Reviews (page 5 of 8)
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.
Neat stuff
Another boring album, the instrumentation is kinda cool but really doesn't do much..This guy has quite a good voice though.
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.
Not bad. I don't understand any of the lyrics but Minha galera sounded nice.
This was enjoyable
Nice easy listening.
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.
ok
First track is great. Played it on repeat before I listened to the 2nd track first 5 tracks are good the rest is meh
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.
me gusto mucho! necesita mas escuchadas para entrar y entender bien el mundo de este album, pero a primera escucha me encanto
Not sure what was going on here, was it brilliant or just allot of weird noise? I did listen to it all though
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.
Lattarimeinkiä, multikielellä, sekoitettuna hiphop soundeihin löyhästi mutta kuitenkin.
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
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
Un guiso multicultural con un toque de buen rollo.
Pleasant busking music
It's Latin, It's a vibe.
Interesting album. Some fun tracks whilst others felt like I was listening to an episode of Narcos.
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.
Actually very interesting and decent vibe.
Some pleasant songs
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'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
Very latin
King of the bongo
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
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.
OK pour le côté dépouillé, mais un peu superficiel à mon goût
A nice departure from largely English language albums that was fun and lively
I had high expectations but they weren't met
Front loaded with some bangers. Fizzled out in the back half for me.
Solid album!
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.
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.
Nice enough. It’s the sort of album you can smell
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.
Bit different but ok.
WELCOME TO TIJUANA; TEQUILA, SEXO MARIJUANA! du du du duuu. ... :D <3 Fun, and brings back childhood memories with cousin, but not mind blowing.
Kinda fun kinda repetitive. 5/10
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
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.
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
Didn't get a word of it!
it is pretty interesting because of the languages.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Muey bueno
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.
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.
pretty good i guess
super slay but difficult to understand at some parts… claro.
He started losing me me when he started doing his English rap style on the third track. Other than that... it's ok.
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.
i don't feel like taking notes sorry. it was okay
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.
Incredibly fun but not a lot I would take away from it.
3.5
Not bad. Pretty good. A bit same same at times.
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.
fun!
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?
“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.
Not my style but, three different languages is impressive as hell.
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.
Enjoyable
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
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
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
I appreciated reading the story behind this one, especially the anecdote about the cow he met in a Rio favela that gave him a new sense of purpose. It gave me a good context to appreciate the music even more. It wasn't enough to score a 4 but it's on the high side of 3. I respect Clandestino.
As I listened to this the sun was shining through my window & this record was perfect for my mood today & uplifted me while working. Very much enjoyed it & it’s not something I’d choose to listen to ordinarily.
fun! didn’t listen to the full thing but liked the sound
Cool vibe but won’t return
- ganz unterhaltsam, ging echt fix rum - insgesamt nicht die Musik, die ich super oft hören kann, aber mal als kleiner Mood Booster im Hintergrund funktioniert es ganz gut
Nice change of pace, but I can't say I loved it.
Fine
I always want to like these world albums but it’s hard when most of the songs are in foreign languages. I liked some of the music. But nothing really was great for me.
started off good. simple and catchy but faield to keep my interest at the halfway through
Kinda campy. Interesting, but mid.
Although I can't understand anything, the album seems to be somewhat ok, it can be rather samey and they really love using that one laser sound effect. low 3/5
Rating: 3.5/5 Favourite Track: Mentira Honourable Mentions: je ne t'aime plus, Desaparecido, Mama Call, Bongo Bong Manu Chao is the Bob Marley of Latin Pop Mixing Portuguese, English, French, and Spanish together, Clandestino (a term for undocumented immigrants) is an album that expresses both frustration at the state of the world and compassion for the people in it. This is Manu Chao's first album after his departure from his band; recorded using a small laptop as he travelled throughout the world, busking on the streets. Overall, this album is cohesive and polished. I like the acoustic, stripped down approach to the instrumentation with the inclusion of layered samples and overdubbed vocals. Some of the tracks lacked distinction from the other ones, but overall this was a very chill and, at times, upbeat listen. Hear him when he comes, he's the king of Bongo B).
I quite enjoy Manu Chao
3.3 interesting dude and pretty good album. I listened to the Robbie Williams take on bongo bongo. It's the musical version of the American version of the movie old boy.
Lots of goofy fun personality all over this record. Bong bong or whatever it is being really weird and kitschy.
It took a few songs to get into it, but I enjoyed listening to this one. Probably closer to 3.5.
