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, Rovi

1		Manda una Senal
2		Labios Compartidos
3		Ojala Pudiera Borrarte
4		Arrancame el Corazon
5		Tengo Muchas Alas
6		Dime Luna
7		Bendita Tu Luz
8		Tu Me Salvaste
9		Combatiente
10		El Viaje [Dub]
11		El Rey Tiburon
12		Somos Mar y Arena
13		Relax