Reviews (page 3 of 8)
3.75
New to me and more than enjoyable. Thanks.
This right here is a perfect example of how you get westernised people into more non English music. All around this is a fantastic mix of styles and languages that will keep anyone interested to keep listening, just with how fun and accessible it is while clearly showing a lot of multicultural influence.
Didn't I feel cool when I knew this already? Thank you, Breton radio from the 90s.
What a cool sound! For me, this is a new mix of hiphop and what feels like Cuban or South American guitars and beats.
Liked it a lot! Would put on in the background but probably wouldn’t return to it often
Momentami czułam się przestymulowana tym wszystkim i całą otoczką, ale ogólnie vice brudnej ulicy w ciepły, letni, klejący się od potu dzień mi pasuje. Człowiek aż chce tańczyć. Wokal nie do końca mój, ale nie on tu jest najważniejszy - liczy się KLIMAT. 7/10
Amazing backstory behind the creation of this album, Manu is a well travelled man. Luna y sol, bongo bong and welcome to Tijuana are my top 3.
Very chill vibes but I dig the music.
Great sound right from the start. I love the guitar, I love the voices. Feels like I'm in my favorite Mexican restaurant. There's a lot of depth on this album and also a lot of songs that stay the same and just kind of chill while layers come and go. It's a beautiful approach. I love going from the more relaxed "Mentira" into the at-times frantic "Lagrimas de oro". This was a great listen. I will definitely be adding some tracks to some of my playlists!
Way better than I expected it to be. These songs are lots of fun and the use of different languages is cool. Favorites were Clandestino, Bongo Bong, Lagrimas de oro, Welcome to Tijuana, and Malegria.
Something different from the rest! This may be the westernized version of Latin music but I really enjoyed it. I only knew “bongo song” before but I really liked the title track “Clandestino”. I listened to this album while working late and it really gave off a good evening cozy vibe. Makes me want to sit outside in a bodega in the evening sipping cocktails. 4 star.
Якось приємно мені слухати ману чао, можливо через ностальгію. Не знаю що він там зараз, але оці старі альбоми заходять гарно.
73/100
A great example of never judge a book by its cover. I was expecting a world album in a different language that would be questioned as to why it is on this list, but instead I was pleasantly delighted by the chill reagge vibes and spanish influences. Deserves respect and placement on this list. 7/10
Well, apparently my Spanish is better than I thought… I could understand quite a bit of this, or at least get the gist of what he was saying. I’ve rated some other albums on this list, 2.5% of the way in, as “good background music.” This album starts that way but it’s insidious in how it works its way into the foreground. Also, the rapping on “Lágrimas de Oro” is insane.
This was a fun listen. Probably wouldn't go back to it often, but very easy and enjoyable listening.
You know someone's talented when they can sing in multiple languages. Manu Chao is one of those people. He can sing in Spanish, French, Portuguese and English on this album alone. The music on "Clandestino" is superb. I'm very impressed by Manu Chao on this album. 4 stars for "Clandestino".
Sure. Fun. Great.
Yes, like most of the reviews, I was a bit skeptic seeing a global album but then listened and thoroughly enjoyed
What a great little album. As always with this type of album it’s hard to judge the lyrics so the sound takes centre stage. A great sound to most of these songs and how can you not smile and enjoy it. Bongo Bong!
Nice album that. Musically upbeat and some really fantastic guitar parts. Lyrically it works, but given my linguistic limitations, he could have been singing about doing the big shop or torturing puppies, but it sounds wholesome. Either way it’s way better than any gangster rap shite.
7.5/10 This was a pleasant surprise, a pretty wild album. Mostly stoner Latin vibes but a bunch of other influences including electronic. I knew I’d heard Bongo Bong before, sounded like Gorillaz but was in fact a Robbie Williams single. Overall this was maybe slightly silly to be perfect. Best: Lágrimas de oro
Dig it! 4
Day576 - its the gems like this that keep me going
Liked it!
Cooler than I expected
thoughts: this album flows *really* well. perfect album for lounging by the pool (which i’m coincidentally doing while i listen to this). i enjoyed this a lot songs: “bongo bong”, “mentira”, “lágrimas de oro” rating: 8.5/10
Just fun...simple as that...had me shuffling around my office dancing like an excited grandpa wearing in his new slippers. Enjoyed that
I actually really enjoyed this much more than I thought i would. Bongo Bong all day long.
Fun, relaxing type of record. Makes me want to get drunk on wine
4.5/5
¡Qué sorpresa tan divertida! Le di una oportunidad y me alegro de haberlo hecho.
Nice vibes
He's the one who wrote Me Gusta tu ?? I did not know him at all, nor this genre of music and I enjoyed it all together. I noticed some sounds from one song to another that can be found in Me Gusta tu which is a nice touch. I don't speak spanish but I wish I did to understand the whole album. Glad I could understand the two songs sung in French though. The smooth transition from "Bongo Bong" to "Je ne t'aime plus" was deeply satisfying and probably holds important meaning if (only i spoke spanish bfr). From the untrained ear, "Clandestino" sounds like a political sound as well, which is interesting -- i'll definitely be listening to this album again and look up the lyrics. Favs: 1. Clandestino 2. Luna y sol 3. Je ne t'aime plus
At university in the early 2000s I hung out with a lot of Modern European Languages students, and Manu Chao was a real fixture at flat parties. I was never much taken with him at the time, but this was quite a nostalgic listen, I enjoyed it.
It's been ages since I listened to this. Nearly skipped that, but the whole album just works
The Bongo Bong people! The album gets better as it progresses. 'Welcome to Tijuana' and 'Por el Suelo' are some of my favorites. While 'Clandestino' isn't exactly easy listening, with its soundbites creating an interesting chaos, it remains inherently fun.
Bien envejecido, las canciones siguen tocando los mismos temas de los mismos países pobres. Buen álbum para escuchar mientras viajas en moto por Latinoamérica vite. Siempre con la izquierda
Un disco muy divertido para escuchar en un viajecito rutero. Esa sensacion de enganchado o de vinilo con poco espacio entre temas esta re bien hecha
That was a lot of fun. The obvious single track I had heard before in a mashup with the prodigy.
