Clandestino

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.

Manu has put together quite a debut with his Clandestino laptop. Lots of variety, and telephone conversations in the background, and sirens/ wind effects. Had to laugh with Welcome To TJ, a good representation of his work. (3.3*s) Bravo por tequila, sexo, marihuana!

The multilingual Manu Chao puts together an appetizing album. I dig the sound bytes and simple laptop produced beats. "Bongo Bong" and "Welcome to Tijuana" were my faves. Had a good time with this listen. Give me mas Manu. Mucho gusto...3.1 etoiles.

Manu Chao has some creative beats and production tied throughout the album. He switches between languages pretty seamlessly which is a nice fold. I'll admit I was enjoying the first half of this album but I don't think it held up throughout the full duration. While it fizzles over the back half it is still a decent entry as it offers something unique and new. Glad to get the exposure to something like this as I can't imagine I would have heard of it otherwise. 2.59 stars

i have no idea what he is saying, but i dig the tune.

J’adore

Was ok but not my thing.

Unique.

Most of the album is in French or Spanish, which just leaves me cold because of the lanuage barrier The song King of Bongo Bong is a funny little earworm, but not enough to win me over to this artist

Catchy. Brings me back to hippie circles while traveling the country in the early '00s. I heard the guy is a real one, walked away from millions a few times because he won't do commercials

Probably not something that I would listen to often. But I would definitely jam to this on a trip south of the border.

This was great. Loved everything about it. It put me in a great mood all day long.

Interesting for sure. Solid all around though. I was a bit thrown off by the Spanish, English, and French. It makes sense but I might have expected 2 of those not all three. I did go back and listen to some of his older band stuff mano negro, and it has a little more edge but it tracks really well that thos is where we end up. I had a good time but nothing groundbreaking. A worthwhile listen

I did not enjoy this very much.

Not for me. Not terrible though

2.0 RYM

I grew up with my parents playing Manu Chao in the car- I think I must have heard “Bongo Bong” at least 100 times. I remember rediscovering the song back in summer of 2019, when I backpacked across Europe and found this song playing in a seedy underground bar in Prague. Since then I’ve fallen back in love with his oeuvre- I think he’s a fantastic musician that a lot of people don’t click with because they associate him with a certain vibe or time in their life. I, for one, love the music.

In a nutshell: viva la resistance. Lyrically, interesting and compelling. Not keen on some of the recycled sound bites throughout the album (specifically the one that reminds me of a video game character falling to their death). Overall: 4/10

"Bongo Bong" slaps, "Welcome to Tijuana" is fun, the rest is very pleasant to listen to

Not a style I'm familiar with but was ok

Interesting record, I wanted to like it more than I actually did though. It ended up being not very memorable to me, but it is an interesting mix of Latin/World music with modern touches so I get why it’s on the list.

Kind of like a Latin reggae. Fun.

Man, this is the vibe. It's really easy to make me sad, but this man managed to make me happy and he didn't even need lyrics for that Favourite track: Despacito

I am a fan. Just saw another Beatles album generated.Fuck my life

Neat stuff

Another boring album, the instrumentation is kinda cool but really doesn't do much..This guy has quite a good voice though.

3.75

A bit shite innit

not bad

Instantly transported to Barcelona, 1999. Distinctive sound but not something I return to all that frequently. Think he was a big influence on subsequent stuff like Gorillaz. Likeable enough

The soundtrack to my freshman year (I say this in both the best and worst way possible). I think it is an excessive album that has awesome tunes. Three-star rating sounds fair to me.

I enjoyed this debut album from Manu Chao! I thought the Latin and world beat influences were very fun and interesting to listen to. This is very different than what I normally listen to but I enjoy trying new things! I would give this album another listen.

New to me and more than enjoyable. Thanks.

Rating: 2.4 Look man nothing against this guy, doesn’t appeal to my sensibilities though and I just sat there looking like I wanted to punch a hole in drywall the whole time I was listening to this record.

It’s just really not for me. I like to be able to understand what I’m listening to.

Not bad. I don't understand any of the lyrics but Minha galera sounded nice.

Can't be fully objective, as "Bongo Bong" is one of those nostalgic songs from my childhood, that never get played anymore; but I love the creativity of the sound, something so raw and intriguing about it

Not for me.

Exactly what I'm here for. An artist I've never heard of with a genre I'm not familiar with. And man, does this put the "groove" into............. erm, "groovy". An artist with an uncompromising vision and beliefs translating that into musical form. 4 stars - bonus mark for a track called "Bongo Bong". Yes, I have the humour of a 6 year old - and?

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.

