Search - Santana :: Love Devotion Surrender (Mlps)

Santana, McLaughlin, and brilliance.

B. E Jackson | Pennsylvania | 10/18/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Oh my sweet goodness. I think I've finally found it. I think I've finally found the reason why I listen to guitar jams.



I think I've finally found just the right album for me. Emotion, melody, atmosphere and a touch of spiritual mystery. I think I've finally found an album where *every single note* clicks perfectly in my mind, and makes me feel powerful, healthy and happy. A variety of unexplainable emotions that flow nonstop through my head and make me feel *so darn good!!*



This describes Santana's "Love, Devotion, Surrender". Well, more like Santana and McLaughlin joining up together to create something I don't think has ever been done before. THIS is a spiritual journey that words can't even describe. These are NO ordinary guitar jams!



Now, if you're simply not a big fan of guitar jams -especially incredibly heavy ones where the guitar playing keeps going and going and GOING- you probably won't care for this album much. I, however, have come around to think this is one of the best rock albums from the 70's. This is truly a journey through the mind. Every note that Santana and McLaughlin play just flows in such a perfect, HIGHLY enjoyable way. The two of them were meant to play together.



You have Santana's melodic, soothing style of guitar playing combined with McLaughlin's jerky, jazzy style. The two styles are very different, and somehow, a masterpiece was created back in 1972.



I can only guess the reason the majority of people didn't give this album a chance back in the day was because of the heaviness of the guitar playing, or maybe people just didn't care for *this* much guitar playing to dominate an album. Whatever the reason, make no mistake about it- "Love, Devotion, Surrender" is my favorite album of all-time. I wouldn't just blurt out something so outrageous unless I was completely sure. I am!



Now, I have to be totally honest about something- I didn't exactly warm up to these guitar jams the first time I heard them. In fact, I didn't think much of the album after hearing it TEN times. I bought the album back in January, and listened to it a few times here and there over the course of the next few months.



Suddenly what seemed like overlong, mildly pleasing guitar playing turned into an adventure of a lifetime.



At that point every note really caught my attention, and I really began to appreciate what happens when you mix jazz, rock and atmosphere together. It took until August or so when I finally said to myself "Man, this is GREAT stuff". I was sitting in my rocking chair, just jamming away to this album on a very hot night in Pennsylvania, and the brilliance of the entire experience just hit me. I closed my eyes and just let the music flow, and couldn't believe how great I was feeling while listening to it.



How many guitar jams can you pay attention to for the ENTIRE thing without getting bored? Not many. Well, this is one of them- the three lengthy jams on this album are exciting to the extreme.



Oh sure, there's some scattered vocals in the background, along with drums and keyboards, but the guitar playing is the thing I remember the most about the album when it's over. That, and the spiritual vibes that flow through much of it. Sometimes I believe I even pick up a bit of a Japanese sound in spots. Not sure if that was in any way intentional. Such a great, great album.



I don't even think I've mentioned how INTENSE these jams are. Talk about extremely heavy. Remember that guitar solo in Deep Purple's "Child In Time?" Well, I'd say much of this Santana album features a similar BLAZING kind of intensity. It's rare to hear something this heavy from the 70's. Heavy AND beautiful. Yes that's right- because every second of the music on here is fantastic, you can't help but find beauty in it.



I sit here and seriously wonder if either Carlos Santana or John McLaughlin realized just how heavy the music they were making at the time was. Not only does it hold up and sound good today, it's unique in that it sounds like nothing else out there.



I've honestly never been hit this hard with quality guitar playing. Oh sure, there's plenty of guitar jams out there where a couple parts here and there catch your attention, but THIS Santana album has guitar playing where *every single second of it* is magnificent.



Sorry for sounding like a fanboy who can't control his emotions, but my goodness- I absolutely love "Love, Devotion, Surrender". Pick it up NOW, PLEASE!"