A great album. Fun, interesting that it was recorded on a laptop in various locations.
First time I have heard of Manu. He's quite talented!
Fun
really good and i feel like i got this reccomended to me at such a perfect time of the year. this is a certified beach classic
1001 ALBUMS YOU MUST HEAR BEFORE YOU DIE #9 The 1001 Albums Generator gives me chances to listen to music from different eras, genres, and cultures, and "Clandestino" is like nothing I've ever listened to before. Manu Chao is an impressive vocalist throughout the record, showing his versatility both in his voice, and language. He uses Spanish, French, and English all over the album, and it makes an experience to be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of language or background. And the instrumentals fit this, playful reggae with a lot of acoustic guitars. It's just a really fun record. Overall, this was an unexpected surprise, I never thought that an album that I didn't even understand half the time, would end up being amazing. Overall Score: 90 / 100 Favorite Tracks: Clandestino, Desaparecido, Bongo Bong, Mentira..., Luna y sol, Welcome to Tijuana, Malegria, La vie a 2.
It's great, but half an hour would have been better. Favorite song: Luna y Sol
was chill. i like. nice real sounds. surprising to hear french mixed in with the spanish.
I was familiar with (and liked) Manu Chao, but hadn’t heard this. It’s a banger that I’ll return to.
Really solid and varied album. Only other experience with Manu Chao was them opening for RATM at their 07 reunion show and they put on a great concert then.
Just a fun album to listen to, simple and playful.
Love this album. This one has been on occasional rotation in my house for decades.
Fun album
Enjoyable chill reggae folk album in Spanish
I have never heard this guy, but he is quite good.
Guau, se acordaron que hay idiomas por fuera del inglés! Ya conocía varios temas, y los que no conocía no me gustaron. Hermoso todo lo demás, arriba la luna! Nota: 3.7
Nice, chill, easy listening music. Reminds me of the summer me and Lui travelled around BC in my little red truck.
I don't understand most of the language, but the music is really good. 4 stars or B+.
I loved how all the tracks flowed together. Totally going to play this around Trump supporters I know to make them angry.
Jag kommer ihåg när jag denna skiva första gången. Outlet i Barkaby. Skulle köpa kostym till studenten. Spelades i en butik. Jag frågade till någon vad det var. Köpte skivan. Så detta väcker minnen (har inte lyssnat på detta på läääänge). Kanske inte kittlar lika skönt idag. Men det är fan skönt, för det mesta fortfarande. Jag njuter för det mest!
Härlig gammal klassiker som man blir glad av att lyssna på!
Music I would've never heard without 1001, and music I enjoyed! Will return to this one. Feels lighthearted and had me dancing at my desk
Much better than I thought. Rhythym and beat were great, and lyrics were catchy.
always a good time
Very enjoyable musically. I rarely listen to World music and found this a fun experience.
Brilliant actually. I didn’t really know what to expect but fun, varied, album with great replay value.
This is exactly what I'm in this project for - music that has passed me by, that is different to anything I'd normally listen to, and which leads me onto other artists. Love the Latin vibe, acoustic tone, druggy beats and punk ethic, and loved learning more about Manu Chao. His Wiki entry is amazing. I found it enchanting and interesting and listened again after reading about him and found the experience was better for it. If you did not listen, make it one to visit on a sunny evening, with a glass of wine (or a spliff).
я ахуел от того, что пару треков отсюда я даже знаю.
This album came out of nowhere and hit me in just the right spot. I'm a huge fan of a variety of music, and I love listening to music from all over the world. I've been missing a solid Spanish artist, but finally I have found one. (I guess he was born in Paris, but you know what I mean).
Mix of Spanish, French, and English all guaranteed to make you Manu Move!
I really enjoyed this one. Great vibes and energy and mix of sounds and styles. Was thinking 3.5, but I'm not going to round down just because my ignorant monolingual ass doesn't know Spanish, French or Portuguese.
Fun!
French musician Manu Chao experienced a mental health crisis after the breakup of his former band. He was wandering the world, performing and recording songs. He also recorded snippets of the atmosphere from the cities he visited, which would be used in the final album. The process was therapeutic for him and he found a renewed sense of purpose. This multilingual delight of an album will definitely be getting repeat listens from me.
Suprisingsly catchy and good. a grower
Had a good time with this album, not sure how much I would listen again but still enjoyed. 3.5/5
3.5 stars rounded up.
Cool latin summer feeling
Классный альбом, особенно king of bongo
An unexpectedly enjoyable bop along.
Enjoyed this, feels more like a 3.5 than a 4 but really good vibes. I was expecting overly cheesy/silly stuff based on knowing Bongo Bong, but the rest of the album is enjoyable.
A very Latin record, great songs and good lyrics to listen to at any time, a staple in popular music of Latin America, in parts it sounds optimistic and danceable, in others is more calm and reflective. Will add it to my library.
21/1001 I enjoyed this album. I had some familiarity with Manu before this album. The mix of reggae bass lines, Spanish style guitar, and simple catchy melodies is a great summer bbq type album. The lyrics are simplistic and rather shallow but it’s made up for with a unique voice that cuts through the music but doesn’t over power. I gave it 4 stars, but it’s probably closer to a 3.5.
I love it. Gets a little bit cringey towards the end (we get it, you like marijuana) but come on... He's the OG king of the bongo. What a hero in his own right
Always a party
I lived in France in a small town in Brittany that was land locked and less charming than you'd imagine if you peel away the architecture and cafes. This small town in particular was similar to any small town in America in a lot of ways, with the same struggles and addictions. I was 22 and lived with two other Americans in school-provided housing and we seemed to attract a motley crew of town locals who began drinking in the afternoons and played cards all night. Many a night, into our tenth game of poker and 2nd pack of cigarettes Manu Chao would come on and we'd all sing and sway to this album, stumbling over words and enjoying our odd, multi-cultural debauchery.
Topp næs!
I wish I could understand a damn word of this. But from his tone, I’m guessing he wasn’t singing “death to puppies,“ so I feel confident in saying I liked this.
A lot of fun and, as a result, I will round up; however, I don’t think it is better than other good world-music bands.
