Clandestino

Manu Chao seems like a very chill guy. That being said, the music is a bit underwhelming. He has talent, the instrumentation on this album is pretty good and he can be diverse, but most of the songs kinda go nowhere or have pretty boring vocal performances. It starts off well but quickly drops to just ok.

It sounded okay, don’t speak a word of spanish tho so

3/5

This was better than I expected. It’s some classic Spanish music with fun beats and decently catchy melodies.

Cool album. Worth the listen but probably won't listen again

Different. First time hearing this artist. Not my favorite but enjoyable

I think I just gotta start going into every album with low expectations so I can always be pleasantly surprised!

Never heard of Manu Chao before and, regardless of me being British or not, it's really nice to have something originating outside of the UK to listen to on this list. The difficulty with listening to music that is sung in a language you don't understand is that you don't feel fully connected to that music, even if you can appreciate the musicianship of the artist in question. Listening to "Clandestino" and "Desaparecido", the first two tracks on the album, this became immediately apparent. Whilst I loved his voice and the dreamy south American inspired vibes of this, it was difficult to fully appreciate the music. Despite this, the general vibe of "Luna Y Sol" was incredibly uplifting, proving that music can still have an emotional effect even without understanding it's lyrics. The whole album was pleasant to the ears; Chao has an incredibly soothing voice and his ability to sing in many different languages is nothing short of remarkable.

hmmp not bad at all. Not really in my bailiwick but I do like this one.

Really not into this one.

Eh

Another that just faded into the background. Nothing too offensive to turn it off but also nothing that really stuck out. Like buck owens, I could easily listen to this in the background of the right place without even flinching. Gets a 3 cause I would willingly listen again

No way, er jo king of the bongo for faen! Og så kommer samme låta på fransk rett etterpå? Based. Til å være langt utenfor mine musikalske preferanser, er skiva ganske god. Jeg liker ikke alt, men låter som Mentira har en veldig fin vibe. God & spennende produksjon!

Denne plata traff meg bedre enn jeg trodde den skulle. Har allerede måttet sette på "Bongo Bong" flere ganger etter gjennomhøring. Åpenbar banger. Liker soundet godt, og jeg kunne godt hørt denne plata med henda bak hodet på divanen, men det blir fort litt ensformig. Flere av låtene høres litt ut som varianter av den samme komposisjonen. JEg trodde "La despedida" og "Mama Call" var da capo for "Bongo Bong", som jo er litt mye når de faktisk har den på fransk allerede.

I listened while driving through the redwood tree lined hills of woodside, CA and this was a perfect companion for the ride.

ngl loved the bongo song

If listening to Spanish reggae sung by a French guy isn't stepping out of your comfort zone, I don't know what is anymore.

Not for me but good to see on this list

5.0/10

Fun album Standout songs: Bongo bong Mentira Malegria

Possui uma sonoridade interessante, meio que lo-fi. Uma faixa derrete na outra, transições ótimas que tornam a escuta fluída e agradável. A voz do cantor às vezes fica um pouco irritante, mas ainda assim acho notável o quão eclético o disco é, nos estilos vocais e musicais. Também acho curioso o fator poliglota do álbum, que vai do espanhol, pro português, francês e inglês. O som passa rápido. Uma escuta divertida, animada e reservada simultaneamente. Recomendo e escutaria novamente, mas não mudou minha vida. 3/5

This album is a party. Luna y Sol was a standout. Repetitive at times, but I didn't mind it. Definitely was jamming at points to this one.

That was one of the weirdest albums i have ever listened to. Never thought I would hear French reggae. The French words in this style are hilarious sounding. Bongo Bong was an absolute heater I must say that was fun. There were some really cool interesting songs on here. But some really bad songs. Hard album to rate so we will go 3.

The transition from Bongo Bong into Je ne t'aime plus is pretty sweet. This started out as a potential 4 but slogged on. Still a very solid 3.

Really didn’t think I was going to like this but it goes pretty hard lol 3.5/5

His voice becomes quite grating after a while. I like some of this album but a lot of it is very similar, the beats are a lot of fun, and there is great use of the Brazilian whistle in there. Also Bongo Bong is so fucking massive

I'm sure I'm not the only person, but I first heard Bongo Bongo in a college class when a professor played it. At that point I had heard nothing like it and was hooked. Then I tried to listen to the rest of the album at the time and didn't really appreciate it like I do now. Is this what music in a hostel sounds like all the time?

I'm a sucker for music. That makes me feel like im somewhere warm and sunny and this is no exception. The rhythms, the vibes, the breadth of the ideas and the presentation all make this music to smile to.