2.4 1x

Greatest stuff after Ozomatli

Another one not for me.

This was enjoyable

The soundtrack of my adolescence. My aunt gave me a copy around the turn of the millennium and I know every word.

Not my thing

Nice easy listening.

Ärsyttävää.

I had more fun banging my head, and awakening my inner French-Spanish than I thought was possible(the only language I know fluently is English, so unfortunately, that's a barrier). I’ve accepted Bongo Bongo isn’t just a creepy boss fight from my childhood. Favorite Track: "Bongo Bong".

nice

I know nothing about this. Pleasant enough listen.

That Bongo Bong song was so ubiquitous in Hungary back in the day that when I saw the album cover pop up, I let out a heavy sigh. Luckily, this was a lot more fun listen than I expected. Still not really my thing, but the lo-fi sound was very charming and infectuous. I also liked the mix of genres and languages. I probably won't listen again, but I did not mind it as much as some of the previous albums.

This was a fun, interesting listen but not something I was normally listen to.

I was excited for this record because I hadn’t heard it before. I enjoyed variety of influences, but also thought that it hurt the flow of the album. I came across a bit all over the place. Just when I thought I was gonna hear more of something that I liked, it switched gears on me. Overall I enjoyed it enough to give it a second listen, but the second listen didn’t change my opinion very much.

I really enjoyed the effective use of sampling and sound bites throughout the album. Especially the subtle electronic touches woven into songs rooted in more traditional reggae and Latin sounds. Knowing the story behind the album’s creation adds even more depth. Recording rough takes while traveling through South and Latin America, then compiling and refining them upon returning to France, gives the project a sense of movement and discovery. Much of it was crafted on a laptop, with technical glitches at times pushing the music in unexpected directions. Without that context, the album can feel scattered, but understanding the creative journey, the cohesion and intent truly shine through.

This really made my day. I’ve loved this album a long time and for it to land with me while I’m on hols in Ibiza, the timing was perfect

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

ok

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.

First track is great. Played it on repeat before I listened to the 2nd track first 5 tracks are good the rest is meh

Very chill vibes but I dig the music.

Enjoyable album that blends styles from around the globe. The majority of it sounds Latin American, but there’s an eclectic mix here. Joyful, lively 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!

me gusto mucho! necesita mas escuchadas para entrar y entender bien el mundo de este album, pero a primera escucha me encanto

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.

Really not a genre I vibe with - finding it difficult to listen to a lot of it. Some of it bangs though. The mix of languages is neat, I guess. The sampling is quite cool. Unfortunately, the fact remains that I just don't like this sound. It's only when it strays away from Latin somewhat that I start to enjoy it. Did sometimes find myself wiggling my hips subconsciously. It got rhythm for sure. Fav tracks (or rather, tracks I actually enjoyed somewhat) - Bongo Bong, Mama Call

I am not exactly sure why, but I really like this album a lot. By no means a diehard fan of south american music (though Manu Chao is french), so it's a bit surprising to me. It is a bit of a weird album in some ways. It almost feels like more of a very long song than distinct tracks at times. Melodies from tracks also come back again later in new songs, so it's repeating itself quite a bit. I feel like works both in the favour of the album, and against. On one hand, it feels very cohesive, and on the other hand it feels like a bit of slack to reuse melodies with new lyrics ('Bong Song' and 'Je ne t'aime plus', 'Mama call' and 'La despedida', for example). Speaking of lyrics, they can often times be quite repeating themselves quite a lot throughout the song. Somehow I don't have very big problems with this though, it suits the album somehow. Generally I find almost every "unique song" to be stellar and enjoyable. 'Clandestino' is great, so is 'Bongo song', and probably my favour one, 'Mentira'. Overall this is just a great album. I don't speak portuguese so I don't know what the lyrics are about, but sound wise it's a great cohesive journey that I think is very cool. Easy 5 stars.

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.

OMG. SERIOUSLY?!

Not sure what was going on here, was it brilliant or just allot of weird noise? I did listen to it all though

Soundtrack for a Mexican restaurant 👎

З Ману Чао є два спогади: 1. В вже далекі часи, коли люди ретельно обирали рінгтони, у мого друга стояла Bongo Bong на дзвінку. Не знаю скільки разів я чув початок цієї пісні. 2. Колись був на Сігеті на виступі і трохи знудившись пішли на щось інше на середині сету. Мені завжди здавалося, що ця музика мені мала б більше подобатися, але чомусь не складається.

Якось приємно мені слухати ману чао, можливо через ностальгію. Не знаю що він там зараз, але оці старі альбоми заходять гарно.