A lovely free-wheeling album. Relaxed, laid back beach vibes. Perfect sunshine music
Never heard of this, but I’m enjoying it. This makes me feel like I need to go on a world music journey and search popular and folk music from other countries. The melody is super catchy. This album was a lot of fun and great to listen to first thing in the morning.
Fun music, English, French and Portuguese !
This was an unexpected pleasure
Very fun, love the Galaga sounds.
Makes ya wanna get up and dance! (Get up and baila? Bailamos?)
Surprised how much I liked this album. Very groovy but understated, upbeat and fun, it felt like the backing track to a holiday through South America. Catchy minimalist dub/reggae stuff I think would make for great background music to a party
This is interesting, and a worthy inclusion, but not well-enough aligned with my taste for anything above a 4.
Muy bueno
Kinda reminded me of Gorillaz
tequila sexo marijuana
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8/10 Very strong album. Songs flow smoothly into eachother which is really nice. Album goes on for a bit too long
On one hand, the mishmash of languages and musical styles feels a bit like that yellow/sepia filter you see on American movies set in the Global South. On the other hand, I really like this, not because I'm some fucking hippie backpacker, but because this is a synthesis of a lot of the music I grew up listening to. Every song feels like a lullaby.
first time heard 4/5
I really thought I’ll hate it, but it was really fun
So, beyond any doubt this list needs more non-anglophone music. I’m not convinced that this is really the best choice to add, but I’m still grateful for it being on the list. It will, obviously, receive the obligatory extra point for being not in English, if for no other reason that’s to piss off the twats who give this a low score for being in French.
Breezy, catchy, charming, interesting. 7.5+/10
Clandestino Desaparecido Bongo Bong Minha galera
A beautiful and soothing album written while the artist was wandering in Latin America and South America for 4 years, and the contented nature of the tracks shines through
I love Manu Chao. They always bring a smile to my face and make me want to move.
Not my favorite from Manu, but a really good one.
A. Very relaxing album with influences from both Spanish and French music. Cool to vibe with
A fav
Não conhecia o artista, mas gostei muito do ritmo e das letras. Pelo poder dado a mim, concedo a este artista o título de cidadão honorário de Fortaleza. Minhas músicas preferidas, dentre muitas: * Lágrimas de oro * Mentira * Welcome to Tijuana * Minha Galera * Clandestino
It's Manu Chao baby. The man almost deserves a 5* for the first five songs alone, but gets a bit boring in the middle unfortunately. Spikes up in the end again. Everyone's favourite FrenchxSpanishxEnglish musician! Great latin vibes.
Refreshing change of pace
Really good
Latino Music at its best.
this album is very urbane and worldly; makes sense because this guy traveled all across the world to make this album. many songs features are in a few different languages. while it's not fully for me, i do appreciate the very tropical and sleazy sound the album has. the kind of music that makes you feel like you have a margarita in one hand and a cigar in the other. chao's voice especially is really unique compared to other artists like him.
7/10. This is very dope and cool! :) The cover art gave me electronica vibes, for some reason, so I was somewhat surprised that this is actually a world music album. :) It was definitely a fun listen. Unfortunately, I'm really not a fan of the vocals in this album, and the songs seemed to alternate between songs that I like, and songs that I dislike. :) I enjoyed "Luna y Sol" enough for me to add it to my Liked Songs playlist on Spotify, so that's good. :) I wish that there was more ethnic Latin American music in the set of 1,001 albums. :) I feel like I'm being too generous with my sets of four stars. Whatever, this album will get a set!!!!! :)
morsom listen, sjanger jeg liker veldig godt på sommerhalvåret spesielt. Får meg til å mimre til kultur jeg gjerne skulle vært del av. kommer tilbake til denne om halvt år!
A fun an energetic celebration of so many cultures and genres. Not something I'd normally think to put on, but a really entertaining listen. I also have incredible respect and admiration for Manu's production and song diversity. Plus anyone who can sing in multiple languages on the same album is really cool. A solid listen
If you lived in France around 1998 or 1999, there was no way you could escape this album, it was just everywhere (to the displeasure of my hardcore punk friends, lol). Manu Chao has Spanish origins on his father's side, and he drew inspiration from his many travels in South America and even recorded parts of the album there on his laptop, but he is also French, you see. And he was already a celebrity in French alternative circles thanks to his iconic former band La Mano Negra. *Clandestino* is his début, and also, his crowning achievement as a solo artist. And whether you like the album or not, you just can't deny the man had a singular vision for his music, which interestingly, he found through a trial-and-error process related to his fragile psychological mindset during his travels. Said insecurity somehow fit with other stories told about Chao. I for instance heard that he could sometimes be a little tyrannical with outside musicians in the studio. Other people say he pillaged the works of obscure music players he met during those travels in the Spanish-speaking parts of the world. But maybe those stories were just unfounded rumours... Anyways, the tones are here softer, more minimal and more polished than in La Mano Negra (even though seeing Chao play live with his new band proved that he could still be very excited, hectic and even totally bonkers on stage). More importantly, the result is as evocative and cinematic as what Manu had accomplished with La Mano Negra, and probably more accessible for the masses, as the international success of this album proved. I didn't immediately like *Clandestino* though. I slowly came in terms with it, and now readily recognize it conveys a quite timeless atmosphere. And the stories around the record only emphasize its singular quality today. Sure, its 'global' sounds can come off as 'gimmicky' at times, like a laboratory version of the sort of music you hear very far from home, here recreated through incomplete snippets and blurry memories. But that's exactly where the impressionistic poetry of the music also surges. Sometimes there are graceful ways to embrace clichés. And Manu Chao has certainly found an interesting and evocative way to do it here. 4/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums,. 9/10 for more general purposes (5 + 4) Number of albums left to review: around a hundred, as I've gone over the 1000 line and this generator is including albums from all editions of the book Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 438 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 258 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 319
What most artists want - a unique sound. 3/4 making it 4 for interesting international pop