-damn how many languages, how many fusion genres… I have to hand it to this guy -the end result of this bravery? a record that is a liiiittle bit overambitious and kitschy maybe. but it has some great highlights. I will always say yes to anything involving Latin American fusion and Brazilian cuica drums -god I cannot fucking wait for summer -Favorites are Luna y Sol and Malegria
Really good enjoyed it
good easy listen. I enjoyed it. I dont know how much I would go back and casually listen though.
A unique album, bouncing between languages and vibes while staying rooted in a laid-back Latin-reggae sound. I really enjoyed the continent-hopping feel of this, and it helps that it’s a fun listen. Best song: Desaparecido
Not really ground breaking but nice to listen to.
Wikipedia billed this as a reggae album, but it's really not. I caught glimpses of the Gorillaz in here, but - for the most part - it's its own thing. Impressive that the songs are in different languages with different vibes. It's an interesting album for sure.
Loved this, just had a niggle that after the bongo song, that catchy lock seemed to be quietly under every track after.
6/10 - There were some interesting songs. One of them he was just welcoming me to Tijuana and it was nice. I do not think I will relisten.
It was fine. Got pretty boring after a while
Manu Chao reallytakes me back to the late 90s and school. World music. Part of every NMS hangout. Lovely on a summer evening. Spanish-French guy who travelled through South America. Chill.
started to get tiresome by the end but some cool stuff in here
Y'know, I dug the vibe, but there weren't really any specific songs that stood out to me. I liked the way various elements came together - felt patchwork (in a good way) at times.
Decently fun multilingual world music, but nothing really grabbed me
I really like the two popular tracks: Clandestino and Bongo bong. I'm always a sucker for harmonies and I like the guitar sound. If this album also had "Me gustas tu" that would push it into 4-star territory for me. Interesting to learn that the band originated in France but this album is primarily in Spanish, and they sometimes sing in other languages too.
Sonically varied and interesting enough to make this a strong 3, even as the quality of his singing occasionally left me feeling like I was listening to a children's album (until he invariably began sining about marijuana).
His nasal voice starts to grate over the course of a too-long album but it's mostly unobjectionable.
Een album vol nummers waarbij je Chris Zegers met z'n zonnige overhemd een stukje te ver open lekker breeduit ziet lachen naar locals tijdens de opnames voor 3 op Reis, terwijl hij hem even lekker uit de broek laat hangen op kosten van de Publieke. Chris Zegers relaxed op een scootertje. Chris Zegers mijmerend op een strandje. Chris Zegers plechtig in een kerkje. Chris Zegers dankbaar in een hutje met een bar. Chris Zegers die joviaal een bal trapt met een kindje, waarbij ze laten zien dat je samen gewoon plezier kunt maken door middel van de taal van sport en spel, ondanks de taalbarrière. Een soort Spaanse en Portugese reggae met heel af en toe een stukje Engels, gemaakt door een Fransman. Regelmatig zo'n stukje radio/televisieopname ergens in het nummer verwerkt en af en toe even een 8bit geluidseffect van de lokale gokautomaat of iets dergelijks. Verder een hele hoop herhaling, om je te hypnotiseren en je ietwat te vertragen tot het tempo van het eiland. En uiteraard kan de oplettende luisteraar een quica (de Braziliaanse wrijftrom) ontdekken. Ik krijg enorm zin om dictatortje te spelen, want het doet allemaal denken aan het overwegend zonnige eiland van de game 'Tropico' waar je zelf als een soort Chris Zegers de bevolking onder de duim moet zien te krijgen. Ik vind dit best leuk, maar een 4 gaat me net iets te ver. Bongo Bong kennen we, de andere grote hit staat niet op dit album. Een 3,5 was perfect op z'n plaats geweest, maar bij gebrek aan halve sterren moet ik op de 3 drukken.
Nice vibe, cool mix of languages. This genre isn't really my thing but it's very pleasant background music and makes you want to tap a foot along with it
Spanish but relaxing
Quite good fun.
Listened in high school and learned some songs in Spanish class. Good stuff. Nothing amazing for me, but enjoyable
Surf club memories
Pretty groovy and fun. I had the pleasure of seeing these guys play right before rage against the machine at Coachella '07. The crowd was going bonkers!
