Released 10 years ago
Santana IV
Santana · 2016
75 min · 16 tracks · music of Latin America
A vibrant blend of Latin rock and blues, seamlessly merging classic sounds with modern grooves.
Top tracks — play these first
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Yambu Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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Anywhere You Want to Go — This track features an uplifting melody and dynamic vocal performances that encapsulate the essence of the album's spirit of freedom and exploration.
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Freedom in Your Mind — With its powerful message and infectious rhythm, this song serves as a rallying cry, blending political themes with Santana's signature sound.
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Blues Magic — This track highlights Santana's blues influences, showcasing his virtuoso guitar work intertwined with soulful rhythms that evoke deep emotion.
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Love Makes the World Go Round — The collaboration on this track features rich harmonies and a captivating groove that reinforces the album’s theme of unity and love.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album effectively blends classic and modern elements, though its pacing dips in the latter half.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a strong instrumental track, setting a vibrant tone that persists through the first half.
- The last three tracks slow down the tempo significantly, creating a reflective mood that contrasts with the earlier energy.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic journey with peaks
- vibrant rhythms for dance
- uplifting energy for gatherings
- wave-like pacing for immersion
- explorative soundscapes to unwind
Maybe skip if you
- dislike extended listening experiences
- prefer straightforward song structures
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Revitalizes classic lineup sound, showcasing continued vitality in later career.
- Themes
- political freedom anthems· vibrant Latin grooves
- Career context
- Released on April 15, 2016, Santana IV marked the band's first studio album in over four decades featuring the classic lineup from their iconic 1971 album, Santana III. This reunion was a significant event for fans and critics alike, highlighting a return to their roots while also exploring new musical territories.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Carlos Vives· Los Lobos· Javier Solís
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Freedom in Your Mind
The moment shifts into a call for personal liberation, directly addressing listeners to break free from societal constraints.
This direct engagement with the listener transforms the song into an anthem for self-empowerment, emphasizing action rather than passive reflection.
Tracklist
- 1 Yambu Start here 3:26
- 2 Shake It 4:44
- 3 Anywhere You Want to Go 5:04
- 4 Fillmore East 7:44
- 5 Love Makes the World Go Round 4:20
- 6 Freedom in Your Mind 5:29
- 7 Choo Choo 4:09
- 8 All Aboard 2:03
- 9 Sueños 5:15
- 10 Caminando 4:20
- 11 Blues Magic 4:25
- 12 Echizo 3:53
- 13 Leave Me Alone 4:01
- 14 You and I 4:19
- 15 Come as You Are 4:51
- 16 Forgiveness 7:22
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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