one of the most well thought-through concepts for an album I've heard in a really long time. I'm writing this review on a ThinkPad, a newer (Lenovo) model of the (IBM) laptop Manu Chao recorded Clandestino on. ThinkPads are some of my favorite computers ever made, particularly because of the bang you get for your buck. mine was a model released in 2015; I think I got it for less than $200, and it's still chugging along with minimal issues! apart from being great at the everyday basic things you want a computer to do, it's also allowed me to do a bit of light gaming, and it can even run FL Studio! the idea of making music on a portable computer (whether it be a laptop, a sampling machine, a tablet or what have you) is so ubiquitous in 2024 that children are using online apps to make songs in their school music classes! let alone all the bedroom producers and artists that have achieved huge prominence in recent years. but an album recorded on a ThinkPad being released in 1998 kind of breaks my brain a little bit! Chao was surely ahead of the curve here, right? in a way, he's an early harbinger of the future democratization of music production that came with the beginning of the 2000s, when MacBooks, all of which come with GarageBand, and inexpensive (or even free) DAWs became ubiquitous in the software realm for all operating systems. the decision to use such an inexpensive machine as a basis for this album's recording process comes with some distinct musical advantages which Chao takes pretty great advantage of. while he recorded all the music here, he was living a somewhat nomadic lifestyle following the breakup of his previous band in France, traveling throughout his former home(s) in Europe as well as Latin and Central America, never staying anywhere for long (although he did hang out with the Zapatistas in Mexico for a while). all along the way, he was recording these songs. the variety of locales is depicted not just in the wide array of genres and sounds explored across these 16 tracks, but also the four different languages in which the lyrics are delivered at one time or another. it's a perfect way to illustrate the LP's themes of loneliness on the road. the little details even add to the narrative! often, one track ends with the first few seconds of the track that comes after it, so the transition happens at an unexpected point. it's a great way to keep the momentum of the tracks going, simulating the rate at which Chao was moving from one place to the next. but what really ties everything together is how at home he sounds in every musical setting he presents! Latin musical motifs permeate the majority of the tracks, but there's also nods to dub, reggae, house, folk music and plenty more, all unified by his warm presence as a vocalist, with always just a touch of despondence thrown in. this is exceptional music borne out of exceptional circumstances. strong 8/10.
Great vibes all around
4 - Very fun to listen to. Many times I found myself finger drumming to the rhythms.
Not something I'd typically seek out but it was quite enjoyable.
I hadn't listened to this album before, but I recognised Bongo Bong from the Tiktok/reels zeitgeist. Its such a funny phenomena hearing songs which maybe weren't that popular when they were release, or getting a second wind of popularity in short form videos over the last few years! I enjoyed this one - loved listening to the different languages and chill vibes - would listen to it again while working!
i don't think this very often -- if there's anything the English speaking world doesn't need it's being catered to -- but i do wish the CD to this had some form of translation in the liner notes, not just for my dumb monolingual ass wholly unable to understand what the significance of "Mentira" is, but for the Spanish speakers who don't know what "Bongo Bong" is about and the French speakers who don't understand what is being said on all but two of the songs. i think this need to note check is maybe a little less important on other releases in other languages where the feeling of the song comes through, but in instances like this (or other genres like Chanson, Nueva cancion, and a significant amount of MPB), it feels like the message is more important than the sound of the music itself. for this, i feel like i can't really derive as much enjoyment as others could without consulting middling to bad translations -- but then again, maybe those translations hurt those who can't understand the English sections as well. other than that, i think Manu Chao does a good job establishing himself as everyone's troubadour. how the guy performs imparts a lot of energy on you even if you aren't wholly down with the whole "reggae on acoustic guitar" sound. as of 2024, the ratings show the album losing steam per track, but if you asked me, i couldn't really tell you when the album left its groove or spun its wheels. whether Chao, a Basque-French polyglot that struck up a friendship with the Zapatistas, is the best person to discuss the the plight of the migrant or the homeless or the heartbroken fuckup is up to you, but i think regardless of your stance, he sells his understanding well.
I could have gone without the spoken word parts and I didn't really understand what the heck he was singing about because I'm not cultured enough to know Spanish. This slacks off towards the end, which can be expected on an album with 16 songs, but this is really good. I have absolutely zero idea what he is saying but I do know what he's singing is catchy and I like it. I literally have no idea what the genre for this music should be and I hope the words aren't offensive as I sing them in my car. Lacking context of other music like this, I feel like this was a great listen and should be in the book.
Even though I don't understand all the lyrics, each song was so communicative of atmosphere that it hardly mattered. Really appreciated this listen
This was right up my alley. Great album, I will definitely return to this.
3.7 - Grew on me and think it was pretty okay overall
Didn’t know what to expect with this but I liked it. Cool vibe
cool cool cool
Won me over!
Fun.
This is what I came here for. I’ve never heard of this guy and have not listened to much of this style of music. So this was a new experience. This album was quite a trip. He sings in three different languages and obviously has a lot of different influences. Somehow it works. This was a lot of fun and I wouldn’t mind listening to more. I think my favorite song is welcome to Tijuana.
I have never heard of this album or artist before, but this is a great album! Good on every level and meter that I would judge an album with, and produced expertly without the benefit of a huge studio. 4/5
I love when this list gives me a band I'd never heard of that goes somewhere I didn't expect.
Easy listening, and again great to see variety on this list. Clandestino was my favourite track, it shuffled on after the album was over and I listened to it again.
Chill latin/spanish vibes. Super easy listening
Really enjoyed this one, very vibey. Would put on in the background again.
Pretty good
What a delightful chill surprise. Will definitely play again.
Fedt meget anderledes og et enkelt hit
This was a light fun musical album. It felt like one track flowed right into the next as if it was 1 long song with many movements. Its impressive that it covered English, Spanish and French effortlessly. And there were are number of styles and familiar riffs they worked in, some that I couldn't quite place but I did here them use the riff from Tequila . I also thought the production and instrumentation was top notch and inventive. Enjoyable world music. 3.6
This album was soo good in my opinion. I thought some of the songs were very beautiful and well written. I enjoyed the his nasally yet powerful voice. It really added an extra layer to the music.
Very chill and enjoyable album
The voice: irritating yet funny The music: not my style yet interesting and well done The melodies: not usual, simple, almost childish yet good and happy. I like how certain instruments and melodies are transferred to adjacent songs, gluing them to an album. BONGO BONG is THE classic but sits well with the other songs.