Spanish, French, and English vocals. Varies a lot, and it's all good.
i like it, but i don't see what so crazy about it. enjoyable but i don't think its a must listen tbh the concept for the album is awesome. super ahead of its time for 1998. actually really impressive because this does not feel like music recorded on a probably shitty laptop in the late 90s. actually listening to that with that in mind makes me like this album a whole lot more tbh, ignore the beginning of this review this album is cool af
Fine. Not quite my thing. Pretty sure I heard this playing in the background at a Borders Books & Music way back when.
This was a nice surprise, something I thought I didn’t know, but I recognized at least one of these songs. Might not run right out to check out more, but I was pleasantly surprised.
Equally confused and impressed by this French/Spanish/English quasi reggae album. Great in the background but not something I'm seeking out.
Annoying, but not that annoying, just kind of unimpressed as a whole. Sorry, Manu, you seem nice. 3/5
It was good. Not my jams, but good. My Spanish is good enough to understand 1/2 the song lyrics which puts me in a weird place.
Took me a bit to get into
I don't really have a whole lot to say about this. It's a fun album with some fun songs. I don't think it's particularly groundbreaking or even especially notable. *shrug*
Clandestino seems like a fun and vibrant listen, with its eclectic rhythms and global influences. However, not understanding the lyrics makes it hard to fully connect with. It’s possible I’d enjoy this more if I could understand the lyrics.
Solid listen. Different than I normally listen too, which was refreshing.
One of the more unique ones I’ve heard in a while. I liked the vibe.
Good vibes but not for me
Diversity in this list is good. More of this
Lurte på hvor jeg hadde hørt stemmen hans før, en film eller serie? Nei, Fifa. Stemmen hans hadde passet veldig bra i en tidlig 2000-tallet animert film om en rotte.
Muito bom
I liked this one. They're pretty repetitive but I like the backing track he reuses. I will probably only revisit one or two of these tracks but I'm glad I got to hear it! 3/3.5
I almost really loved this album, but I found it hard to get past Manu Chao’s vocals. Musically, I found it very interesting. A lot of genre hopping, combinations of different styles and cultures. If it were a different singer or all instrumentals it’d likely get a higher rating. Still enjoyable nonetheless.
I know this artist. Never really listened to it. I do know the style. I dig this album.
its good, upbeat and fun, but not something that I am really into. I would be dancing if this came on in the right environment, but I am not going to listen to it at home
Interesting listen with multiple different languages, nevertheless no track really grabbed my attention as special.
Not for me
Known and liked the track 'Bongo Bong' for year. Cool record in general, but nothing really jumped out as outstanding. Just a nice chill record.
I enjoyed this album for it unique content and chill. I recognise Bongo Bong and Je ne t'aime plus from the Robbie Williams album ‘Rudebox’, an album that will definitely not be on this list. This is an album I could imagine popping on occasionally, just for a change. An excellent addition to this challenge.
Pretty meh. Not bad. Just not really my taste either.
A pleasant listen, a charming time capsule of a 90s vision of globalisation, world music and polyglot vibes-based social commentary. The album flows well from track to track. Spanish textbook, Erasmus-core.
Good for background music
Some of the tracks are pretty catchy, others are repetitive.
A bit of an odd record. Bongo Bong is the standout, I quite like it but it also feels like a novelty song. Not really sure how to feel about this record overall 3.1/5
Well that is just pleasant, don’t speak Spanish but it is a language that just sounds musical. On holiday today and this sounds just nice.
5/10 Not for me, but I don't hate it
Manu chou Clandestino Probably settle between a high 3 and a 4. Bongo Bong -> Je ne t'aime pe, is an unbelievably good transition and such a great back to back set of songs
cool vibes, gotta be in the right mood to put this on though
拉丁永远这么动听
I wish I understood it, but the the sound wasn’t bad.
This was one of the most watered down Latin Music albums I’ve heard. While not 100% in Spanish, most of the album sounds like it was made to suit a white music critic’s palate. So it makes sense that the same Rolling Stone that left out Prince from the greatest guitarists of all time, think this is one of the Top 500 albums of all time. It’s not bad, but there is so much better Latin music out there to enjoy.
There are a couple of good tracks on this album, but the remaining songs seem canned.
After the first two songs, which are very nice and have an excellent upbeat, the album just falls into a hole of the same reggae-inspired songs without much originality, even with good lyric work. It's not something to be disliked, but it probably is also something not to be remembered.
