Guitar Heaven: The Greatest Guitar Classics of All Time
by Santana
  • Record Label: Arista
  • Release Date: Sep 21, 2010
User Score
4.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 10 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 10
  3. Negative: 5 out of 10
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. clem666
    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. 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'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 ?    … Expand
  2. dcj321
    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 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 stopI 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.… Expand
  3. thenamelessdave
    Sep 26, 2014
    7
    I love Santana, and nobody will ever be able to convince me that "Supernatural" was anything but amazing. This album takes the same formula of collaborating with many different artists in an attempt to keep the album diverse, and applies it to covering "the best" guitar songs of rock history. Unfortunately, this effort was doomed to fall short. by trying to give every song a Latin flair,I love Santana, and nobody will ever be able to convince me that "Supernatural" was anything but amazing. This album takes the same formula of collaborating with many different artists in an attempt to keep the album diverse, and applies it to covering "the best" guitar songs of rock history. Unfortunately, this effort was doomed to fall short. by trying to give every song a Latin flair, Santana neutered the raw emotion that made many of these songs great to begin with, especially "Fortunate Son" (nobody ruins Creedence and gets away with it). However, I do believe the album stays afloat, buoyed almost entirely by Santana's incredible guitar (augmented by some experimentation with distortion) and some very talented guests. In particular, Nas in "Back in Black" and India Arie in "While My Guitar Gently Weeps". All in all, it's a very good soundtrack for a summer party or running playlist.… Expand
  4. MattMcpherson
    Oct 10, 2010
    6
    its a good album, probably more for the santana completest than a fringe fan, most the vocalists do an adequate job, but why the hell did nas do back in black, that nearly made me sick, there's nothing new really it just sounds like covers bands playing the songs, not necessarily bad, but not great either
  5. rockray
    Jul 14, 2014
    10
    I think it is a very interesting show of Santana's ability to shred. The sounds are as crisp as you can get from the very high to the very low. He lights up the sky with sound and with the many singers gives us a new sound of some golden oldies and of a couple of not so oldies. Would like to see a concert that goes with this album. And for those who complain about the sound being like aI think it is a very interesting show of Santana's ability to shred. The sounds are as crisp as you can get from the very high to the very low. He lights up the sky with sound and with the many singers gives us a new sound of some golden oldies and of a couple of not so oldies. Would like to see a concert that goes with this album. And for those who complain about the sound being like a cover band, bet you never heard a cover band do it this good!… Expand
  6. loupike
    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 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 -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 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??)… Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
45

Mixed or average reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 7
  3. Negative: 1 out of 7
  1. PopMatters
    Feb 28, 2011
    70
    The result comes off as a celebrity version of American Idol, in which the prize is not a record contract, but to have your track released as a single.
    Read full review
  2. 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]
  3. AllMusic
    30
    There are no reinterpretations--not even the Nas-fronted "Back in Black" changes the song much--just restatements of riffs and replicated effects, each familiar element offering a reminder that Santana, Davis, and company chose to take the easy road by settling for gauche pop instead of guitar rock, winding up with a truly terrible album.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »