Frequently Bought Together
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s
Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or
view the MP3 Album.
|
Product Description
Product Description
Shape Shifter is Carlos Santana's 36th album and the 13-song set is an instrumental tour de force featuring tracks spanning from the late 1990's to the present. It's powered throughout by Carlos' instantly recognizable virtuoso lead guitar and the Santana Band's world-class musicianship (with one song featuring vocals from Santana's lead vocalists Andy Vargas and Tony Lindsay). Shape Shifter comprises mostly original compositions that have been stashed away for such an instrumental project and Carlos conceived the album's sequence as thoughtfully as the track selection.
Since Santana emerged from the San Francisco Bay Area music scene in the 1960s, the group has sold more than 100 million records, reached more than 100 million fans at concerts worldwide, and been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Santana has won 10 GRAMMYs. With the 2010 release of Guitar Heaven: The Greatest Guitar Classics of All Time, Santana joined the Rolling Stones as one of only two music acts in Billboard history to score at least ine top ten album in each decade from the 1960s. Among other honors, Carlos Santana is no.20 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.
Since Santana emerged from the San Francisco Bay Area music scene in the 1960s, the group has sold more than 100 million records, reached more than 100 million fans at concerts worldwide, and been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Santana has won 10 GRAMMYs. With the 2010 release of Guitar Heaven: The Greatest Guitar Classics of All Time, Santana joined the Rolling Stones as one of only two music acts in Billboard history to score at least ine top ten album in each decade from the 1960s. Among other honors, Carlos Santana is no.20 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By A. Redmond
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
When I received this CD, on the (broken!) CD case is a sticker proclaiming that the album has been 20 years in the making.
I have been waiting much longer than that for this!
One Amazon reviewer has shared his opinion that Santana fans are not waiting for an album like this. I could not disagree more.
Granted, if a Santana album means to you an endless supply of guest artists, radio edits and ego boosting name checks every 30 seconds, then maybe this album is not for you. Never mind, if you quickly turn on MTV something will be along in the next 5 minutes that will be the next big thing.
If you longed for a Santana album of old, maybe your wait is now over. Granted, there may nothing of the quality of Samba Pa Ti, Europa or Toussaint L'Overture, to name but 3, however there is much to love here.
Only one track has vocals, but years ago, when I first started listening to Santana, instrumentals seemed to be more common than vocals anyway.
So sit back and enjoy the music!
I would agree that the album art is not great, and it would be nice to know which musicians played on which track, but that is a small complaint.
This album might not win 10 Grammys or be as commercially successful as Supernatural, but for me it is a great return to form. Is it a retrograde step? No. It is a brave move to turn away from a proven format (although less successful for each successive album)back to just him and the band.
Santana albums at times seem to go in 3's-( the Latin rock influenced Santana, Abraxas, Santana 3; Jazz fusion Caravanserai, Borboletta and Welcome; guest artist led Supernatural, Shamen, All That I Am ). If this is the case here, then I will be a very happy fan for the next few years. Who knows, he may even turn his back on London's o2 and return to the Hammersmith Odeon!
I have been waiting much longer than that for this!
One Amazon reviewer has shared his opinion that Santana fans are not waiting for an album like this. I could not disagree more.
Granted, if a Santana album means to you an endless supply of guest artists, radio edits and ego boosting name checks every 30 seconds, then maybe this album is not for you. Never mind, if you quickly turn on MTV something will be along in the next 5 minutes that will be the next big thing.
If you longed for a Santana album of old, maybe your wait is now over. Granted, there may nothing of the quality of Samba Pa Ti, Europa or Toussaint L'Overture, to name but 3, however there is much to love here.
Only one track has vocals, but years ago, when I first started listening to Santana, instrumentals seemed to be more common than vocals anyway.
So sit back and enjoy the music!
I would agree that the album art is not great, and it would be nice to know which musicians played on which track, but that is a small complaint.
This album might not win 10 Grammys or be as commercially successful as Supernatural, but for me it is a great return to form. Is it a retrograde step? No. It is a brave move to turn away from a proven format (although less successful for each successive album)back to just him and the band.
Santana albums at times seem to go in 3's-( the Latin rock influenced Santana, Abraxas, Santana 3; Jazz fusion Caravanserai, Borboletta and Welcome; guest artist led Supernatural, Shamen, All That I Am ). If this is the case here, then I will be a very happy fan for the next few years. Who knows, he may even turn his back on London's o2 and return to the Hammersmith Odeon!
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By Bodhi Heeren
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Audio CD
The surprise mega succes of "Supernatural" proved to be a double edged sword for the illustrious Carlos Santana. At one hand giving him a vastly enlarged fanbase after some meager years commercially on the other hand it seemed to stiffen his creative output. Leading to a series of rather lame follow up albums. Albums that was a far cry from his engaging and creative concerts.
So it's wonderful with a Santana record focused on the guitar magic of the maestro and the instrumental power of his more than competent band. The tracks written over a number of years cover lots of ground: jazz, smooth jazz, rock and ofc lots of latin. Some tracks might be rather sketchy but there are also some real beauties all featuring the trademark melodic, fiery lead of Senor C.S., both on electric and acoustic. And occasionally even some intense jamming.
It's nice to hear his yearlong collaborator Chester 'C.T.' Thompson again, Dennis Chambers is ofc a drum legend, Raul Rekow the master of percussion, these people know how to make the complex sound simple and easy. The album closes with two tracks featuring Carlos' son Salvadore Santana - a true master on the keyboards.
