Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Don't listen to the critics!
I would strongly urge you to ignore the bad reviews from critics, this CD is worth buying. Well, if you liked "supernatural" that is. If you didn't find "supernatural" appealing, then you probably wouldn't care for this CD either. After reading several reviews, I was appalled to see the horrible remarks on the album's second track: "nothing at all" with Musiq. I truly believe that is the strongest track on the album. Musiq's voice fits Santana's grooves. True, Macy Gray and Michelle Branch also have great songs on the album. May I suggest however not to neglect any of the songs devoid of vocals, they're all amazing. As for Dido's track, I'm a bit indifferent about it. Maybe, with time, I will learn to enjoy it more. Dido has such an amazing voice, but it seems to me that it doesn't fit with the song somehow. I don't know, give it a listen. P.O.D.'s song is AMAZING! Unlike "Supernatural," "Shaman" lacks note-worthy latin songs ("Hoy es adios" doesn't really stand out).
I really don't know what else to say. I really believe that Santana made an enormous effort to satisfy every genre of music. There really is something for everyone. Enjoy!
Rating: - Victory Is Won
Victory is won because Carlos has drew in a non-Santana fan! I still don't consider myself a true fan of Santana's music and frankly don't care to buy any of his former albums (especially the way over-hyped 'Supernatural') but after hearing the first single from 'Shaman', "The Game Of Love", I was hooked on its catchy pop melody, which is pure candy for the ears! What surprised me even more was finding out that the singer was Michelle Branch, whose voice has always been unnerving to me. So I bought the album, quite reluctantly in fact, and unexpectingly came to enjoy more than just "The Game Of Love". The opener "Adouma" is an upbeat tune that sets the mood perfectly with a grooving world sound that makes all who listens flow with its dancing rhythm with "Aye Aye Aye" having quite a similar effect, only with Santana's electrifying guitar playing more up in the front. To me 'Shaman' has a couple duds, such as "America" with nu-metal group P.O.D., but most shine like precious jewels. "Nothing At All" is a subtle flamingo tune featuring r&b sensation Musiq while the ever sleek "Amore (Sexo)" features a hot and raspy Macy Grey, who is another singer in which I normally deteste. I'm not too familiar with Placido Domingo but, prior to buying this album, I knew enough to know that he was a tenor opera singer, so the song "Novus", as well as "Feels Like Fire" with one of my favorite pop singers, Dido (commercial or not) helped draw me in, as well as many others, I'm sure. My absolute favorite, however, would have to be "Hoy Es Adios", which is a gorgeous love tune (I'm assuming) featuring spanish singer Alejandro Lerner.
Rating:  - Carlos Goes Commercial - Say It Ain't So...
I've been a devoted Santana fan for most of his career. Heck, I remember buying his first album on vinyl shortly after it was originally released. I've probably bought more of his releases over the years than any other single artist I follow. I've seen him live many times, going all the way back to the 70's, and always treasured the experiences.With all that said, I was thrilled to see him come back into public aclaim with "Supernatural". While concerned somewhat about the commercialism of that release, it was a fresh enough approach that I could enjoy it, and be happy for Carlos because of the renewed attention it brought him. And for the long-time Santana fan, there was still enough traditional Santana sound there to enjoy. However, with "Shaman", I feel he goes overboard with the multi-artist/colaborator approach, and at the same time, doesn't infuse enough traditional Santana music in the mix. "Shaman" unfortunately displays the all-too-American approach to marketing: if they liked it the first time, let's do it bigger, louder, and longer next time. Musically, there's little new here since "Supernatural". Some of the guest artists are really questionable, talent-wise. It seems they just wanted to stuff this CD as full as possible with diverse individuals. Listening to the CD, I was struck by how common most of Carols' guitar licks sounded - it seems I've heard them all before, many times. In itself that isn't a bad thing, but given he's in the support on most of these tracks, it becomes all the more noticable. Sonically, the release suffers on many tracks from the type of compression typically found on commercial pop releases. It's mixed to sound ok on the car radio or an average stereo. Audiophiles with revealing, high-quality systems will lament the lack of sonic potential. Most disturbing was noticing in the liner notes a page dedicated to plugging "Carlos by Carlos Santana Licensed Products". Everything from women's shoes to sunglasses to inspirational cards. I know that given the complete derth of talent being released by the record companies these days, even a release this commercial from Carlos Santana stands heads above the average. But do they have to hang every commercial opportunity possible on his shoulders? Or is it his choice to allow all this? In any event, it screams "sell out!". While this CD may garner some Grammy's (unlikey to be as successful as it's predecessor, but given the state of music releases these days, anything's possible), it finds a slightly unwelcome home in this fan's Santana collection. But artists have to grow in their unique ways, and I hope this eventually inspires new, and more fittingly "Santana" creations in the future.
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