ABRAXAS

Abraxas may be a very commercial album, but this isn't "Supernatural". This is Santana magically mixing accessibility, dance-like qualities, innovation, complexity, virtuosity, and emotion into a latin-rock masterpiece. The first song is an improvisational latin-jazz fusion track with scarce but brilliant guitar notes over a groovy latin rhythm. "Incident at Neshabur", "Mother's Daughter", and "Hope You're Feeling better" are outstanding classic rock songs with unforgettable hooks and main riffs.. "Se a Cabo" and "Samba Pa Ti" are great instrumentals; a fast-paced rhythmic tune and a romantic and emotional one respectively. "Black Magic Woman" and "Oye Como Va" are the great hits. Black Magic Woman starts generally soft with great melodies and arrangements and ends in a louder and more energetic jam. "Oye Como Va" is driven by a Hammond organ riff and is insanely catchy and danceable. It has to be a great song to become a monstrous hit even though it is sang in a foreign language. It is regarded as a classic in the music of its kind.

The rating is rounded up because I never heard music of this kind to exceed the quality presented here. Best album of its kind from my musical knowledge. I highly recommend you to check this album.

1_Singing Winds, Crying Beasts (A-)

2_Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen (A)

3_Oye Como Va (A+)

4_Incident at Neshabur (A)

5_Se a Cabo (B+)

6_Mother's Daughter (A-)

7_Samba Pa Ti (B+)

8_Hope You're Feeling Better (A+)

9_El Nicoya (C )

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