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Post by dawyked on Dec 4, 2007 19:08:59 GMT 1
please, just for reviews about the cd found in the web (not personal comments): Seductively summery. Dec 04, 2007Now Lauryn Hill's gone bag-lady bonkers, the Haitian Fugees' boss rifled through his little black book for more laydeez to play with. Norah Jones, Shakira and Mary J Blige are a few that answered his call. Wyclef Jean is a rare artistic breed - the more big names he collaborates with, the better he gets. On this laid-back fifth album he rounds up another impressive cast list, mixing rock, rap, reggae, Bollywood beats, dancehall and even samba. His latest star-studded collection sees him returning to one of his favourite themes: immigration and identity. The heroes and heroines of his narratives are illegal immigrants, strippers, deadbeat dads and single mothers - but, with the help of his guests, his portrayals of these outcasts are remarkably sympathetic. The reggae-lite production is seductively summery (especially on the gorgeous "Slow Down"), if slightly aimless at times; despite the influence of Wyclef's conscience, his eye is too firmly set on a carnival atmosphere to ever sound preachy. The new single "Sweetest Girl" has "hit" written all over it, a reggae-tinged track with a vocal contribution from Akon, Lil Wayne and Niia that fits in perfectly with Wyclef 's sound. Paul Simon provides a classic chorus on "Fast Car", a folky warning against youthful foolishness. Sizzla's slot on "Welcome to the East", "What About the Baby" featuring Mary j Blige and the silky "Any Other Day" with Norah Jones also stand out on this impressive display Easy on the ears, this album is a shot of summer for the chilled days ahead. Enjoy. www.sonybmgstore.com/Carnival-II-Memoirs-of-an-Immigrant/A/B000V9KDMK.htm |
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Post by dawyked on Dec 4, 2007 19:09:42 GMT 1
The Story Of An Immigrant Dec 04, 2007Ever since the Fugees split up after the mega success with "The Score", the three band members had diffrent fate. Lauryn Hill release the modern classic "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" but later vannished from the music world after she became a mother. Pras had a few hits right after but also vanished after lack of popularity. Wyclef Jean on the other hand continued making solid albums during the upcoming years and proved time after time that he wasn't only the brain of the Fugees but was able to evolve as a musician with great music that both was challenging to listen to and with intelligent lyrics. Wyclef's debut album "The Carnival" is the brickstone of his solo career. It features all kind of music styles from Reggae, R&b, World Music, Latin to Rock and Wyclef always invites plenty of guests from all kinds of genres to make things more interesting, but apart from other Rap artists that rely on guest to alter their albums on the record companies demand for public interest, Wyclef write/arrange and produce/ everything by himself and then he just invite guests to spice up things a little. His albums always mix two topics, big social problems and feel good dance music. Wyclef made both "911" and "Party To Damascus" to make an example of his variety in styles. One of the problems with Wyclef's albums was sometimes that he wanted too much and made albums that had too many songs, but ever since the "Preacher's Son" we've seen considerably less songs of his albums. It's also been a while since he scored with a big hit from his albums. "Damascus" may have been a club hit, but only reached a modest #65 position on the charts and his last "back to his roots" album "Welcome To Haiti" from 2004 was a non-commercial album that didn't have singles, but in 2006 he wrote/produced and appeared in Shakira's "Hip's Don't Lie" that became the biggest hit of the year, reaching #1 in almost 50 diffrent countries!. However, after many expriments with music and a few years off mostly involved in humanitarian efforts, Wyclef comes back with his sixth album "The Carnival II : Memoirs of an Immgrant. Yep, he's trying to re-create the sound of his classic debut album making a more accessable effort in ages and as always it's full with guest apperences and a myriad of diffrent styles and themes. Needless to say, you probably know if you like Wyclef Jean by now or not cause you know what to expect on his albums. There's a big question though, is this album as good as the first Carnival?. Let's take a look at the songs and find out. By the title of the albums it's obvious that Immigration issues is in focus here, and