Album Review: Santana - Blessings and Miracles

Hard to argue with the early days of Santana. There's no knocking 1970's Abraxas or something as gloriously out there as 1972's jazz odyssey Caravanserai.

The problem with Blessings And Miracles is that it sticks to the template laid down by 1999' s Supernatural, which is, despite iPhone-like sales figures, hard going. You can't blame them for getting various guests in: it's worked, financially at least, before and, despite Carlos Santana's unique guitar sound, the fact remains that his 'brand' doesn't have a recognisable vocal signature.

That being said, he could have roped in the drunk auld lads outside The Black Lion with better results than what's here. The Rob Thomas-featuring 'Move' is the sort of rock-constructed-in-a-boardroom stuff that should result in a custodial sentence, 'America For Sale' with Kirk Hammett is as painful as a visit to a back alley dentist, and 'She's Fire' (Diane Warren & G-Eazy) could put you off music for life, if this antiseptic mush could be legally described as music in the first place. Normally reliable sorts like Chris Stapleton and Steve Winwood shouldn’t have answered the phone.

To be fair, 'Angel Choir/All Together' with Chick and Gayle Moran Corea is not without appeal and points to a better album. Santana should really go and make that one instead, because Blessings And Miracles fails to live up to its title in any shape or form.

3/10
Listen: ‘Angel Choir/All Together’

Listen to Blessings and Miraclesby Santana below.