Enjoyable

An almost pleasant listen although it is not my preferred style of music. Plus the hit "Bongo Bong - Je ne t'aime plus" aka "King of the Bongo". 2,5

Wouldn´t listen to it again but its good for sure

Clandestino is pleasant and gently immersive, but it never quite sinks its hooks into me. The stripped-down acoustic grooves, looping motifs, and multilingual fragments create a light, almost weightless atmosphere. It’s easy to have on, and there’s an undeniable warmth to the sound. At the same time, that lightness works against it. The repetition that gives the album its cohesion also causes it to fade into the background. The songs blur together, and while the vibe is consistent and agreeable, it rarely turns visceral or emotionally gripping. I appreciate what it’s doing more than I feel pulled into it. This feels like music meant to accompany life rather than interrupt it, and in that sense it succeeds. For me, though, it stays in the realm of “nice” rather than “compelling.” A solid three stars: likable, atmospheric, and easy to live with, but not something that demands focus or repeat intentional listens.

It was okay for some background listening and I ended up adding "Clandestino" to my liked songs, but for the most part I found it very repetitive. Honorable mentions to "Welcome to Tijuana" and "Bongo Bongo."

You know that toy Lazer gun sound in really cheap toys. Manu Chao likes that as I've heard that sound throughout the album & it makes me giggle everytime I hear it. It is very prevalent in Welcome to Tiajuana. The language barrier is kinda hard to overcome but the wonderful guitar picking is nice. He seems to put a nice earwormy grooves around interesting soundbites I don't understand. Bongo Bong is a fun quirky song. I'm getting a French-Spanish Bob Marley vibe. 3

Really like his multilingual approach. Unfortunately frontloaded and a little too long

Ganz angenehm.

Dolid vibes

Vibes senor

If you want to know what's playing on the jukebox while you're nursing a cerveza and sitting in front of a steaming plate of arroz y frijoles in the sketchiest cantina in Tijuana, it would be this.

Pretty enjoyable latin album.

Easy listening even though it was in 3 different languages at least xD

manu hallou! de dude isch huge gsi i rember mini eltere au meega glost. es isch biiitz reggae. bitz gutmensch bitz jooo kiffe. clandestino aber sehr geil dure zweistimmig. uuh disst er sini alt band? wege mano negra illegal. desaparecido irgendwie sehr cute. kenni au. wird glaub fast alles mol ghört haa hä. ok es wiederholt sich seeehr fest. ok bongo bong au huuere iconic. er het s meiste uf sim laptop underwegs ufgnoh? im 98i?? what? ah es goht flüssend in je ne t'aime plus übere huere noice. ah und endlich französisch. fun dass er eimol glichzitig tous les jours und sie mon amour singt überenand. goil. lagrimas de oro salsa?? luna y sol chli techno okay? ich finds mit de ziit bitz nervigggg??? welcome to tijuana seeehr weird. ich find er tönt immer als hetter gad spanisch glernt. sochli gad vom ustuschjohr heicho type of guy. würkli tequila sexo marijuana?? ES ISCH UNAGNEHM CHLI?? dia luna dia pena isch sehr herzig. boah isch das erfrischend zumen uf französisch ghöre bi la vie à 2. würkli ischmer nöd klar gsi wasi mengmol a ihm komisch gfunde ha aber uf franz tönter sooo viel authentischer.

uuultra gspaannt hotte chline taktwechsel ER SINGT RECHTS hahaha bongo bong lose ohni as acid denke isch UNMÖGLICH wiso funktionierts so guet?? es isch soo goofy s flowt soo guet RIESE SAMPLE damn heavy background vom manu :( hmm ich han spass aber d lieder sind schochli glich gad für mis ohr jaaa de schluss het sich zoooooge. weg dem glaub eifach es guets 3

I have no idea how to review this album. It's jsut so far from anything I have familiarity with to feel like I'm being fair. Positives: Really impressive to hear at least 3 different languages on this album, and if I understood the spanish lyrics correctly I enjoyed the theme of immigration and cultural mixtures. It was also pretty cohesive as an album given the cool transitions. Negatives: His voice was not very good and I cant say any of the melodies were particularly memborable, I cant see myself ever listening to this again

It's worth translating the lyrics - there's a depth to them.

Not as bad as I expected it to be.

This is fine music to have on in the background of a Peruvian restaurant while you're sitting alone at the bar drinking a watery paloma waiting for the off-track betting joint next door to open so you can go gamble away your alimony. Not all of it! But most.

Easy going vibes that is quite impossible not to like. Nothing spectacular but it certainly makes my head nod to the beat

3

Ik heb altijd het idee dat Manu Chao latin muziek voor dummies is, waar het alle stereotype boxjes aan vinkt en de zomer in huis brengt. Dus het zou moeten aanslaan bij mij, aangezien mijn kennis der Latijns-Amerikaanse muziek waanzinnig gering is. En met dit weer ben ik best gevoelig voor elke kans om de zon in huis te halen. Toch moet ik zeggen dat het toch wel voelt als een veelzijdige weergave van een muziekcultuur van rondom de Caraïben. Elke keer denk je dat het langzaam gereduceerd wordt tot die stereotypische strandtent muziek, maar hij herpakt zich best vaak met een verrassend sterk liedje. Al met al niet onaardig, en het vult de nodige vitamine D weer een beetje aan in geluidstrillingen en vibraties. 7/10 Highlights: Clandestino Bongo Bong Mentira Minha Galera

Jaunty and calming! I have to wonder if I could understand the lyrics more if this would land harder with me, although the occasional English track (e.g. Bongo Bong) have Sesame Street level lyrics,so maybe not.