Zaskakująco dobre. A nawet bardzo. Nie tylko Bongo było dobre, ale też na przykład Luna y sol. 4/5
Nice vibe. Expand your world music. Here!
4.5
Looking at the album cover, I thought it was gonna suck. But honestly, it was very enjoyable. Much better than I anticipated.
I wasn't into this back when, and it was heavily overplayed then, but it's a really good vibe now. Late summer lends itself particularly well. Good job, generator!
A nice surprise--I had the lead song on a compilation disc 25 years ago, and the accompanying songs keep the groove going. My rusty spanish makes it fun to grab out the phrases I understand. Really engaging here. Seems to hold up; surprisingly contemporary. Driving. Hypnotic. Endlessly creative.
Cheered me up and made me smile. Loved those beats!
I loved this. I thought I might miss the traditional Latin percussion that propels a lot of this Central and South American music, but Manu Chao brought the flavor through other elements, and I appreciated his seamless blend of English, French, and Spanish. Super cool.
I dug this. Chill, fun. Nice melodies. Not sure how I'd improve it. Only getting 4 because it didn't blow my mind. But I could definitely see returning to this.
Great fun nice rythms and cheeky songs. King of the bongo is a banger
I wanted to translate these songs to really understand because they were really fun and interesting. My body just wanted to move along and dance with the music. It was an interesting mix of traditional sounds with modern influences. I do not have a lot of experience with the world music scene so this was a great opportunity to be exposed to something beautiful, talented and amazing.
¡qué buena onda!
This was a fun chill vibe. I liked it!
The album starts the listener in a Mexican desert town with a run down cantina that looks to have had its fair share of abuse, but if one can place the initial impression behind them, the bar is well-stocked and the cocktail menu is surprisingly diverse. The servers are attractive, and the vibe is fun. It is as though one walked into a speakeasy with a desolate front. This album would make such a great change in gear on any music rotation, and that is high praise from this reviewer.
Never heard of this before. So many tracks packed into quite a short album. Enjoyed the language combinations. Love music with this kind of sound, especially in the summer. Highlights: Clandestino Lagrimas de oro Luna y sol
Entertaining album. I thought it got a little long though.
Ah Clandestino! A very fun song from when I was learning Spanish! Very chill alt-reggae stylings.
This fits this hot weather today. Some transitions were very smooth. Others not so much.
Ma pensa te che piacevole sorpresa. Non più clandestino, ha cittadinanza nella mia playlist
Idk what this is but here goes! Oh nvm I know this song “Clandestino.” Why are all these songs familiar? I don’t like “Bongo bong.” Same with the French one. This reminds me like Chicano Batman a lot.
Went into this with no expectations. Actually based on the album cover I had LOW expectations. But man this was such a fun time. The whole thing flows so well, it’s fun, there’s variety of sounds, languages, energies. Is this 5 stars? It’s certainly close. He has a new album next month and I think I’ll actually seek it out, so that’s probably all the praise this album needs. Its actually made me wanna look further into this dude.
How fun. It’s a pick me up album that celebrates the culture of Latin America in a beautiful way.
It had a very unique style and my small Spanish vocabulary helped me understand what he was singing and saying throughout
Actually a nice Latino music, very enjoyable and made me want to do little dance moves. Somehow they made all of their songs really melodic and also the switch from one song to another was absolutely flawless. I then continued listening to other recommended (by Spotify) songs and I jammed for another hour or so, very good stuff. I was a bit tired that day but this album made me feel very excited, but it also matters who you're with when you're listening to this.
It threw me a bit because it's mostly in Spanish as far as I can tell, but there were snippets of English and French sprinkled in to some songs. A nice little peppy album for the most part, the kind of music I'd like to move around and dance a little to
I enjoyed this album quite a bit, it's a nice take on reggae and the overall atmosphere is very pleasant.
Very chill vibes here - mentally taking note of "Bongo Bong" for... reasons.
Álbum traz um frescor, uma paz. Excelente! A variação das vozes, e as harmonias de reggae com a pegada latina formam um som complexo muito legal. Já gostava quando ouvia no início dos anos 2000.
This was a surprise, loved the album
7 / 10 A finales del 98 esto fue una música diferente del resto que se hacía en España. Su música fresca, medio reggae en ocasiones y sus letras comprometidas fueron un pelotazo.
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.
I'm far from being the word's greatest Latin music connaisseur; but I like this album quite a bit, as it's an extremely relaxed affair. 3.5/5
Excellente
Wasn't sure that I would like this, but found the tunes very catchy. Nothing too crazy going on musically, but still fun to listen to.
There were definitely songs in can see myself adding to my rotation from this album. The Bongo Bongs song was a fun highlight for me that I didn’t expect. I can understand about half of the words at once (still learning Spanish) and this just makes me want to learn faster. I like the sound and am going to listen to more of his albums now!
Love Manu Chao, great memories and great music.
This was a really fun listen, even if it does get a bit repetitive later on with the same background music being used several times on the record, but I guess that's just reggae music for you. Although I have heard this record before, it was still my first time checking out its lyrics, and I must say they were surprisingly poetic and relatable (at least in some places). But let's be honest—even if the lyrics were sh*t, that's the beauty of music in foreign languages, it's easy to ignore the words and vibe with the music anyway. Clandestino isn't something I'd listen to everyday, but if I were looking for this specific type of music, this would be the album I'd put on. 3.5 stars
S U P E R L A T I V O Allora io ho un debole per lui perchè mio padre me lo faceva ascoltare da piccola quindi rievoca un sacco di bei ricordi, ma in generale secondo me è un album molto interessante per le musiche e le vibes che emana.
