Amar Es Combatir

Arriving a long four years after Revolucion de Amor (2002), which had been the band's most accomplished album to date, and a Grammy winner to boot, Amar Es Combatir confirmed Mana's continuing designation as the world's standard-bearing Spanish-language mainstream rock band. Amar Es Combatir's lead single, "Labios Compartidos," was an overnight chart-topper, and the album itself debuted at number four on Billboard's overall album chart, the highest debut ever for a Spanish-language release by a band or group. And make no mistake, such success was warranted, as Amar Es Combatir is not so much a stride forward creatively as it is a consolidation of everything that had earned Mana such a devoted international fan base in the first place. For better, and perhaps for worse, there are no surprises on Amar Es Combatir: the band delivers yet another slick set of soaring rockers (of which "Arrancane el Corazon" and "Tu Me Salvaste" are the highlights) interspersed with laid-back pleas of passion ("Ojala Pudiera Borrarte," "Bendita Tu Luz") and, of course, the obligatory heart-clutching power ballad or two a la "Vivir sin Aire," the band's timeless breakthrough hit from 1994 ("Labios Compartidos," "Tengo Muchas Alas"). The band's critics, who are legion, offered the same age-old complaints upon the album's release: the band repackages the same product each go round, the songs are awfully sappy for such a gruff-looking bunch of guys, and yes, the music isn't authentic -- that is, it's not Latin enough. Regardless of whether you adore or hate Mana, there's no denying the appeal of Amar Es Combatir. This is a meticulous, impassioned, and all-around well-crafted album of what fans had come to expect from Mana, and if it lacks some of the courage of Revolucion de Amor, Amar Es Combatir is nonetheless a standout rock en espanol effort circa 2006 and another laudable effort by the ever-reliable band. ~ Jason Birchmeier

“Labios Compartidos”が全米で大ヒットしているラテン・ロック界のモンスター・バンド、マナの新作!　エモーショナルなギター・サウンドと情熱的なスペイン語の歌には、メキシコの国民的バンドとして長らく君臨するオッチャンたちの円熟味がある。とはいえ和めるレゲエやサルサがあったり、一筋縄ではいかない演出上手さがラテンの血ｧ　フアネス、シャキーラとの〈ラテン・グラミー三つ巴争奪戦〉なんてのも楽しみ!
bounce (C)渡辺 雄作