Okay, I've read something like 400 of these reviews so I thought I'd speak up. I've been a Santana fan since the early '70's. My personal preference is for Santana's old jazz/rock fusion albums, (e.g., "Illuminations"[1974], "Borboletta"[1974], "Lotus"[1974], and the impossible to categorize, "Oneness"[1979]). But "Supernatural"[1999] is definitely Santana's best pop/rock album in at least 12 years ("Freedom"[1987]) and maybe 28 years ("Santana III"[1971]). I felt the band's last studio album, "Milagro"[1992], was too diffuse and self-indulgent to achieve greatness (despite some fabulous individual tracks).

I like almost every track on "Supernatural." The Latin rock tracks include "(Da le)Yaleo," "African Bamba," "Migra," "Corazon Espinado"(featuring Mana), and "Primavera"; in my opinion, any one of the last 3 of these is worth the price of the CD. I'd never heard of Lauryn Hill before I bought this album, but I really love "Do You Like the Way"--I didn't much care for it at first listen, but it grew on me. "El Farol" is a sweet, passionate sort of light jazz guitar solo with typical blazing crescendo. "The Calling" w/Eric Clapton is decent, but not great--though both guitarists manage to put out (all-too-brief) moments of sheer wonder. I don't care much for either "Maria, Maria" w/Product G&B, or "Wishing It Was" w/Eagle-Eye Cherry. The pop tunes, "Love of My Life" (featuring Dave Matthews) and "Smooth" (featuring Rob Thomas) are really great tracks. The dark and brooding alternative rock track, "Put Your Lights On" (featuring Everlast) simply takes my breath away. Be sure to wait for the unlisted track after "The Calling."

My chief complaint with the album is that Chester Thompson's keyboard talents are not showcased enough. The percussion section is given ample room to breathe, especially on "(Da Le) Yaleo" and "Migra."

Santana's unique style turns me into one big goose bump; if the music doesn't do that for you, it's not Santana's fault and it's not your fault, either. Despite several reviewers' criticisms about what they perceive as a commercial bent to this album, I find that commercial bent to be a very positive influence on the band's music; this is an extremely tight, well-produced CD--kind of a rarity for Santana. I don't personally see what is so objectionable about an artist reaching out to a wider audience. The first 3 albums by the original Santana band were smash hits and, frankly, I think it's great to hear the band on the radio again with some new music. Anyway, if you find something sinister or just plain unsatisfactory about a band consciously trying for commercial appeal, then be forewarned because that is exactly what Santana and Arista Records set out to do. I think they did a great job.

If you like this CD, you might want to check out "Moonflower"[1977], "Zebop!"[1981], "Spirits Dancing in the Flesh"[1990], or even "Freedom"[1987]; these are some of the better pop/rock Santana albums, in my opinion.

Supernatural is without a doubt Santana on the crest of a wave, culling the cream of the music world's singers and incorporating catchy rhythms and of course mind-blowing guitar-playing from Carlos himself. Nearly all the songs here are perfect; the only divots are the lightweight and repetitive AFRICA MAMBA and the ultra-bluesy/latino instrumental EL FAROL. The first three tracks are sheer class, with (DA LE) YALEO employed as a flamboyant mood-setter and featuring a tremendous conga solo from musician Raul Rekow, LOVE OF MY LIFE sung by Dave Matthews, who has the best voice, in my opinion, of all the singers on the album, a gentle ballad that develops into a fast-paced rock song, and PUT YOUR LIGHTS ON written and sung by Everlast, another acoustically perfect slowish track that includes all the same a rock portion halfway through. After AFRICA MAMBA comes the sublime SMOOTH, the worldwide best-seller that needs no introduction as Supernatural's most famous song, and illustrating Rob Thomas' excellent song-writing and vocal talents. Another of my favourites is MIGRA, a fast-paced song with a thumping rhythm and a distinct African flavour to it. It is on this track that Santana excels himself the most, on the guitar as well as on the lyrics that he co-invented with Tony Lindsay. The album also comprises its fair share of slow songs, such as the mostly instrumental PRIMAVERA and the best-seller MARIA MARIA. Oh, and here I'll take the opportunity to make a stand against Wyclef Jean. Great producer he may be in tandem with Jerry Wonder Duplessis, but I wish he would stop intervening in perfectly songs with his mindless and slurred comments. Here he doesn't affect the song that much but having seen him and Pras Michel single-handedly dismantle ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST by my favourite band Queen I was seething. Anyway, moving swiftly on, we come to the immaculate "message song" DO YOU LIKE THE WAY, written and mostly sung by Lauryn Hill who surpasses herself in tandem with Cee-Lo, who I'd never heard of prior to buying this album. CORAZON ESPINADO, featuring Fher and Mana, is alright I guess, but it isn't a patch on other songs like PRIMAVERA. Eagle-Eye Cherry's effort WISHING IT WAS is a pleasure to listen to despite some pretty depressing lyrics. And the only slightly over-par THE CALLING (taking into account the once-in-a-lifetime pairing of Carlos Santana and Eric Clapton it should have been better than the final product) is the gloss on the surface of a truly great album. This would be a good investment to any admirer of the band's style of music as well as R&B, rap and African music lovers.

In my experience, there have been very few albums that, when I finished listening to the entire album for the first time, I silently thanked the artist. This is an album that you will get HOURS of enjoyment from for many years to come. It is an instant classic.

After hearing "Smooth",on the radio i immediately bought this album. And many people are right, the songs can grow on you. I wasn't very impressed. There was only two or three songs that really caught my attention. I think he should of stuck with more latin beats(like smooth). But I do have to give it up to C.S. for using many of today's most predominant recording artists. He does work well w/ a few of them. But many of Santana's earlier albums were much better.

An album that has graced my collection for six months now, and is first choice when people are over. I am a Santana fan from years ago and when the local radio station started playing tracks from this CD last year I instantly liked it. The guest artists include Eric Clapton, Eagle Eye Cherry and Everlast. Key tracks include 'The Love of My Life' with Dave Matthews, 'Maria Maria' and the brilliant 'Africian Bamba'. This album is guaranteed to get you on your feet, and appreciate what music really is about. ENJOY !