3 stars

So is this dude Spanish or French. I don’t get it.

Enjoyed this more as it progressed

Clandestino 3.7 Desaparecido 3.5 Bongo Bong 3 Je ne t'aime plus 3 Mentira… 3.3 Lágrimas de Oro 3.2 Mama Call 3.4 Luna y Sol 3.4 Por el Suelo 3.5 Welcome to Tijuana 3.2 Día Luna... Día Pena 3.3 Malegria 3.5 La vie à 2 3.3 Minha Galera 3.2 La Despedida 3.1 El Viento 3.4 Score: 3.3125

Expected to hate this since I’ve not been fond of others in this genre in the 1,001. Surprisingly it was pretty good. Decent melodies and singing. Weirdly, this debut album plus his second from 2001 and his most recent from 2024 are all in Dolby Atmos surround on Apple Music. The 4 in between 2001 and 2024 are not. I need to join a group of 1,001 Surround Sound Albums You Need To Listen To Before You Die…

3.5/5

Didn't understand most of it, but it had a decent rhythm.

Pretty good Spanish language album. Pretty laid back. I enjoyed my listen.

Not the biggest fan of Many Chao

I can appreciate the talent but it’s not something I’m going to seek out for my listening pleasure.

It’s okay

Eclectic, low-fi, poppy album that has some bangers yet takes several artistic turns.

very surprised by this. wasn't expecting to like it; not my style at all.

Another nice change of pace

I really have no knowledge of this type of music, so don’t know if it’s good or bad. I didn’t dislike it, but every song sounded the same, and nothing really seemed to go anywhere. It’s … fine, I guess?

Very pleasant surprise!!

The Lonely Planet of albums, music for tourists who insist on calling themselves travellers, the Che t-shirt of artists. A topical tropical dream of counter-globalization, of a world of cultural exchange as resistance, of hybridity and translation and multi-lingual genre hopping code switching as a global musical commons, of joyous self expression and feel good partying. A dream that curdled over and after the 1990s and was revealed to be just a French guy on holiday, primarily a project of bourgeois first world self-making, just as subject to the stultifying forces of capitalist co-option, of commodification, standardization as any other cultural product - something that becomes just another cultural signifier, the default soundtrack of a certain kind of bar, hostel, or cafe in the gringo district of whatever popular backpacker region. Still, some of those evocative trumpet parts, latin harmonies, and Jamaican basslines really are pretty nice and laid back. An album I've heard a thousand times without ever putting on myself but never minded at all.

This is fun, festive Latin music that randomly and occasionally spirals into French pop. Sort of a bewildering album as a result, but on the whole it's undeniably fun and would be a great soundtrack to laying poolside with a margarita in Cabo.

Interesting and fun. Vocals are double tracked and panned hard left and right.

This album was okay. I feel like it would have been better if I spoke Spanish, but it all seemed like a blur to me. 3 out of 5.

- Verassend plezant - 0 nummers toegevoegd aan MMMM - 1 nummer toegevoegd aan ZZZ

I can smell this album and feel the sunshine of Mexico in it. And maybe a little bit of sepia.

Good vibes but it’s November in the UK so not the ideal setting for this. I’m probably never coming back to it tbh.

Manu Chao’s 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘰 is a colorful, borderless mix of Latin folk, reggae, and worldbeat, stitched together with radio snippets and multilingual lyrics. It captures a restless, global spirit and carries a strong political message about migration and identity. Still, the heavy use of loops and recycled motifs makes the album drag after a while — what starts as hypnotic can become repetitive. Inventive and important, yes, but not quite the masterpiece it’s often made out to be.

Nice change up. Interesting mix of reggae and Latin styles and French, Spanish, Portuguese and English lyrics. Never heard of the artist or this album before. Interesting story behind it, and even more curious it found success. For me it's a bit haphazard stylistically and the fact there's two songs with identical instrumental backing is a bit distracting.

Pretty sure I have the song “Bongo Bong” on my poolside playlist. I laughed when I realized this was the full album to that song, but I enjoyed it! This album would sound better in a bathing suit with a piña colada.

En mi ingenuidad (al igual que con Gotan Project) pensé que este era un proyecto latinoamericano. De la poca representación de este lugarcito del mundo en esta lista. Pero no, Manu Chao es francoespañol. Que lata. Fue como tomar coca-cola y al final darme cuenta de que tenía endulzante.

6/10. Not the target demographic

Not my style but was fun good mood music

Not fully my vibe but pretty interesting.

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.

Was ok but not my thing.

Unique.

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

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

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.

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