This is NOT a return to the visonary creativity of the 70s, "Caravanserai", "Illumination", "Love, Devotion, Surrender" but an enjoyable, sunshine filled collection of guitar music from one of the musical giants of our time.
So it's wonderful with a Santana record focused on the guitar magic of the maestro and the instrumental power of his more than competent band. The tracks written over a number of years cover lots of ground: jazz, smooth jazz, rock and ofc lots of latin. Some tracks might be rather sketchy but there are also some real beauties all featuring the trademark melodic, fiery lead of Senor C.S., both on electric and acoustic. And occasionally even some intense jamming.
It's nice to hear his yearlong collaborator Chester 'C.T.' Thompson again, Dennis Chambers is ofc a drum legend, Raul Rekow the master of percussion, these people know how to make the complex sound simple and easy. The album closes with two tracks featuring Carlos' son Salvadore Santana - a true master on the keyboards.
This is NOT a return to the visonary creativity of the 70s, "Caravanserai", "Illumination", "Love, Devotion, Surrender" but an enjoyable, sunshine filled collection of guitar music from one of the musical giants of our time.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Dreams beyond the Rainbow
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I feel still that i am on a total voyage of discovery with the great Santana, i bought a couple of albums in the 1970's and then Festival.(1976) Then i bought his entire collection from 2004 onwards and i am completely infatuated with Santana! He has taken me through so many moods, styles, meanings and up lifting moments more than any artist i have ever known. i have seen him perform live 1975 and 2010( london) i must be honest and say that i didnt like All time Guitar greats ( as i felt that they weren;t the greats, Carlos missed a huge opportunity to re-configure and introduce some small but beautiful little rifts into what seemed endless steel tunes. When he brought out Multi-Dimentional Warrior, the same opportunity was lost on this album too,as all the songs remained the same, as the originals.So this, long awaited, pure instrumental album of Shape Shifter, is different in a more mature way, Using extensive keyboard and synthecizer tones. There is one vocal track.
However, if i am honest, once again there feels to be a big missed moments when he could have again, introduced beautiful sweeping guitar rifts, but tragically there is nothing of that. One or two of these track could almost be played in a ball-room setting of Blackpool ballroom tower.Sadly track 8 which is imense and beautiful, ends rediculously sharply and only after just short of two minutes. i feel that artist loose sight of beautiful,sweeping melodies and feel their offerings are delicious. However, with most tracks the dull tracks go on for too long and are boring and the beautiful inspirational tracks end far too soon or abruptly.
Overall this album of music is polished, accomplished. but lacks the exciting lustre of yester year.
However, if i am honest, once again there feels to be a big missed moments when he could have again, introduced beautiful sweeping guitar rifts, but tragically there is nothing of that. One or two of these track could almost be played in a ball-room setting of Blackpool ballroom tower.Sadly track 8 which is imense and beautiful, ends rediculously sharply and only after just short of two minutes. i feel that artist loose sight of beautiful,sweeping melodies and feel their offerings are delicious. However, with most tracks the dull tracks go on for too long and are boring and the beautiful inspirational tracks end far too soon or abruptly.
Overall this album of music is polished, accomplished. but lacks the exciting lustre of yester year.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 106 reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Shapeshifter Perfection
Great album ! Some superb catchy Santana tracks here - It proves Carlos has still got what it takes. Read more
Published 4 days ago by christopher barnes
5.0 out of 5 stars
Back to their Best!
This without a doubt is the best Santana album since the excellent releases of the 70s. Mainly instrumental but the music is a throwback to Caravanserai. Read more
Published 9 days ago by Philip Parsons
5.0 out of 5 stars
brilliant
no sophisticated review i`m afraid but if you like good guitar then this is the boy for you.pure enjoyment.does what it says on the tin.
Published 1 month ago by A. Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars
Magicccc
This is a wonderful album from Santana - I could not say this about all offerings during my love of their music since the 70s but I would heartily recommend this to fans new and... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jonathon M. PRICE
4.0 out of 5 stars
Shape Shifter
Actually I was personally a bit disappointed in this album. I love Carlos's guitar work since his very first Santana album
and followed him througout the years. Read more
and followed him througout the years. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Antony De Meester
5.0 out of 5 stars
cd
this was a gift for my dad on his birthday as he is a big santana fan. this was the perfect gift for him
Published 3 months ago by neilberg
4.0 out of 5 stars
a good addition to your santana collection
This is a shift away from his previous 4 albums with most of the tracks being instrumentals, but the signature santana tunes are still there
Published 4 months ago by sajica
5.0 out of 5 stars
Back to the past style and great
Been a Santana fan ever since the beginning and delighted to hear Carlos playing his music with his old style and skill.
Published 4 months ago by The Earl of Kinberley
5.0 out of 5 stars
Shape Shifter
Struggling to stop listening to this. Unlike the very disappointing "Supernatural", this is the real thing. More like this please, Mr. Santana ...
Published 5 months ago by Anonymous
4.0 out of 5 stars
More like Carlos of old more music guitar work less trendy crooning
More like Carlos of old more music guitar work less trendy crooning - although I'd like to see even more originality which I haven't really seen since Caravanserai. Read more
Published 5 months ago by j w cox
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
|
|
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
