Customer Reviews
More Manu magic - By: A. S. Proud, 18 Jan 2009 
Manu Chao is a man with a lot to say but, despite some serious lyrics, this album is full of light & catchy tunes. Its fun, its lively & I've been listening to it over & over since I bought it over a year ago. You'll find this tucked awayin the World section of most stores, & this is one performer who truly merits being there. You can hear a mix of latin, reggae & punkin Manu's music & he singsin English, Italian, French, but above all, Spanish.
Just about all the tracks are good, but I really like Politik Kills & Mundoreves. Why Manu still isn't getting much attentionin the English speaking world I do not know, but its our loss. Look him up & you'll see what I mean.
the best yet - By: sziasztok, 13 Nov 2008 Unlike many, I actually consider this to be Manu's strongest album yet. I love the way the alternation between styles- rock, latin & languages- Spanish, French & English makes for an album that constantly feels refreshing.
My favourite track was a surprise to me "Raining In Paradise" is a bit of an anthem. I also like "Politik Kills" for its punchy if naive lyrics, & "La Vida Es Una Tombola" which makes reference to Diego Maradona- even as a gay man who does not like football, I loved the beauty of this song.
No problemin giving this 5 stars.
Recycled - By: M. G. Wilson, 01 Sep 2008 
As others have remarked, Manu Chao is an international superstar whose charms have not been apparent to the CD buying publicin the US or UK. So the question hanging over La Radiolina is whether this album can change all that & break Chaoin the English speaking world. Those who like me come to this album unfamiliar with his earlier work but having heard 'Politik Kills' & 'Rainingin Paradise' will I think be disappointed. It's not just that these are two of only three English language tracks (Chao also singsin Spanish, French & Italian), it's more that there is little else here that is that catchy or distinctive. The remaining songs themselves are simple cartoonish sketches, not just repetitivein themselves but also sharing lyrics, rhythms & melodies with other songs on this album & from earlier work, giving the impression of an artist who has either run out of ideas or simply can't be bothered to putin the work to come up with something new. Not a desperately bad album, just rather dull.
Brilliant in places but horribly flawed - By: David Johnson, 14 Apr 2008 Manu Chao has always intrigued me. He makes extremely basic music with lyircs which are for the most part drivel - but his records are undeniably compelling. What makes Manu special is his inherant sense for a single chord & a line of Spanish or French that even those who flunked their GCSE can sing along to.
On Radiolina he's at it again, catering for those dreadlocked European backpackers who want their slice of world music. My problema with Chao is that he seems to insist on all this thinly veiled political rubbish. Does he really think he's making a statement with tracks like Tristeza Maleza & Raininin Paradise?
It's a shame because when he puts his mind to it he's capable of penning truly excellent songs about feeling lostin the world. "Me llaman Calle," is Chao at his absolute best. A string of fine songs followin the middle, the gentle, beautiful A cosa an example. Nevermind the often used multilingual trick he employs.
For me the standout track is La vida Tombola - a hauntingly beautiful number about the travails of Diego Maradona.
As on Chao's other albums there is a lot of track repetition - it's up to the listener to find a set of lyrics they like & stick to them.
This format for Chao's music is surely a little tired by now. I'm sure it won't stop people buying itin their droves though. Brilliantin some ways, terriblein others.
A reggae sense of urgency - By: Christian Jongeneel, 01 Feb 2008 When I first listened to Radiolina I thought, Manu, you are starting to repeat yourself. But then I found myself listening to the album again & again, & started to wonder what made this such a compelling cd.
Even more than his previous work, this album exudes a sense of urgency - an emotion which isin delightful contrast with the dominant reggae rhythms. The beats are faster, there is less pause for slower songs. There is only one break between the songs, at a moment that strikes the listener as unsatisfactory. Manu then picks up the music once more, for a couple of more songs, & when silence strikes again, it leaves the audience (or me at least) with the feeling that this was a natural ending.
Maybe Manu is repeating himself, but how wonderfully does he do it.