Better than I expected, grew on me. Didn’t like the title track or Tijuana but liked the bongo one and a few others. Huge variety in music in this one, every song different.

This was a surprisingly good album!

I feel like I was more impressed by the amount of languages this guy can speak than I was by the music itself. It does get better as it goes along, though, and I like the samples of speeches throughout the album. As a whole it's okay and I agree with the people that say it's mediocre Latin bar music.

73/100

Lattarimeinkiä, multikielellä, sekoitettuna hiphop soundeihin löyhästi mutta kuitenkin.

Day 7 I had never heard any of these songs before or even heard of Manu Chao but absolutely loved this album. First album that’s made me glad to go through this list as it’s one I almost certainly wouldn’t have tried otherwise. Every song sounds different but they all flow really well into each other. Will definitely be going into regular rotation and I’ll be checking out the rest of his discography. Highlights Clandestino Bongo Bong (adored this one!!) La Vie a 2 9/10

This is the type of shit you would hear in Breaking Bad

I like it. I’d give it a 3.5 if I could.

Clandestino by Manu Chao is a chill, worldly mix of reggae, Latin, and folk vibes with catchy tunes

very good interesting sound cool languages cool album

It was cool but I wish the vocal were stronger

It wasnt terrible but i just did not vibe with it at all

I got pretty tired of this.

I liked it, didn't understand the words obv

Light 3. Not my usual fare, but this guy keeps it light enough and fun and changes it up and keeps it creative that it never gets boring!

Generally I like it but parts of it get a bit repetitive for me

It was probably not too bad, but it's not my thing at all.

Loved this one!! Truly enjoyed the change of regusters

It was entertaining.

Un guiso multicultural con un toque de buen rollo.

27/1089 I’ve heard this artist before thanks to Me Gustas Tu, but i can’t place where i heard that originally and it’s driving me crazy. Clandestino is a captivating start and the flow into the second track was so smooth. one of my favourite things to hear in an album the production on Bongo Bong is really infectious and his voice compliments it so much. very Gorillaz and the way it flows into je ne t’aime plus is wild. Mama Call really reminds me of ZABA by Glass Animals which i love. I quite like it having short songs but still a good overall length, it gives it a really exciting pacing and none of the songs grow old before they finish. Welcome to Tijuana was fun but a little too repetitive for me. Malegria is a fun pick up of the pace, the production once again is super catchy and the effects on his vocals are cool and stylish La Despedida almost feels like the precursor to Me Gustas Tu, a very well crafted penultimate song This album was a joy to listen to from start to finish, I will absolutely be returning to it. faves: Bongo Bong, Desaparacido, La Despedida, Malegría, Mama Call least faves: I liked them all but if i had to choose then Minha Galera has to be 5 stars (94/100)

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.

Pleasant busking music

This was a fun listen. Probably wouldn't go back to it often, but very easy and enjoyable listening.

If I can’t understand a word it’s not getting rated high. Damn I feel like a boomer with rap music when I say that

At the point of writing this 1st section I’m just so impressed with the amount of languages this fella knows. Would be good if I knew a western artist that did that but no That gave it a 3 minimum but genuinely I didn’t find it an interesting listen so 3/5

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".

like! 5

It has its moments but just became flat and boring by the end.

Not a fan of this one. The music wasn't interesting enough for me to stay with it through the language difference.

It's Latin, It's a vibe.

Sure. Fun. Great.

Yes, like most of the reviews, I was a bit skeptic seeing a global album but then listened and thoroughly enjoyed

Interesting album. Some fun tracks whilst others felt like I was listening to an episode of Narcos.

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!

A fun album with a great vibe. Lots of upbeat styles to keep it interesting, although I am not sure any track really grabbed me.

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.

I mean fair play for making a multi-lingual album, but really not quite for me, some of the songs were a bit odd and others were downright weird. Nothing terrible to listen to though but not in any hurry to go back and listen to any of them again.

Shit I didn't know they included peak

Spaans gebrabbel

Actually very interesting and decent vibe.

No

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

Coffee shop music I suppose. It was inoffensive, but I just wasn't in the mood for this today.

Dig it! 4

Day576 - its the gems like this that keep me going

BONGO BONG

Liked it!

Nice album

Snelle inhaal review #13: Zijn stem wordt echt na een paar nummers onluisterbaar en volgens mij gaat elk nummer over wiet, wat ik niet driekwartier hoef te horen van een white guy met dreads.

Wel een goeie spaanse sound, maar ik zou het zelf nooit op zetten.

Some pleasant songs

*4.5 Favorites: Clandestino and Bongo Bong and Je ne t'aime plus and Luna y sol As the last of favorites may suggest I really really enjoyed this album.

