ABRAXAS

The only two Santana albums I've ever really been able to get into are ABRAXAS and CARAVANSERAI - but wow! what great albums they are. Despite the albums in between, these two albums play almost as companion pieces to each other. Both are classics, but if I had to choose, I'd give the nod to CARAVANSERAI as my favorite. Maybe it's because none of the tunes are radio staples, so I came into it fresh; maybe it's because the album is just so mystical, it plays like a Latinized version of Floyd or something. With ABRAXAS, you get classics many have probably heard already, such as "Black Magic Woman," "Oye Como Va," and "Samba Pa Ti." Both albums start off in a similar vein, with memorable, moody instrumentals that set the tone for the rest of the albums. One thing that does often annoy me is Carlos Santana's penchant for endless jamming. I prefer more economical soloing, something a bit more sculpted and leaving room for space. As one might guess, my tolerance for Hendrix is also a bit low, and clearly Carlos Santana's model is Hendrix. These quibbles aside (more a personal taste than anything), these two albums belong in any popular music lover's collection.