Mana Amar Es Combatir CD

Maná: Fher Olvera, Alex González.
Personnel: Fher Olvera (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, harmonica); Juan Luis Guerra (vocals); Fernando Vallín (guitar, bajo sexto); Sergio Vallin (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Juan Calleros (bajo sexto); Albert Sterling Menendez (keyboards).
Audio Mixer: Thom Russo.
Recording information: Hit Factory Criteria, Miami, FL.
Mexican rock en Espanol outfit Mana followed up their 2002 Grammy-winning album REVOLUCION DE AMOR with 2006's AMAR ES COMBATIR, an effort that weighs in as one of the band's strongest. Boasting even catchier tunes, tighter arrangements, and higher energy than its predecessor, AMAR ES COMBATIR is still grounded in the mainstream arena rock sound the band is known for, with ample doses of power balladry and Latin flavors to keep things varied. Critics of the band are unlikely to be converted, but longtime fans will be overjoyed to find Mana improving on what they already do well.
Arriving a long four years after Revolución de Amor (2002), which had been the band's most accomplished album to date, and a Grammy winner to boot, Amar Es Combatir confirmed Maná'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 Maná 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 "Arráncane el Corazón" and "Tú 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 à 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 Maná, 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 Maná, and if it lacks some of the courage of Revolución de Amor, Amar Es Combatir is nonetheless a standout rock en español effort circa 2006 and another laudable effort by the ever-reliable band. ~ Jason Birchmeier