Cooler than I expected

As a whole it wasn't for me, but it did have some pretty cool moments scattered in.

Nope. Started listening. Didnt like it

Super chill vibes. Loved it a lot. Mentira, Lágrimas de Oro, Luna y sol, Welcome to Tijuaña, Malegría, and La Vie à 2 were my favorites.

I don’t enjoy his voice.

I'm not one for foreign language music, but Manu Chao is great. Excellent voice, and his music is infectious, in a good way.

first listen to this artist. some nice musicians making good melodic music

multilanguage reggae bongo bong

....nah...

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

Do you remember the backpacking trip through Andorra? No? Neither do I. But I ended up with this CD on my backpack, and every time I listen to it I get glimpses of a sultry curly headed young woman and something about the Madeira a little too strong and the weed a little too smooth. That's what this album is. It's this kind of melting pot that doesn't really exist, in between Spanish and French and reggae and pop. The music in the dive bar. My rating: 5/5

Very latin

King of the bongo

Just fun...simple as that...had me shuffling around my office dancing like an excited grandpa wearing in his new slippers. Enjoyed that

Not too bad actually. I do like a bit of Latin music and this is pretty good. Weirdly gave me Breaking Bad vibes with like the Heisenberg song that was in the show. Overall pretty fun and I liked it

Just not my thing. Background music

Man. This is not a style I would listen to often but it is so well executed. Somewhere, probably in the Caribbean or jungle of South American where this is playing, and it literally the best album for that location.

Not heard of Manu Chao before. I enjoyed it a lot.

Just not my thing. I got through the album but nothing really grabbed me.

I actually really enjoyed this much more than I thought i would. Bongo Bong all day long.

Never heard of this guy before, kinda like a reggae / Latin fusion. Was okay as background music, if you were on a beach with a cold one and some palm trees, would have been a nice vibe.