Allora. Non avevo voglia di ascoltare questo album, perché per qualche motivo ero convinta non mi sarebbe piaciuto. Insomma, avevo poche aspettative. Oggi pomeriggio, però, dovevo fare la spesa all’Esselunga, e mi sono detta: “Boh, perché no?”. Mentre aspettavo il tram ho ascoltato “Clandestino”, e mi sono detta: “Boh, perché no? Potrebbe essere un onestissimo album da 3 stelle”. Poi sono andata avanti con l’ascolto, e mentre girovagavo tra le corsie dell’Esselunga di Viale Zara mi sono detta: “Boh, perché no? Perché non fare la rivoluzione ballando su una spiaggia tropicale?”. E niente, alla fine il mio scetticismo si è trasformato in 4 stelle. Ecco un elenco dei fattori che sono entrati nell’equazione: - ✨MULTILINGUALISM✨; - la transizione perfetta tra “Bongo bong” e “Je ne t’aime plus” (seriamente, è davvero soddisfacente); - attivismo climatico, random; - legalizzazione; - come anticipavo prima, un “facciamo la rivoluzione ballando sulla spiaggia” kind of vibe; - un “Alla luna” di Leopardi in versione latina (più o meno); - ancora ✨MULTILINGUALISM✨; - la ripresa del tema di “Bongo bong” / “Je ne t’aime plus” verso la fine (non lo so, mi ha dato un’idea di coesione di insieme).
Ma pensa te che piacevole sorpresa. Non più clandestino, ha cittadinanza nella mia playlist
Favorite Tracks: Bongo Bong Clandestino Welcome to Tijuana
“this music makes me think of being a hungover tourist” thanks for the insight m8.
After listening to a lot of this album, I still have a hard time knowing what to think about it. The music is all fun and very charming. He has a great voice. However, the production on the album always feels a bit thin, like it hasn't been properly mixed. This could be an issue with the version that I'm listening to, though. Either way, this is a fun, breezy album that it's easy to be in the mood for 4/5
Way nicer than I anticipated. Bongo bong is a classic, but some of the French/Spanish songs are quite nice as well. Not a daily listen, but definitely a repeat listen!
At first, I just thought this was going to be a style of music I don't particularly like, as it is not my culture or something I ever grew up listening to. However, when I heard "Bongo Bong," I was immediately amazed at how it sounded like a Gorillaz song...but 3 years before the first Gorillaz album. The rest of the album had a lot of other surprises, and while it is not going to be a new favorite, I can see myself listening to it again, and I'm amazed at how it was ahead of its time.
Excellent listening for a foreign language album. My different types of Latin music. Poetic and creative lyricism. Very solid listen, would get a vinyl at a fair price.
Hér eru frábær lög og nostalgísk og önnur sem maður þekkir síður en vinna á strax við aðra hlustun. Skemmtilegt.
Very intimate sounding recording, as if you're in the room with him. Bongo Bong and Je ne t'aime plus is a quite special and unique two part song with lyrics in English and then French. There's a repetitive melody and some instrument I don't recognize. Mentira again has a repeating riff for the whole song, but it's charming and appealing in its simplicity. Minha galera is a highlight from the second half. Overall, a compelling hour of music that defies categorization for me.
Really enjoyed as background music.
A really great world pop album with what I imagine are political lyrics.
This reminded me of Breaking Bad, and I quite like Breaking Bad.
Very interesting album-takes traditional folk sounds and throws his spin on them, creating a sort of Latin Alternative music, with some rap, plenty of loops (with great grooves) and a mix of Spanish, French, English, and Portuguese, sometimes within the same song. Favorites are Clandestino, Bongo Bong/Je ne t'aime plus, Welcome to Tijuana, and Minha Galera.
I love this album. It's so much fun. This time I found the middle part to drag a tiny bit, but then I listened to the whole thing again as soon as I was done.
Honestly, this was pretty good! None of the songs really felt the same, and I liked the overall vibe. I’ll probably listen to some more Manu Chao.
[a series of salsa girl emoji] Yeah, this is enjoyable all the way through. I like it as background music while I do things. bongo bongo bong
immaculate vibes
4.45?
He truly is king of the bongo. I liked this album a lot more than I thought I was going to.
top review nails it: hostel soundtrack. clandestino desaparecido je ne t'aime plus lágrimas de oro luna y sol malegría
A literal "World Music" album that doesn't have the feel of a typical World Music album. The songs are fresh and joyful without being cloying. Even the protest songs are danceable. I'll take this over any Reggae album any day of the week.
Visst är det bra men når inte riktigt ända fram.
Even though all but one song were in languages other than English, ut was pretty good.
I didn't really like Manu Chao back when I was in school, but that must have changed, because I really enjoyed this album.
I really enjoyed this quirky album from Manu Chao - according to Wikipedia he sings in French, Spanish, English, Italian, Arabic, Catalan, Galician, Portuguese, Greek and occasionally other languages! A veritable one man DuoLingo! Lots of interesting little samples and snippets thrown in too - pretty sure I heard something from Galaxians at one point.
This made an enjoyable change
Volvimos al ruedo de escuchar de lunes a viernes recomendaciones musicales. Este disco me recuerda a mis primeros años universitarios. Esos años más revolucionados, de ganas de cambiar la injusta realidad latinoamericana, de soñar con un mundo más accesible a todas y todos. Creo que en otro momento no podría haberlo disfrutado, así que ahora la escucha pasa desde una nostalgia por algo que no volverá. Gran disco, que ahora lo disfruto desde una mayor madurez
Easy listening vagabond vibes. Feels like traveling and a chill carefree lifestyle. There were some good song transitions and I appreciate hearing several languages on the album. He seems observant of what’s going on in the world with his travels with some political commentary and philosophy. It kind of feels like musical journalism. Lots of different sounds on this album too. Overall it’s fun and easy listening.
Soft spot for anything this guy does as a later album was the soundtrack for a 2001 drive through Italy… this one is fun too, added La Despedida (the farewell)
Despite the language barrier, it's a very fun reggae album. 4/5. Favorite Track: Welcome To Tijuana
Really enjoyed this, sort of an introduction to this genre for me. Super unique artist, gonna listen to him some more. 4.3/5
Great album.
i change my mind, Adam and The Ants SUCKED. please refer to the bottom review as a 2 pls
Groovy world music (though that term probably isn’t used anymore). “Mama Call” and “Malegria” and "Mentira" are best songs. Would be good to know what he’s singing about with such obvious passion, but that’s not Manu's problems. This feels very well made.
I loved Bongo Bong back in the day, but I never looked any farther into Manu Chou. This album is a trip. I wish I had enjoyed it more fully at the time. Ce la vie, I'm enjoying it now!
