I was hooked. This many years later and I still love this one. Infectious rhythms, clever mixes, great lyrics (as far as I can really tell), I'm never down when this one is spinning.
I think this album is a lot of fun. It's full and through and cohesive and realized. Other listening to in its entirety.
6/10. Not the target demographic
I did not expect to personally like this (even if I respected it), but it was fun. I wouldn’t reach for it often, but it could definitely fit a vibe.
Nope, not my thing
Not my style but was fun good mood music
Unique and a true classic, doesn't get old! 4.6
Didn’t click with me.
Not fully my vibe but pretty interesting.
Excelente álbum. Me alegra que que aparezcan álbumes en otros idiomas, en especial en español. A esta altura Manu Chao es un cliché de la cultura hippie contemporánea, pero eso no le quita mérito a la experiencia. Todos los temas están compuestos y dispuestos de una manera integral a lo largo de toda la obra. Los recursos son sencillos, pero bien integrados. Suena órganico y acústico, pero al mismo tiempo tiene elementos de edición electrónica. El álbum te transporta a otro momento y lugar. Relajado, triste pero esperanzador, como estar de vacaciones en una playa, pero con consciencia de clase.