#DÍA 24: 1001 Discos Que Hay Que Escuchar Antes De Morir (English Translation Below) Bueno, bueno, bueno, bueno, bueno, bueno… Qué sorpresa que ha sido para mí este álbum, es fabuloso. Manu Chao es un artista francoespañol del que conocía sin saber, por su famoso single Viva Tu. Aún así, me sorprendió que al fin me saliese un proyecto en español en el desafío, aunque contiene también francés, portugués e inglés, en general me alegra ver un poco de variedad en ese sentido porque estoy seguro de que esto va a ser raro. Me dirigí algo ciego (o sordo) a este disco sin saber qué esperar, miré algo en Wikipedia acerca del estilo y supongo que esperaba canciones sencillas con ritmos latinos con algún toque alternativo. Sin embargo, me choco con este viaje de 16 canciones sencillisimas pero cargadas de poesía y, sobre todo, una coherencia sorprendente pese a realmente ser muy ecléctico. Por encima de esto, Manu Chao conecta las canciones a la perfección, no solo con transiciones sino con motivos que de vez en cuando vuelven a aparecer, como los refranes de Mentira o el estribillo de Luna y Sol haciendo un melancólico vis en Día Luna… Día Pena. Cada tema suma a una imagen general que se va dibujando poco a poco según te adentras, comenzando con el perfecto entrante homónimo, el cual resume todo el álbum y su sentido, cargado de crítica hacia los estereotipos de hispanos y latinoamericanos, lo que también vemos en la alternativa Bongo Bong o Welcome to Tijuana. Además, nos presenta un autorretrato interesante, como alguien solitario y viajero, algo tratado en profundidad en Desaparecido o Mamá Call; síntoma también de no encontrar un destino en la vida, posiblemente un lado más pesimista ante las mentiras del mundo, aunque es un hecho que le puede ser tanto para bajar cabeza (Día luna… Día pena) como para levantar el ánimo de hacer un cambio y buscar un ideal (Luna y sol). Por otro lado el amor también está presente, pero como uno que se quiere olvidar principalmente, aunque Manu Chao no parecer ser capaz como finalmente se revela en La Despedida, pese a mostrar bastante seguridad en ello en Je ne t’aime plus o La vie A 2 (casualmente las dos que están en francés, me pregunto si será algo hecho de forma intencionada como referencia al cine de este idioma en el que es tan típico que se trate el amor). Aún así hay un pequeño sentido de amor, pero principalmente dirigido a las drogas, como el alcohol en Malegría o la marihuana en Minha galera, ambas camufladas como canciones románticas. Finalmente el LP concluye con El viento, un motivo que encarna el carácter del protagonista: todo va y viene, el amor, los problemas, la tristeza, la felicidad, las personas… Quizá estoy sobreinterpretando de sobremanera todo lo que trae este álbum, pero realmente ha estimulado enormemente mi cerebro melómano que se despertó con ganas de coser conceptos. Casi no he tratado aspectos musicales del LP pero en general son impecables, tienen un carácter orgánico que los hace preciosos y unos grooves pequeñitos pero muy pegadizos. A todo esto se le suma un uso magistral de samples para crear una atmósfera única, desde interpolaciones de música latina bien conocida (como La Llorona en Mentira), grabaciones que hizo Manu Chao en sus viajes, una comunicación de los primeros viajes al espacio de la Unión Soviética, hasta un jodido extracto de Garfield… Es tan extraño pero a la vez lo siento tan claro todo cuando lo escucho, tengo ganas de seguir escuchándolo de principio a fin porque es una experiencia sin igual. Favoritas: Clandestino, Desaparecido, Bongo Bong, Je ne t’aime plus, Mentira, Lágrimas de Oro, Mamá Call, Luna y Sol, Día Luna… Día Pena, Malegría, La Vie A 2, Minha galera, La despedida, El viento Menos favorita: Welcome to Tijuana (principalmente porque las vocals tan graves de sapo me incomodan, pero ignorando eso es buen tema) #DAY 24: 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die Well, well, well, well, well, well… What a surprise this album has been for me—it’s fabulous. Manu Chao is a French-Spanish artist I knew without realizing it, thanks to his famous single Viva Tu. Even so, I was surprised that I finally got a Spanish-language project in this challenge—although it also includes French, Portuguese, and English. Overall, I’m glad to see a bit of variety in that sense, because I’m sure this is going to be an uncommon occasion. I went into this album somewhat blind (or deaf), not knowing what to expect. I skimmed Wikipedia for a bit about the style, and I suppose I was expecting simple songs with Latin rhythms and maybe some alternative touches. However, I was hit with this journey of 16 incredibly simple songs, yet loaded with poetry and, above all, a surprising sense of coherence—despite being truly eclectic. On top of that, Manu Chao connects the songs perfectly, not only with transitions but with recurring motifs that reappear from time to time, such as the refrains from Mentira or the chorus from Luna y Sol making a melancholic reappearance in Día Luna… Día Pena. Each track contributes to a bigger picture that gradually takes shape as you dive in, starting with the perfect self-titled opener, which summarizes the whole album and its meaning, full of criticism towards stereotypes of Hispanics and Latin Americans—a theme we also see in the alternative-flavored Bongo Bong or Welcome to Tijuana. He also offers an interesting self-portrait—as a solitary, traveling figure—something explored in depth in Desaparecido or Mamá Call. This also hints at a lack of direction in life, possibly a more pessimistic view in the face of the world’s lies, though it can lead either to bowing one’s head (Día Luna… Día Pena) or to lifting one’s spirits to make a change and chase an ideal (Luna y Sol). On the other hand, love is also present, but mostly as something to forget—though Manu Chao doesn’t seem capable of doing so, as is finally revealed in La Despedida, despite showing quite a bit of confidence in Je ne t’aime plus or La vie A 2 (coincidentally, both in French—makes me wonder if this was intentional, as a nod to French cinema where love is such a typical theme). There’s also a small sense of affection here, but directed mostly toward drugs, such as alcohol in Malegría or marijuana in Minha Galera—both disguised as romantic songs. The LP finally closes with El Viento (The Wind), a motif that encapsulates the protagonist’s character: everything comes and goes—love, problems, sadness, happiness, people… Maybe I’m overinterpreting everything this album brings, but it has truly fired up my music-loving brain, which woke up eager to stitch concepts together. I’ve barely touched on the musical aspects of the LP, but overall they’re impeccable, with an organic quality that makes them beautiful and some tiny but incredibly catchy grooves. To all of this, add a masterful use of samples to create an unique atmosphere—from interpolations of well-known Latin music (La Llorona in Mentira), to recordings Manu Chao made during his travels, to communications from the first Soviet Union space missions, to a freaking Garfield excerpt… It’s so strange, yet it all feels so clear when I listen. I can’t wait to keep playing it from start to finish, because it’s an experience like no other. Favorites: Clandestino, Desaparecido, Bongo Bong, Je ne t’aime plus, Mentira, Lágrimas de Oro, Mamá Call, Luna y Sol, Día Luna… Día Pena, Malegría, La Vie A 2, Minha galera, La despedida, El viento Least Favorite: Welcome to Tijuana (just because of the toad-like voice, otherwise it's a great tune)