Very nice and I was able to understand the lyrics which made it even better
this album starts out with 3 monumental bangers the rest of the album is such a breath of fresh air! 4*
Halfway between here and the antipodes, aboard a container ship, tucked in with other paperbacks, lies my copy of Papillon. Prior to sending my books on their voyage, I had leafed through Papillon and read enough to hint at the Latin adventures to come. Should the book have been written during the 2000s, I could full well imagine a Manu Chao appearing within as a travelling musician, a character who hides his tales in song, whose languages barely outnumber his misadventures, whose charm lies in a crooked smile and twinkle in the eye.
Vibey, Great. I've haven't heard much spanish/english music and because of that all the influences and sounds are pretty new to me and sound great and fresh. Holds up for coming out in 1998 and translating the songs reveal how much of a cool and creative guy wrote these songs, great album.
I quite like this, it remined me of the Australian band "The Cat Empire" which I also like. I enjoyed the switch to different languages.
7.5/10 Highlights: Clandestino Bongo Bong
what the hell is "world music", 1001 albums generator? im pretty sure its a racist way to say "music thats not in english". anyway, it has a great sound to it, the songs are short and catchy too. mexican music and the styles of music of the hispano-hablante countries in general are so intriguing. they have such a familiar but distant sound to it, its happy its frenetic, its elegant, and spanish is such a rich language, it has a revolutionary sound and beauty to it. its a great album, i dont think ill be listening to it all that much because its not one of my main languages, but its great.
Classique
Suprisingly fire, might want to relisten
Living in the metro Atlanta area, I can step outside any given day and hear this style of music being played somewhere and sometimes I don’t even have to travel that far. Normally, by the time the sound waves make it my way, I’m just left with an annoyingly repetitive yet loud bass line. I say all that to say that I don’t mind this style of music; I understand a little Spanish but not enough to listen along and understand but I still found it enjoyable given the peace of my own headphones and actually being able to listen and take it in rather than being forced to listen to it from a distance. Not so much that it’ll end up in my playlist but it was a good album for sure.
Great fun, and probably the most multilingual album I have ever listened to. Only two of them are languages I speak though!
first listen a wonderful taste of Spain
Really cool mix or English, Spanish, and French - music style all over the place. Enjoyed this more than I thought I would
A joy to lesson too. Nice flow and a huge variety in intro mental
Man, I listened to this about a thousand times during a road trip through Central and South America. A chill dope-smoking French dude, living in Colombia, singing a variety of genres in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese... lovely memories of backpacking and being a global citizen. I even saw Manu in Sydney in the mid-00s. Or was that a fever dream?
Pretty hard not to enjoy. Just enough variation in the tunes to not get tiresome. Fav track: Bongo Bong 3.5/5
I expected to not like this, but it was super fun!
breaking bad cook montage core
Never listened to it fully until today Full of surprises and good vibes. I dig it!
Surprisingly enjoyable considering I didn't understand most of it.
I enjoyed this way more than I thought
loved it so did my daughter bongo bong was a favourite for a long time
Really enjoyable.
Enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.
4.4
Okay! One of the main reasons I wanted to do this project was to get exposed to things I hadn't heard or wouldn't ordinarily listen to. This is a lot of fun. It turns out I've definitely heard a couple of these songs before, I just didn't realize it. A pleasant surprise, would listen again!
Influenced Sublime? Cool digital bomb drop track throughout.
-i’ve heard this guy before!!!! -he had a song trend on tiktok -i Love songs that are in spanish so this is so nice -favorites: mentira, -i like the switch between spanish and french -listening to this while making breakfast is such a vibe
Pretty fun!
Un álbum sumamente interesante, que mezcla una gran cantidad de estilos e idiomas. Un influyente proyecto, y excelente representante de lo colorido que puede llegar a ser la música alternativa en español.
Shit bussing, very catchy and fun to listen to Highlights: Clandestino, Bongo Bong, Je ne t'aime plus
Great album, chill listen
Refreshing, bouncy tunes. Latin origin but songs are still relatable. A different and welcome record.
I went into this album not expecting much, but it was an entertaining listen. Much respect to Manu Chao for recording and producing this all on his laptop.
This album brings so many memories and emotions. In early 2000 you could hear Manu Chao and his "Bongo Bong" everywhere. Such a great song, extremely likeable beat and a very specific singing makes it an all-time hit. However this was my first time listening to the full album - "Clandestino". And although Bongo Bong is the biggest hit on the record, the rest of the tracks are also really good! A good mix of slower and more uptempo songs, mix of languages, generally positive atmosphere maintained across full 40 something minutes. I will gladly come back to this album every year or so, for another trip down the memory lane.
This is definitely out of my comfort zone but I quite enjoyed it. The songs are catchy and I love his voice.
I think this does what that Eels album I disliked so much hopes to do. Where that album feels cute and kitschy, Clandestino feels inspired and important. Grown from the deep well of one global traveler’s observations of the world. It has that purpose behind it, plus it’s a hell of a lot of summer fun. It sounds of an artist who saw the potential in music’s hip-hop inspired, technological revolution and saw a way to capture his own unique voice and political vision through those new tools. Recorded and produced on the road by Manu via his laptop, Clandestino is a unique and inspired work of global music that I’m excited 1001 has introduced me too. Can’t wait for the summer so I can play this again, appropriately.
Granted there is certainly a nostalgia factor here, but I listened to Manu Chao when he first released his music and honestly it is still great. Unique and fantastic sound, I like it.
Really dig this. It's kind of a Tito Puente crossed with more modern beats.
A nice, breezy listen. It was cool how some songs blended into others. Also, the amount of languages covered -- I noticed at least Spanish, English and French -- was fun to go back and forth between, especially as I speak two of those! All in all, a good listen. It seems like Manu Chao is far more well-known internationally than domestically, so it's fun to be exposed to his stuff.
ça m'a beaucoup moins saoulé que prévu c'est peut être le doux printemps
I mostly don't know what Manu is saying because he sings in "French, Spanish, English, Italian, Arabic, Catalan, Galician, Portuguese, Greek, and occasionally in other languages", but despite the language barrier, Clandestino is varied and interesting.
Better than expected
Wish I had heard this one sooner. Great vibes. Bongo Bongo!!
Very jolly! Liked it, having never heard of him before.
