Santana - Guitar Heaven

[Diabolical]

This could be a pretty cool album.
Out on Sept 21.
I may pick it up if it's like $10.

1. Whole Lotta Love (featuring Chris Cornell)
2. Can't You Hear Me Knocking (featuring Scott Weiland)
3. Sunshine Of Your Love (featuring Rob Thomas)
4. While My Guitar Gently Weeps (featuring India.Arie & Yo-Yo Ma)
5. Photograph (featuring Chris Daughtry)
6. Back In Black (featuring Nas and Janelle Monáe)
7. Riders On The Storm (featuring Chester Bennington & Ray Manzarek)
8. Smoke On The Water (featuring Jacoby Shaddix)
9. Dance The Night Away (featuring Pat Monahan)
10. Bang A Gong (featuring Gavin Rossdale)
11. Little Wing (featuring Joe Cocker)
12. I Ain t Superstitious (featuring Jonny Lang)

Amazon.de has 30 second samples.
I only listed to a few and they don't sound too bad.
Naturally, the only reason I even know about the album is because of Scott Weiland's involvement.

[anarky]

Damn, with that lineup, even Daughtry can't bring it down. I've actually seen it in my Gold Box at Amazon, but figured it was some compilation due to the name and kinda bland cover. Thanks for the heads-up.

[Diabolical]

That was a gold box deal on Amazon already?
I've never seen them do a pre-release deal before.

And yeah, that cover is all kinds of shit. It looks thrown together and made for the $2.99 compilation disc rack.

[anarky]

I guess it's technically the "Quick Picks." I get pre-order stuff in there all the time. Normally stuff I'm uninterested in.

There's a deluxe edition for $3 more with a DVD (meh--I learned long ago I never actually watch those) and two extra songs. One is with Scott Stapp, screwing up "Fortunate Son." The other is Andy Vargas (who I looked up--the only Wikipeda entry is a soccer player from Australia, but Google indicates he must be a Latin performer of some sort) doing "Under the Bridge."

I'm torn over whether to drop the extra few bucks or not.

Edit: I actually clicked on one of the links, and it would appear Mr. Vargas is the lead singer for the band Santana, so not sure why he'd be listed as a guest (though the way Santana's albums have become superstar free-for-alls, maybe he's the real guest). I found a video of him singing "Smooth," and he's got a better voice than Rob Thomas, much (forgive the pun) smoother and more soulful. He seems to fit Santana better than any of the multitudinous guests. Haven't actually heard his "Under the Bridge," but it should be pretty decent.

[Diabolical]

Does it say what is on the DVD?
I have a couple of really good bonus DVDs (mostly from Greatest Hits collection).

The Under the Bridge may be worth the extra cash, but that also means you're paying for Scott Stapp. *shudder*

[anarky]

It's okay. Not great, but above average. Most of the songs are a bit overproduced, and a few are like carbon copies with a few trademark "Santana power chords" thrown in. Mostly, the appeal of each song depends entirely on how much you like the lead singer. Based on one listen, I'd give it a B or B-.

Truth is, I read this morning that he's readying an album of originals for next year, which sounds more interesting.