by listening to the album alot of songs seems to deal with the issue. Thus, the songwriting is in focus even if the music is as good as always. Wyclef wants to remind us that USA was built by Immigration and the recent trend is no diffrent from the past. Some lyrics can be seen as self autobiographical, others dedicated to people in simular situations, but there's some pure party songs aswell. The first song is a short intro where Wyclef is suppostely writing music. He say things are changing and the world is in panic. His daughter can briefly be heard here. Second song "Riot (Trouble Again)" continue where the intro left. It feature dancehall singer Sizzla and Serj Tankian from System of Down and it's more or less a Rock song with great guitar riffs and high intensity. "Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)" deals with a girl that used to be good at school that ruined her life by turning to stripping. It feautures Akon singing the hook and Lil Wayne that actually makes a suitable verse here. It's the first single and really good. Sizzla comes back on "Welcome To the East" with a mid eastern sound. After producing "You Know What It Is" and "My Swag" from T.I's last album, he returns the favour with "Slow Down" and their duet works out really well. It's a rhythmic uptempo with good lyrics. The same thing happens when Shakira join in on "King & Queens" which is one of the highlights. "Fast Car" is my favorite song, it features Paul Simon! of all people. Wyclef starts by making reference to Kanye's songs "Jesus Walks" and "Through The Wire" and ends up writing some of the best lyrics he ever made. My guess is that it's about how we can die anytime. "You gotta be no billionaire/To get a ticket up to the moon/We all know somebody up there/You need a helping hand". In a later verse he also make a refernce to Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes that died in a car accident in Honduras some years ago. On the most soulish song of this album "What About The Baby", we find Mary J Blige back. This song is about fathers that aren't around for their children. "Hollywood meets Bollywood" an indian sounding song that deals with immigration and the multi ethnical society and Wyclef talk about how America was built by immigrants. Chamillionaire "sings" the hook and drop a guest verse aswell. It sounds really good even if it's too diffrent to work on radio. "Any Other Day" a slow ballad with Norah Jones, that really could have been taken from her album - minus the Wyclef rap. On "Heaven's In New York" Wyclef finds himself alone for the only time on this album in a sweet ballad with good lyrics. Upcoming singer Melissa Jimenez Appears on a latin inspired song called "Selena" a tribute to the the late singer Selena Quintanilla 1971-1995. Wyclef plays the guitar here and the song is another highlight. "Touch Your Button" is 13 minutes jam feauture a myriad of guests like Melissa Jimenez and Will.i.am (who as as annoying as he can be on this song), and several others. This song just shouldn't have appeared on the album at all. The album closes with that, only 13 songs. Bonus songs are "On Tour" and "China Wine". Both subpar party songs. Overall, it doesn't hurt to have many friends. Wyclef makes the best out of it here and song after song I find myself praising him for good lyrics, arrangements and styles and most of the guest appearences couldn't have been better. "Carnival II" Is the best Wyclef album since his original 1997 "Carnival". As a self proclaimed world music Ambassador, Wyclef makes an hell of a job of creating music that represents all the world and he always has a thought behind his lyrics. Although there's only 12 real songs here and not 24 (including interludes) from the first Carnival you get what you asked for and all of those 12 songs apart from the aformenentioned closer are really good. I already had alot of respect for this man, but it increased even more after this listen. Wyclef doesn't only put Haiti on the map, but he puts international relations in focus. 4'5 stars and recommended. www.sonybmgstore.com/Carnival-II-Memoirs-of-an-Immigrant/A/B000V9KDMK.htm
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Post by dawyked on Dec 4, 2007 19:13:16 GMT 1
@ billboard: www.wyclef.com/press/billboard_11242007.htmlhe did a song about selena, the techno-cumbia supastar yhat was murdered a few years ago, she's a Mexican pride and he worote about oue (i'm proudly mexican) and they (haitians)! wow! |
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Post by dawyked on Dec 4, 2007 19:20:11 GMT 1