First album I hadn't already heard, and I really enjoyed it. It needs a few more listens to come up with a definitive review.
Fun music. Good in the background. Bongo bong is tons of fun. There's enough here that I would search out this album while making tacos or chili in the future
Love this. Unusual (to me) but easy to enjoy. Spirited but not bouncy. Very catchy. Sometimes a little silly, sometimes a little sad. Altogether a really interesting album that I'm glad I've been introduced to. Just the kind of thing I'm looking for from this list.
Flow of the abloom is excellent and each song flows flawlessly into the next. Excellent Alt Latin Great instrumentation very enjoyable album to listen to
Ranskalaisten suursuosikki! Vaikka on vitsiä, on silti taiten tehty. Hyvää mieltä.
Coll album, I like the production 4 stars
Es un disco absolutamente genial, las melodías y los instrumentos emanan alegría, mientras que la letra describe un mundo corrupto. La mezcla de idiomas en algunas canciones me genera una satisfacción tremenda, a su vez que siempre me dan ganas de moverme al ritmo de la musica. Todo junto, me hace disfrutar mucho más. 8/10
yo se que es musica del campamento anticapitalista del nuevo mas pero este disco me hace acordar mucho a cuando era chico que sea una especie de placer culposo de mi papa y ahora un poco tambien el mio pd posta me baño yo no me discriminen
May be worth another listen
This is ridiculously fun. Upbeat, super catchy, great beats, fun lyrics. Is it the most innovative thing ever? Maybe not, but who cares? This just makes you want to dance and party. Love it. It's exactly the music to play when you want to make a tedious task more upbeat. Will absolutely keep this on regular play.
Really enjoyed this one. Melodies are light as air but extremely catchy.
Very interesting album. I’ve heard potentially one Manu Chao song before and a friend of mine has been recommending his music. Finally having listened to it, I definitely enjoyed this. Catchy and fun Saved tracks: Clandestino, Bongo bong, Je ne t’aime plus, Welcome to Tijuana
Man(u) had me hooked by “Bongo bong.” An exceptionally fun world album which breaks the mold for a genre I usually don’t enjoy. Lots of shining songwriting moments and fun instrumental flourishes which run throughout the album.
dobarrrrrrrr
This is mind expanding stuff! I prefer the faster stuff, but that’s probably just personal preference.
I am unfamiliar with Manu Chau, when I received this album to listen to I admit I was not looking forward to it. I assumed it was a typical latin-pop-dance album...boy was I wrong. This album charmed me from the opening. Subtle but deceptively complex arrangements and production. Stylistically diverse and always interesting. The vocals are nasally and won't be to everyone's taste but the singing always comliments the arrangements. This is so much more than pop musidc. Its magic is in the way it offers a folk music feel while maintaining popular sensibilities. 4 stars
Slaps
It's not the best music ever made. It's certainly not the best produced album. The lyrics are simplistic bordering on silly. But not of that even remotely matters. This album is 100% vibe. The mixture of samba, latin, cuban rhythms with French, Spanish, English, Portuguese and Italian lyrics about the joys of life (sex, drugs & music) make this a refreshing, open, relaxing yet danceable album. It there ever was an album that captures the spirit of backpacking, this is it. The album lets its songs flow into one another. Like visiting a new city on the same continent, not too far away. Sometimes just changing a ska-organ for a bossanova guitar and changing languages, while letting the underlying sounds continue and all of a sudden you realise you went into a new song without noticing. I remember the summer of 1999 when this album was everywhere on mainland Europe and probably elsewhere around the world. It captured a vibe and spirit and now, re-listening to it, I can see why. It's clever, worldly and a joy to listen to.
I loved this. Never heard of him before. It's weird and low-fi before lo-fi was a thing. I have followed him on Spotify and will be listening to more of this. This is exactly the kind of thing I signed up for.
Excellent from start to finish, listened 2.5 times yesterday and for sure will listen again 4.5/5
73 / 1069 I had listened to the start of this album many times but not all the way through. I think it loses a little steam as it goes on (or I’m just overly familiar with the start!), but quite good. Solid 4 stars.
Another great example of an album I would have never listened to were it not for this list. Pretty interesting set of cuts, even though I can't understand most of the lyrics.
I do not speak spanish so I almost skipped this one, but I'm glad I didn't. I would usually only give albums I can't understand a 3 star review to be fair, but something about this album's melodies really hooked me. so i gotta give it a 4
I had a great time with this one, I loved the eclectic and multicultural energy here. It did get a smidge samey by the end of the record, but otherwise it was excellent.
Clandestino by Manu Chao is a true gem of an album that effortlessly blends together a diverse array of musical styles, from reggae and ska to rock and Latin American rhythms. The result is a truly unique and vibrant sound that is both energizing and deeply soulful. One of the standout features of Clandestino is Manu Chao's ability to seamlessly incorporate a wide range of cultural influences into his music. From the laid-back reggae vibes of "Bongo Bong" to the Spanish-language rock of "Mentira," Chao effortlessly blends together a variety of styles and influences to create a sound that is truly his own. In addition to the diverse musical influences on Clandestino, the lyrics are also a highlight of the album. Chao's lyrics are politically charged and thought-provoking, tackling issues such as immigration, social justice, and the human condition with a keen wit and intelligence. This is an album that is sure to surprise and delight listeners with its unique blend of musical styles and thought-provoking lyrics. It is a true testament to Manu Chao's artistic vision and talent, and is a must-listen for fans of world music and anyone looking to expand their musical horizons.
Cool quirky music
I like this album a lot!
This album was a pure vibe. Very, very interesting musically. Favorite track: Mentira
Very upbeat. Great leadoff for the week.
I really enjoyed this album and this is why I started this challenge, to be exposed to music from around the world.
Prefs: Clandestino, Desaparecido, Bongo Bong, Je ne t'aime plus, Mentira..., Lagrimas de Oro, Luna y Sol, Welcome to Tijuana, Dia Luna... Dia Pena, Malegria, Minha Galera Moins pref: La Despedida
Really good surprise. I was not expecting to vibe so much on this album. The sonorites are really catchy and the mood quite good. I would definitely listen to that again. The album is maybe on the longer side and becomes a bit repetitive at some point but I had a great time.