Shaman
by Santana
  • Record Label: Arista
  • Release Date: Oct 22, 2002
Metascore
59

Mixed or average reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 12
  3. Negative: 1 out of 12
  1. Billboard
    80
    With Shaman, Santana delivers an album that will, no doubt, please fans of its globally successful predecessor, while at the same time reel in new ones.
  2. Q Magazine
    80
    Why didn't they just call it Supernatural II and have done with it? [Dec 2002, p.110]
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  3. CDNow
    70
    Like Supernatural, the record tends to smack more of market research than the soulful expression of a rock legend at times. But in some instances, the duets pay huge dividends.
  5. Mojo
    70
    Santana plays gloriously throughout. [Jan 2003, p.97]
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  6. Entertainment Weekly
    67
    As cynical and overproduced as these collaborations are, ''Shaman'' still has its positive, if not heavenly, moments.
  7. E! Online
    67
    But even as Santana's magic fingers sometimes struggle for a common thread here, they still do plenty of good work.
  8. Rolling Stone
    60
    On Shaman, too many visitors sound as if they're climbing on a gravy train, handing over standard-issue love songs for Santana overdubs. It makes you wonder whether Santana ever met some of his collaborators.
  9. AllMusic
    60
    Each song is tailored to the strengths of the lead singer, not the strengths of Santana, whose left with piddly, forgettable instrumental interludes and playing endless lines beneath the vocal melodies.
  10. Dot Music
    50
    While 'Shaman' is less than the sum of its parts and strays into AOR territory too much to ever truly be cutting edge, despite its R&B and Latin infusions, it will, at least in America, sell by the truckload.
  11. Blender
    40
    So while there's no lack of diversity over Shaman's 70-plus minutes, that's also its undoing: it doesn't hang together. [#12, p.152]
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  12. Uncut
    40
    The guests are more intriguing than the material. [Dec 2002, p.152]
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  13. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    30
    Trots out an unceasingly uninteresting parade of pop personalities singing against a patina of Latin music so drained of ethnicity and soul that it makes Herb Alpert seem like Sun Ra by comparison.

Awards & Rankings

79
#79 Most Discussed Album of 2002
73
#73 Most Shared Album of 2002

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 19 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 19
  3. Negative: 5 out of 19
  1. CarlosSantana
    Jan 23, 2006
    0
    Santana has died. It's official. He can't even write his own songs anymore. It's over. There's no good songs on this Santana has died. It's official. He can't even write his own songs anymore. It's over. There's no good songs on this entire album!!! He needs to get something good going other wise, he's done. The original records by Santana were beautiful. But those days are long long long long gone.… Full Review »
  2. CarlaN
    Jul 17, 2005
    10
    It's simply one of the best CDs I've ever heard. It's for all tastes from love songs to the dance floor! Congratulations on It's simply one of the best CDs I've ever heard. It's for all tastes from love songs to the dance floor! Congratulations on this album! I hope we will be lucky to have such a better release album by santana next time!… Full Review »
  3. Bobby
    Jan 4, 2003
    10
    This is a great album and you people that gave it a 3 rating really need to get the wax cleaned out of your ears ha!
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