This wasn’t bad. I want to be exposed to albums I haven’t heard before and this album meets that criteria. I liked “Bongo Bong” quite a bit. Not really my thing overall, but I’m glad to have heard it. However, the guy looks like the drummer from Blink-182 if he lost a bet that required him to wear the stupidest clothes in the world.
I've always found Manu Chao pleasant on the ears, but feels a bit like empty calories. His albums don't have much variation, so not great for anything but background music
I really like latino music. The beats and the energy overriide any pressing need to understand the language. It is kinda like techno where the lyrics, if there are any, are often too distorted to quite tell what they are saying. Yet still, the energy -- the love -- remains. Now there is nothing directly wrong or fundamentally missing from Manu Chau but for some reason I never stopped and held my breath or wanted to jump up and dance while listening. Not that I need to have this to enjoy an album, but with latino music I like to envision dancing around in a Carmen like gypsy dress and being sensuous. It is like that feeling of being swept away that latino music gives me often. So with that kind of not as present... Yeah, it was OK.
I judged this book by its cover… and I’m pleasantly surprised. This album was enjoyable to listen to. Spanish, English and French all wrapped up into this package. There’s even some retro video game sound fix mixed in. Am I seeking out more Manu Chao? Probably not. Was this a waste of my time? Not at all,it was a fun listen!
Ok album, was prolly good tho
I enjoyed way more than I was expecting. Quite interesting mix genres, both traditional and contemporary. Key tracks: Clandestino Desaparecido Bongo Bong / Je Ne T'Aime Plus
not totally my thing but very enjoyable, some very nostalgic bangers in there
This sounds like I recorded it.
I found his “South American” accent super annoying. Otherwise this is fairly bland and inoffensive music, but nothing that connects with me.
This was a bit of a surprise. A nice and easy listen. Sure, there are some tracks I didn’t care for but overall a good listen.
This was some neat vibes. I wasn't expecting French out of nowhere.
This is another one of those ones I would probably put on in the background to just chill/vibe to. It was an interesting listen and I did not mind the time at all spent listening to it. I thought the mix of languages was cool. However it wasn't really a love for me somehow. I can't put a finger on why but it felt just a little to the left of something I would be into more. Still, definitely didn't dislike it so it's a 3* for me.
An interesting listen 3/5
#334. Is this bad? It is not. Do I want to listen to it? I do not. 3/5: fine
Fun album. I wish I could understand the languages, as after reading about him it seems like he’d have some interesting things to say. Some infectious grooves that bring the energy (sometimes party energy, sometimes moshy energy with lighter instruments), and some more laid back tunes (somewhat reggae ish). Respectable musicianship that serves the song but isn’t flashy, with particularly prominent bass and acoustic guitar. But overall not leaving a huge impact on me.
Favorite Track: Clandestino
I enjoyed a lot of this. Pretty fun listen. I can’t say I loved any individual track. But I also was never bored. 3.5/5
This album was interesting to say the least. The different languages being spoken on this was certainly impressive and unique but it was something that I did not care for at all. The vocals as well were a bit annoying at times and laughable. But it wasn't all bad, there were plenty of decent and catchy songs throughout the album. The listening experience was more enjoyable than the actual album itself. Best - Clandestino, Bongo Bong, Mentira, and La Despedida Worst - Lágrimas de Oro, and Welcome to Tijuana 2.50-2.75/5
Great Latino jams, if that’s what you’re looking for!
The language barrier makes this a little tricky to rate. That aside it is a solid album with a cool vibe.
I expected nothing but got so much more out of it than that! I really enjoyed some of the infectious Latin beats.
This was much better than the previous Spanish album but still didn’t really stand out as very special.
It was ok. 2.5
Better than expected.
Jolly, easy to listen to, not really my thing
This one's alright. It's certainly better than the last non-English album I got (fuck you Koffi Olomide). Is it the best one I've gotten? No. I definitely liked the albums from groups like Sigur Rós and Os Mutantes more. However, I can certainly see quite a bit of value in Clandestino, even if it's not really my thing personally. One interesting thing about this album in comparison to others is that different songs are in different languages. Most are in Spanish, but some of them are in French, Brazilian Portuguese, and even English! The writing is decent from what I can tell. It's got some good variety. The singing is pretty interesting. It's kind of Sgt. Pepper's-esque in a way. The sound is pleasant. It doesn't go on for too long, and none of the songs do either. It's pretty fun. Overall, this is a decent album that I can see the appeal of. 3/5.