OK pour le côté dépouillé, mais un peu superficiel à mon goût

Fun, relaxing type of record. Makes me want to get drunk on wine

4.5/5

A hotch pot of styles, and too many songs, that didn't hold my interest. Two stars. Would I listen to this album again? No. Would I buy this album? No. 1 "Clandestino" - 2 Stars 2 "Desaparecido" - 2 Stars 3 "Bongo Bong" - 2 Stars 4 "Je ne t'aime plus" - 1 Stars 5 "Mentira..." - Nice riff. - 3 Stars 6 "Lágrimas de Oro" - 2 Stars 7 "Mama Call" - Catchy. - 3 Stars 8 "Luna y Sol" - Up tempo. Nice horns. - 3 Stars 9 "Por el Suelo" - 2 Stars 10 "Welcome to Tijuana" - 2 Stars 11 "Día Luna... Día Pena" - 2 Stars 12 "Malegría" - 2 Stars 13 "La vie à 2" - 2 Stars 14 "Minha Galera" - 3 Stars 15 "La Despedida" - 3 Stars 16 "El Viento" - 3 Stars Total - 37 Average - 2.31

A nice departure from largely English language albums that was fun and lively

a classic!

I had high expectations but they weren't met

Started OK but by the end it was a 2

¡Qué sorpresa tan divertida! Le di una oportunidad y me alegro de haberlo hecho.

Pretty friggen good

i wish i liked this one more. i think it's an interesting concept. a fusion of many different musics from all around the world, in a handful of different languages. unfortunately for me, most of the songs were kind of boring at best, and annoying to me at worst. manu chao's voice is a bit nasally and starts to be grating sometimes for me. also some of these sounds sound like weird carnival music, at times, which is not my vibe! i really do wish i liked this one better, as i think the concept is cool. but unfortunately, not my thing.

Nice vibes

Not bad, it was a nice mix up from what I typically listen to.

It’s ok but I wouldn’t visit it again. Not music I like to listen to.

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

Fuck this restaurant music

Front loaded with some bangers. Fizzled out in the back half for me.

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.

Solid album!

It's been ages since I listened to this. Nearly skipped that, but the whole album just works

The Layers… Another album from my childhood! I definitely know Esperanza better but all the things I think the later albums build on is here in glory.

There is something comforting and enjoyable about this music. Though I couldn't understand a single word on this album, it conveys a feeling of being in another time and place. An easy-going listen if you want to turn your brain off, sip a cold drink and laze in the hot hot sun. Not forever, just for now.

yeah idk at the beginning it was nice but then the songs started to get more and more annoying

Fun album. I felt like Manu Chao doesn't take himself too seriously, and I like that. A lot of albums come off as too pretentious and too serious, but this one was a bit laid back, but still had a bunch of interesting bits. I was also sent for a trip when I thought this album was going to be all in Spanish and then started hearing French.

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

Not a fan of most Latin music but this was amazing. Songs like La Vie, Mama Call, and Bongo Bong totally redefined what Latin music could be.

That was a lot of fun. The obvious single track I had heard before in a mashup with the prodigy.

Boring, predictable chord progressions. A real snooze.

A great album. Fun, interesting that it was recorded on a laptop in various locations.

Nice enough. It’s the sort of album you can smell

First time I have heard of Manu. He's quite talented!

Nice and chill. Judging by his imagery and the Wikipedia description there’s a political message but I don’t speak Spanish so I can’t comment on how he delivered the message. Bongo bong sounds like a Gorillaz song.

It was fine? Chill? Spanish/French reggae... with some sort of digital beats? The songs really blended together in a nice way. It just had a nice chill vibe. But didn't really stick with me. I think i preferred the songs that were not in english. The bongo song did not impress me. I liked not knowing what he was saying. I think he's pro Marijuana? I gathered that from the Spanish. I bet he's happy with the legalization movements. I hope he's doing well. He seems like a nice chill individual, who made a perfectly fine album. A real 2.5 album. But i'll bump it to 3 for the vibes.

Fun

The only album...

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.

This wasn't my thing and nothing here was good enough to make me want to listen to a whole song. Pass.

Bit different but ok.

It's great, but half an hour would have been better. Favorite song: Luna y Sol

WELCOME TO TIJUANA; TEQUILA, SEXO MARIJUANA! du du du duuu. ... :D <3 Fun, and brings back childhood memories with cousin, but not mind blowing.

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.

Kinda fun kinda repetitive. 5/10

Just a fun album to listen to, simple and playful.

I'd never heard of Manu Chao so wasn't sure what to expect. A pleasant surprise and an enjoyable listen. Favorites: Je ne t'aime plus, Mentira, Would I listen to it again: Yes

Not my style.

