Lo Mejor de La Mano Negra

AMG Review of Lo Mejor de La Mano Negra

Thom Jurek
All Music Guide

This is it, the set that offers a glimpse, because it can only be a glimpse, of the crazy, overheated, wildly musical, drunken genius of Mano Negra. Many are now familiar with the more laid-back exploits of Manu Chao -- his lead vocals, guitar playing, and songwriting fueled this almost-insanely talented band (and also included his brother Tonio Chao) -- which were full of surprises and could keep a live show going for hours at 100 mph. Mano Negra were a French band with a Latin name that offered the original ground-zero for ock en espańol. Their influence offered an inspiration to the entire movement which heavily borrowed from them. Many older groups like los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Todos Tus Muertos, and Maldita Vecindad also nodded with admiration to this ock band who used everything from hip-hop, ska, eggae, Cuban son, and humba, punk (they invented ethno-punk), oots rock, ai, dub, sound collage, man -- everything -- and what a funky brass section! This band at its beginning listed eight members, all of whom sang. The music on this double-disc set is fantastic. Lo Mejor de La Mano Negra is a sampling from their five recordings, but it's hardly the whole story, as too many excellent tracks have been left off. Many who bought the original Best of Mano Negra in 1998 may feel cheated as the 24 tracks on it are all here, plus a 2005 version of "Out of Time Man," that isn't there. That said, included in this package is a previously unreleased, wooly live set on the second disc, plus a completely remastered disc one which make for a stunningly fine-sounding package. Yes, the sonic difference of the first disc is certainly audible, so don't feel cheated. If Buena Vista Social Club is a little too laid-back, and Manu Chao solos are a little too compartmentalized, then by all means check this set out as one of the most mind-blowing introductions to a band you will ever hear. This is most certainly not hyperbole: there are many thousands of people all over the world who feel Mano Negra was the greatest band who ever lived -- and, with no disrespect to the Clash -- were the real "only band that matters" during their all-too-brief lifetime. Going into the individual tracks would be ridiculous, as everything on here burns with the passionate screams of men on fire. And they were. Punters willing to check this out will no doubt want to seek out their individual recordings, particularly Puta's Fever and Casa Babylon. And purchasing individual albums will not put anyone off this, as its sequencing is perfect and the live disc just roars. Hell, get 'em all, you won't be sorry.