Metascore
45

Mixed or average reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 7
  2. Negative: 1 out of 7
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  1. This will be a good record for backyard barbecues and beers, but not for much serious listening.
  2. Santana's talent is compromised by a complacency to play these tracks as truly as possible.
  3. Sadly, expert guitar playing cannot carry an album. Moreover, it is too sterile and obsessively arranged, and the majority of the vocals lack that rock fierceness. Everyone is playing it too safe, with the production geared towards something mainstream and pop-oriented rather than experimentation and reinterpretation.
  4. It's easy to imagine Santana completely revamping some guitar-centered hits. But for most of the album, that was apparently too daring for Mr. Santana and his pop mentor and co-producer, Clive Davis. These oldies tend to stay close to the original arrangements and vocal phrasing, perhaps hoping that familiarity can sneak them onto the radio.
  5. Uncut
    Dec 20, 2010
    40
    As he mostly prefers to copy the sound of the original guitarists rather than stamp his own unique style on these over-familiar songs, you have to ask what's the point? [Dec 2010, p.105]
User Score
4.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 10 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 10
  2. Negative: 5 out of 10
  1. Nov 5, 2010
    0
    I try to find the positive in everything I listen to, but this is one occasion where I can't do so. This is a huge disappointment. I looked atI try to find the positive in everything I listen to, but this is one occasion where I can't do so. This is a huge disappointment. I looked at some of the artists who were featured on this compilation and while I didn't like a few, I did like some. Doesn't matter because no one, not even Santana, can save this album. I'm not quite sure how the record execs didn't hear this and try to stop it from being put out to the masses. One of the worst albums I've ever heard. Full Review »
  2. Mar 3, 2022
    0
    I hear it differently: as an act of self-vindication. Santana had always been accused of having weak singers in his band so as not to competeI hear it differently: as an act of self-vindication. Santana had always been accused of having weak singers in his band so as not to compete with his guitar playing. Here he is saying my guitar can compete with the greatest guitar players even when there's a strong singer in the mix. And he's right. On every track. Admittedly, it's an act of hubris but he shows - at least to me - that he can outplay the best of them on their own signature songs while remaining faithful to the originals (And Rolling Stone ranks him at #20 and Keith Richards at #4!? On what planet in which galaxy??) Full Review »
  3. Aug 16, 2020
    3
    'Guitar Heaven' is simply a cold copy-paste project from Santana who is trying to get some attention by doing reprises of rock classics.'Guitar Heaven' is simply a cold copy-paste project from Santana who is trying to get some attention by doing reprises of rock classics. Originality is missing from beginning to end and this feeling I get is reinforced by the fact that there is only one track that is not exactly the same as its original version (and the one I'm referring to is 'Back in Black' with rapper Nas). Santana and even the featured artists seem to be afraid to frustrate rock fans if they don't deliver the exact same texture as everyone's favourite songs. That's crazy because we speak about a lot of diffenrent artists, some seen better than the others but still none of them tried anything new or unxpected.
    Some riffs of the album are catchy and contribute to a certain take-off but end up being erased by the total lack of originality. I was about to recommand listening to this album with friends in a chill ambiance but eventually no: why would stop on this project whilst you can enjoy the original songs which benefits from Santana's absence as well ?
    Full Review »