Interesting but not something I would listen to by choice

Interesting and lightly entertaining - not horrible.

I enjoyed this album even though my Spanish and French are almost non existent. Lots of great music and singing over a well produced album.

Not a bad album, just not something I'd listen to again. It's rare that a world music album hits me, and this one didn't.

That was a really long 40 minutes.

6/6/25. Interesting album, a sound and genre I'm admittedly not familiar with. Was cool that there were songs in different languages, just thought the feel throughout was too similar. Just okay to my ear, perhaps will need a few listens.

I want to say, "It joins tequila and tacos, as one of my favorite things from Mexico." But the dude is from Paris.

Love this album. This one has been on occasional rotation in my house for decades.

Not a fan of such music but the album was ok The description was more interesting than the album itself though. Fav tracks: bongo bong, mama call

Fun album

Enjoyable chill reggae folk album in Spanish

Didn't get a word of it!

I have never heard this guy, but he is quite good.

Fine for what it is, just not my thing. Some of the elements are definitely not for me.

it is pretty interesting because of the languages.

********** stars would be more appropriate. ;-)

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Negative

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

Muey bueno

Nice, chill, easy listening music. Reminds me of the summer me and Lui travelled around BC in my little red truck.

This sounded nice enough but since it was mostly in Spanish I didn't get much out of it.

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.

A Latin inspired album by a French guy. I’m sure there is some story about the most insane story whilst this album was playing, because the vibes are immaculate nom. Would love more live I think.

Just a good vibes Latin album. The reggae vibes mixed with the catchy music were cool. Also, props to him singing in three languages.

2 out of 5. I respect this effort, just ain't for me.

It sound like a mix of different global music and at times sound like the Gorillaz style of singing.

It was very interesting in the first half, but I really started to not enjoy it as much in the second one. Notable, but nothing more than that.

Clandestino — це перший сольний альбом Manu Chao після участі у ска-панк/даб гурті Mano Negra. Перед тим як ознайомитись з Manu Chao, я ознайомився з попереднім проєктом і залишився задоволеним. Поки я послухав лише альбом Casa Babylon (1994), і він вразив мене своєю еклектикою - тут ви зможете знайти не тільки вищезгадані ска-панк та даб, але також регі та хіп-хоп, що поєднуються у психоделічний коктейлі із впливами якихось трайбл мотивів. І коли я перейшов до цієї дебютної сольної роботи, то здивувався скільки пісень я насправді вже чув з цього альбому раніше (наприклад, Bongo Bong), але ніколи не звертав уваги на виконавця. Загалом, альбом мені сподобався, хоча і не подарував вау-ефекту. Музично він дуже легкий, чіловий та сповнений латиноамериканськими мотивами - з гітарою, трубами, перкусією та записаними звуками міста. Регі, ска, сальса — все змішано дуже природно, ритми розгойдують, а вокал Чао все це гарно об'єднує. Але самі мотиви тут доволі репертативні й часто повторюються в різних треках. І якщо в рамках одного треку - це може працювати, створюючи "медитативний транс", то в рамках альбому - чим далі, тим більше наганяє нудьги. На ньому підіймаються різні проблеми імміграції (переважно нелегальної), й не зважаючи на те, що для виконавця багато питань були доволі особистими та важкими - пісні, все-одно, подаються у легкій, розслабленій та ненав’язливій манері, наче сидиш ввечері з друзями, і кожен розповідає якусь свою історію з минулого. Bongo Bong, Je Ne T’Aime Plus, Welcome To Tijuana — кожна з цих пісень розповідає історії розлуки, туги й розгубленості, але завдяки "легким аранжуванням" вони сприймаються зовсім іншими — світлішими й теплішими. У цьому альбомі Чао співає переважно іспанською, але трапляється французька, португальська й англійська — завдяки чому історії набувають іншого колориту й відчуваються, що вони про кожен куточок світу. Це дуже атмосферний запис, який приємно ввімкнути ввечері, поки розслабляєшся, розмірковуєш про життя, а музика ненав’язливо створює правильний настрій. Ну ще він трохи допоміг мені відволіктися від обстрілів сьогоднішньої ночі та "розвантажити голову", за що йому красно дякую.

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

pretty good i guess

Much better than I thought. Rhythym and beat were great, and lyrics were catchy.

super slay but difficult to understand at some parts… claro.

always a good time

Very enjoyable musically. I rarely listen to World music and found this a fun experience.

He started losing me me when he started doing his English rap style on the third track. Other than that... it's ok.

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).