I liked the street recorded sounds and they fit in well with the songs. I could not understand that much because of the language difference. I did like the music and his voice for much of the album. I probably would not seek this again to listen, though it was better than most albums for sure. Gets a 3, but really a 3.5 if I could.
This week has been nothing but mediocre albums that I could’ve died having been content never having heard. His voice was good but I didn’t understand very much at all due to my Spanish not being muy bueno. The one song in English I didn’t like it didn’t flow at all. I would give this a 3.5 if I could but I can’t so it gets a tres.
it was a decent listen, but would I ever seek it out again? no. a solid "meh"
Nothing special.
Not for me
I liked, but I can't listen to foreign language music regularly
Completely forgot about this album. When I was in high school, so many of my friends were obsessed with the track "Bongo Bong" to the point that it became more of a novelty than anything else. The album itself is clever, with an almost seamless transition between every song across the album with exception of a few pointed stops. As a whole, it definitely feels like it was written to be a singular project more than a collection of songs thrown together. Overall, I enjoyed it, even if I'm not likely to come back to it for another listen anytime soon. The immediate nostalgia upon hearing "Bongo Bong" was a trip though, right back to my freshman year of HS. A strong 3/5
Short and ridiculously catchy this is a great listen from genres far from my comfort zone. Strong 3, maybe 3.5 but rounding down.
Would put on during dinner with my parents.
Spanish (etc) reggae. Quite enjoyable. Reminds me of Cat Empire.
ehh, I can take it or leave it.
Was pleseantly surprised with this. I can get jiggy with this one.
This thing is impressive just from a language perspective. Manu's family was Spanish, they fled to France to avoid Franco's dictatorship (Wikipedia says his grandfather had been sentenced to death) and he seems to have a lot of influences from both cultures. There are songs on here in Spanish, French, Portuguese, and English, it's quite the achievement. The downside for me is that I only speak English, and only like 1.5 songs are in English, so I'm mostly rating on the vibes and not the lyrics. I generally enjoyed the album overall, it has this Spanish-rock thing going on, with a bit of a reggae flair. It's actually a bit of a unique sound, I don't think I've heard a ton like it. I did think it got off to a very hot start with four strong songs at the beginning, and then fell off a bit from there. The rest wasn't bad or anything, just a little less interesting. Overall a great example of something I never would have come across without this project that I'm glad I heard, even if it's not my favorite thing ever. Favorite song: Bongo Bong Other: Clandestino, Desaparecido, Bongo Bong, Je ne t'aime plus, Mama Call, Minha galera 6/14/24
Nice and recognizable sound.
Not for me but I see they appeal.
Alright, really. I'm actually in Spain so I thought it would be evocative in some way but really just sorta fine, passed me by a little bit.
king of the bongoooo
mentre ascoltavo Clandestino mi sembrava di conoscerla già, ma non capivo perchè. poi, l'illuminazione. quando nel 2012 c'è stato il concerto Italia loves Emilia post terremoto, Fiorella Mannoia e Jovanotti hanno fatto una cover di esattamente questa canzone. allucinante. la tromba sotto Welcome to Tijuana penso sia uno dei motivetti più utilizzati della storia, e comunque "welcome to tijuana, tequila sexo marijuana". genio. in generale, è scorrevole e piacevole, mi aspettavo che fosse un uno ma mi sono dovuta ricredere!
This reminds me of a band called the Cat Empire, but not as fun. I can see this working in the right circumstances, but it just didn't gel with me. I was going to give this a 2, but reading the notes and finding out that he recorded it on a laptop while traveling, I'm giving it an extra point.
Just like 25 years ago when “Bongo Bong” was inescapable i feel that it has a pretty good vibe but I don’t need bigger doses of it. I like the global, found sounds approach though.
Awesome and fun. The Spanish-French combo is captivating. Great grooves!
I have heard about this a lot because I was trying to listen to more Spanish-language albums. It was OK, but not super distinctive. I liked “Malegría”.
I liked this more than I thought I would. Not sure repeat listens would bring more joy however. Classic 3 record.
Is this French or Spanish? I really like the way the background vocals blend with the less in Je ne taime plus and in general it does a good job at Hispanic tones and even goes beyond that almost into pop. Favorite: Lagrimas de oro , mama call Least favorite: Malegria 3.7/5
kiinnostava kielikattaus, mutta ei musan puolesta ylitä peruslattaria
This was a pretty good album. I really enjoyed it's laid back nature and the mix of styles. It didn't seem super unique or ambitious so I'm giving it a 3, but not a bad listen. 3/5.
