Manu Chao ‎– Próxima Estación… Esperanza CD

‘Proxima Estacion…Esperamza’ (2001) is more of a sister album than a follow-up to ‘Clandestino’. Indeed many of the songs use almost identical backing tracks to some on ‘Clandestino’, albiet augmented with extra horns or pollished up a bit. It is on this album that Chao’s apparent fascination with Spanish language radio really begins to rear its head. Samples of dialogue taped in various countries are splattered allover this disjointed but joyous record.
Highlights include the cry for political sanity ‘Mr. Bobby’ (“Hey Bobby Marley, sing something good for me, this world go crazy, it’s an emergency”) and the ridiculous to the Jonathon Richman proportions of ‘Me Gustas Tu’ in which Chao declares his love of everything from his fridge to the mountains to marijuana (a recuring theme) to lasagne to his guitar…you get the picture.
Never taking any true political standpoint and yet giving of the aura of a man who just wants freedom, happiness and sanity (and marijuana) for everyone, Manu Chao deserves to be heard.

Label: Virgin

Country: Europe

Media Condition: Very Good Plus (VG+)
Sleeve Condition: Near Mint (NM or M-)

CD plays great but has a few superficial marks