Not really sure what it is I’m listening to? Some sort of French Hip-Hop, cuban, acid-reggae mash-up. If you’re into that then fair enough. I don’t think I need to hear it again. 2 stars for creativity. 2/5

я ахуел от того, что пару треков отсюда я даже знаю.

ooo guauuuuuu papi bisous bisous x ouahhhh mon cha 3

I liked this more than the cover would lead me to believe I would. Interesting mix of styles and seamless integration of found music. Will revisit.

I was first introduced to Manu Chao through a Bassnectar remix of "Bongo Bong" when I was in college. Lots off variety and in Spanish, French, and English. The album is supremely pleasant which allows for re-listens in most settings and situations, though at times it gets a little too chill.

þetta er frekar skemmtilegt. mikið af alls kyns stefnum blandað saman í bragðmikinn graut. held ég gefi þessa aðra umferð. 3,5.

pristojno, al postane zamorno jbg

i don't feel like taking notes sorry. it was okay

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!

Lively cartoon carnival music. Goes on a bit, but I admire his chutzpah. Dort of like that lifeless Buena Vista Social Club album on 3X speed.

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!

I was introduced to Manu Chao by my Spanish teacher, and enjoy his music. I'll check out more

Incredibly fun but not a lot I would take away from it.

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.

3.5

Thank you for sharing

Not bad. Pretty good. A bit same same at times.

I was expecting a Ricky Martin-style Latin pop party, but Clandestino had other plans. It is lo-fi, synth heavy, and under-produced. And then it gets weird... feeling at times like a kazoo solo at a funeral. Manu Chao is definitely doing his own thing here. I did like some tracks—“Luna y Sol,” “Día Luna, Día Pena,” and “Lágrimas de Oro” which all have a folky quality that reminded me of bossa nova and bolero. But then its like a manic street jester shows up with “Bongo Bong,” (that ironically has no bongos) “Mama Call,” and “La Despedida”—which I can absolutely live without.

Interesting listen. I like the mix of languages as well as the well constructed energy of each song. Not something I normally would’ve sought out on my own, but glad I got to listen.

This album has very good vibes. An above average non-English album for me. Almost got to 3 stars, but it feels very same-y as it goes on. Not a ton of range.

fun!

Suprisingsly catchy and good. a grower

Different. Was quite nice. Don’t know whether not understanding the lyrics means makes it more likely it’ll only be background music. It was perfectly acceptable background music

Tropico?

The music is ok.How can a person rate it if there isn’t anything else known to rate it against?

“Bongo Bong” makes me say ‘Sure, I know Manu Chao’ but I don’t, I see now. Not being a fan of the syncopated rhythm of reggae style guitar work, I found most of the rest of this album repetitive and hard to like.

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.

Not my style but, three different languages is impressive as hell.

This has to be regsrded as a top 10 album in latin american music history. Manu is the greatest latin artist. Well educated, well versed, well travelled, knowledge on all music of all countries, dominates and sings in 3 languages. Social justice and political themes in reggae, punk, ballard, peruvian and equatorian local music. Just one of the best albums ever.

Cool latin summer feeling

Классный альбом, особенно king of bongo

Pretty fun listen if a bit forgettable. Big surprise that this guy turned out to be from France and not Latin America. I liked everything on here, but this isn't really my type of music. Still, can't deny that it's catchy, well-made and straddles the line between poppy and interesting pretty well.

While I don't know a single word being sung the vibes are great. Definitely something I would have on in the background in the summer.

An unexpectedly enjoyable bop along.

A few really fun songs (Bongo Bong and Mentira) but didn't click with me as an album

Not for me, it was fine but I don't think I'd choose to listen to it again

Enjoyable

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.

Chill af spanish reggae

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.

Very international vibe with Spanish, French and English. Some of it felt Caribbean, some like Enrique Iglesias, though that might have been the Spanish.

I fell asleep midway through listening to this album and doing homework, but it's nice sounding. kind of what you imagine when you think of spanish music

Partially listened to in Barcelona. Maybe the vibes added an extra star

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

Never heard of this artist, then again I never went to Padre Island for spring break.

The cover alone gave the vibe of what this would sound like and it didn't disappoint. Despite not actively listening to this genre of music, this was easily enjoyable. Wished I was on holiday listening to it for real. Good vibes

At last something from a non-English country ! (...Does music exist beyond USA/UK ?) Ok record, it had a big impact in its time, late 90's in Europe, and I guess also in South America

¿Quieres café, mi vida? (Sí) ¡Pues, sírvetelo!

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.

Zo vrolijk, origineel, aanstekelijk!

This was a fun listen. It was an interesting mix of cultures and languages. Despite not understanding the various languages, I got the references and enjoyed hearing more about the rest of the world.

pleasant but a bit boring