Amazing that this album survived so many editions of this book, but it’s alright. A fun atmosphere
Swägä men lite långtråk
He’s the king of bongo bong
I was disappointed with this one. Thought it would be joyful and fun but it just didn’t grab me
I enjoyed this way more than I thought I would. Enjoyable listen, fun and great production.
I had only heard the top hit before. The album is fun, but I think it would get old quickly.
Every hostel in the world is required to play this album at least once a day.
Probably a solid 3 for me. Obviously a great album, good production, nice songwriting, but not necessarily my jam.
Bong bon was my favorite. Overall I really liked the album even tho it is not similar to my usual genres. Very fun. Would not have guessed the French/spanish influence. Liked the sound bites of his surroundings cut into the songs.
Not bad, really good mixing, & made for an enjoyable few listens.
I've heard of Manu Chao before, but I'm unfamiliar with his music. Overall though, I thought this was a fine album. I wish I had the time to look up translated lyrics for all of the songs, but I don't have time for that today. Hopefully I can do that in the future though. The first half of the album wasn't really my speed, but I felt like things picked up for me at "Luna y sol," and I enjoyed the album more from that point on, with the exception of "Welcome to Tijuana," which I really didn't care for. The vocals on this album weren't anything to write home about, but the musical arrangements were fine. "La vie á 2" was easily my favorite song on the whole album; I really loved its unique sound.
"Clandestino" is the first full length album by French singer of Spanish descent Manu Chao. The music was recorded by Chao himself at various locations around the world using a small laptop. The music is classified as reggae rock which I guess is fine although I would just put it as Latin/Carribean. The album has been included in various best of lists and commercially, hit #1 in France. The lead song "Clandestino" has a reggae beat and layered vocals. Sung in Spanish, he describes illegal immigrants living in the shadows. I think comparing the US and other desired countries to Babylon. In "Bongo Bong," there is a light repetitive beat and melody. Chao's rapping. The background music is from a Black Uhuru song and the title and lyrics from a 1939 jazz song "King of Bongo Bong." I believe he's singing about smoking weed. The melody and beat continue in the next song "je ne t'aime plus" where sings about a lover he doesn't love anymore. The trumpets and trombone are brought out in "Welcome to Tijuana." There's various noises including some of people partying. This is a party; sung in English and Spanish, it's about people's struggle for justice and freedom. The album ends full circle with "El Viento." Simple guitar strumming. The conclusion of those people immigrating to Babylon is that they are hungry and want to back. This is a good album. It kept my interest. There's varied music from reggae to Latin. Chao has a good voice and sings in Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French and English but it wasn't hard to get the tone of what he was singing about. And that about includes the struggle of the common people for justice and freedom, love relationships gone wrong and smoking weed. A potpourri of topics but it worked for me.
It was fine. Not really my cup of tea but enjoyable.
Respect, but not for me
Enjoyed something different but none of the tracks really stuck with me for a first listen.
I don't understand it, but it sounds like a whole bop.
Listened to it—wanted to like it more than I actually did. Definitely had an international sound going but just didn’t catch my attention or affection that well.
Some songs sounded familiar.
One good thing here is that it's refreshing to hear another language than English in the 1001 albums selections, the list being awfuly biased. I love Mano Negra and if they don't belong to the list, they should. It was really good alternative rock, and of course Chao was a key component of the band. I discovered them as a young teenager, and I was actually pretty disapointed by Chao change of sounds when Clandestino was released years after. Latino rythms are not really my cup of tea; it was nice when mixed with rock with Mano Negra but much less appealing to my ears deprieved of the rock side here. So, 20+ years later, I was reluctant to listen to this record (I was about to give it one star and be done with it), but it came as a nice surprise: I'm still not a huge fan of the latino side of the album, but it's diverse, the music is pretty simple but nicely arranged, and it has this kind of dicey quality that makes it interesting (and reminds me of this patchwork aspect of Mano Negra). It won't be in heavy rotation but giving a new listen to this record was actually not that bad and I can hear its qualities.
I only knew "Bongo Bong" and "Je ne t'aime plus" before this listening session. Interesting blend, but all in all not too exciting.
Enjoyable! Nice to see something like this on the list.
The legend himself. The bongo king. The album is nice. Pretty unique sounds.
Not bad, in parts
This album reminds me of Joab, a Portugese migrant who joined my school and struggled to settle as it was very middle class and resistant to non-white people. As a result he was challenging to be around, but I hope he's doing well these days. As for the album, it has a lot of character but isn't something that I'll be regularly playing.
Super fun. I love the pan Latin America sounds. It was groovy and bumpin. I enjoyed it. I couldn't understand a damn thing, so not sure I can really make a good review. But I did enjoy it!
This was fun, and was a great way to start the week. Felt myself moving in my chair.
A few I really liked
Good album. Mostly came across as background music.
Super solid album.
Buenas canciones, algunas ya se han convertido en míticas, con ritmos tranquilos y letras revolucionarias. Algunas canciones se parecen entre sí, pero me parece un muy buen disco. Le falta algo de chispa
Not as good as his band Mano Negra’s Puta’s Fever but a nice world music album
If nothing else I could see me using Bongo Bong in some situations. I do like some of the background to this album. His style and voice mesh well. Nothing has really grabbed me hard but this is decent. I did feel like it went on a long time for only being 45 minutes though.
This was fun and rather unexpected. It wasn't until the last few songs that you can appreciate the journey. What seems to be an obvious underpinning rhythm cleverly evolves as the tracks go by, almost like a walk through a city with different cultures. While there is nothing startling it is infectious and calming.
There's some definite jams here, and I can understand the appeal, even if it's not fully my speed.
I see this album as anticipating the pan-global musical attitudes that other acts like Gogol Bordello and M.I.A. would adopt later on. Unfortunately, I like both of those two acts better than this.
Would be really good pool day music, if you want your pool day to be about anti-globalization and Bolivian water crises.
16 tracks had me worried but this was a pleasant, breezy listen! Lot of this sounds like the sort of thing that would play in a Mexican restaurant (complimentary), but dug the weirder cuts best (Bongo Bong, Welcome to Tijuana, etc.)
mostly pleasant, nothing too crazy
Absolutely captured the identity of sitting in a cafe or bar on the street of many countries through language and style variation. A great album for exploring
Nice, catchy world music. A pleasant listen overall.
Spanish jazz with a very cool sound. Released in 1998 and its age is not recognizable.
60/100
Enjoyed this more than I expected to. Reminiscent of sipping vermut in a packed Madrid bar at 1am, shame I was working on spreadsheets on a freezing winters morning in Yorkshire at the time!
Ok
Nice and chill, enjoyed it more than expected
Bongo bongo
This was a pretty fun album. With the exception of Bongo Bong, I pretty much enjoyed the whole thing. Not something I'd choose to listen to regularly though.
Not bad at all! C
Decent album
Listenable
Ágætis plata. Öðruvísi stemming en venjulega, og velkomin.
Neat sounds and grooves.
Not quite my jam, although Bongo Bong is a bop!
fun album. nothing too exciting but still a good tome
I met two French girls at my local bar once who were huge fans of Manu Chao and had assumed, I guess somewhat correctly, that he was French, so I was surprised by the amount of songs sung in Spanish. If I had known more French than “tres bien” it probably would have been easier to learn more about him from them. It also would have made recommending the band Air to them a little easier. Digression aside, Clandestino was enjoyable, but my inability to speak French and an only rudimentary understanding of Spanish might have hampered my ability to translate these songs, though I understand that Chao is an outspoken leftist and that informs much of his music. I definitely appreciate that, even if musically, this wasn’t really my thing.
Tolerable. Feels like island vacation music.
First listen I wasnt too sure and listening another time I'm still not quite sure. Do think it's quite special to get an album where you've got 3 or 4 languages, and bongo bong is a banger.
Fine.
Passabler, aber letztlich eintöniger Raggea Rock.
Not really my style of music, and I don't know much Spanish or French, but there was a good variety and it wasn't boring. What was with that video game sound effect that was in several songs? Sounded like Galaga.
2.81 average per track. I actually enjoyed this more than the rating suggests. I think the language barrier prevented me from rating anything higher than 3 and there were a couple 2s in there.
not bad, not great either
A nice blend of languages and tunes.
Mixed bag for me. Quite a unique sound, narcos vibes, interesting but unlikely to listen again.
I just found out people do the charlie brown differently than I was taught growing up and it’s shattering my perception of reality.
I actually enjoyed this pretty thoroughly. Not the kinda thing I see myself returning to frequently but really great while it's on. Also the flow of the tracks is pretty immaculate.
Fun
Catchy