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Post by dawyked on Dec 4, 2007 19:21:28 GMT 1
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Post by dawyked on Dec 4, 2007 19:22:03 GMT 1
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Post by dawyked on Dec 4, 2007 19:23:10 GMT 1
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Post by dawyked on Dec 4, 2007 19:24:13 GMT 1
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aaktt
Full Member
Refugee Camp
Posts: 607
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Post by aaktt on Dec 4, 2007 21:09:45 GMT 1
@ billboard: www.wyclef.com/press/billboard_11242007.htmlhe did a song about selena, the techno-cumbia supastar yhat was murdered a few years ago, she's a Mexican pride and he worote about oue (i'm proudly mexican) and they (haitians)! wow! it's kinda weepy she died in such a young age  i really enjoy her music... that's nice of wyclef that he's paid a tribute to her |
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Post by dawyked on Dec 5, 2007 3:24:32 GMT 1
@ billboard: www.wyclef.com/press/billboard_11242007.htmlhe did a song about selena, the techno-cumbia supastar yhat was murdered a few years ago, she's a Mexican pride and he worote about oue (i'm proudly mexican) and they (haitians)! wow! it's kinda weepy she died in such a young age i really enjoy her music... that's nice of wyclef that he's paid a tribute to her word. |
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Post by dawyked on Dec 5, 2007 3:43:26 GMT 1
Wyclef Jean has spent the 10 years since the original "Carnival" in projects of scattered ambition and success, some that hit ("Hips Don't Lie") and some that didn't (anyone remember his reworking of "The Gambler" with Kenny Rogers?). But hip-hop loves its Roman numerals, and it was probably only a matter of time before he revisited the concept. "The Carnival II: Memoirs of an Immigrant" isn't nearly as fresh as its older cousin, mostly because it only seems partly interested in its timely concept, but it's a stronger-than-usual collection that succeeds more when Clef sits back ("Heaven's in New York" and the Norah Jones-assisted "Any Other Day") than when he works hard at showing off his sprawling pedigree (the needlessly overdone "Hollywood Meets Bollywood" and the too long "Touch Your Button Carnival Jam"). Things feel much weightier when Paul Simon shows up for a moving cameo on "Fast Car," proving that on the whole, "Carnival II" sounds louder when it's quieter. —Jeff Vrabel www.billboard.com/bbcom/content_display/reviews/albums/e3ida9c9ba3e6e83a93011b820d17f30cba |
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Post by dawyked on Dec 11, 2007 5:45:24 GMT 1
Marley wannabe sometimes is baffling, but producers, celebrity violinist save day
Published on Sunday, Dec 09, 2007
CARNIVAL VOL. II: MEMOIRS OF AN IMMIGRANT
Wyclef Jean
Columbia
In the years since the disintegration of his hip-hop trio, the Fugees, Wyclef Jean has released a smattering of solo albums, created a handful of collaborative hits and found various ways to strengthen his ties to Haiti, the country he left when he was young. (Its president, Rene Preval, has named him a roving ambassador.) He has also made no secret of his desire to become a 21st-century version of Bob Marley. If a guitar, a quavering voice, a loose command of Jamaican patois and a tendency to cover No Woman, No Cry were all it took, he (and many others) would have achieved that goal long ago.
Carnival Vol. II, Jean's sixth solo album, is yet another mishmash, this one a cosmopolitan hip-pop grab bag full of big-name guests, baffling miscalculations and bursts of inspired songwriting. As usual, one of Jean's greatest assets seems to be Jerry ''Wonda'' Duplessis, his writing and producing partner.
Another of his greatest assets: his guest list. T.I., one of the album's co-executive producers, lends his eloquent drawl to Slow Down; King & Queen comes alive when Shakira starts singing; and Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill), the breezy and delectable current single, gives Akon and Lil Wayne a chance to cry crocodile tears for strippers. Also invited: Paul Simon, Mary J. Blige and Norah Jones, all of whom sing sweetly enough to (nearly) erase the memory of Serj Tankian, from System of a Down, rapping.
As for the host, his shamelessness can be charming. At the end of Hollywood Meets Bollywood (Immigration), a collaboration with the Indian composer Aadesh Shrivastava, Jean seems to be free-associating: ''Let's go, Haiti! We everywhere! Caribbeans, stand up! Bring me my elephant! You want to hear me speak Punjabi?''
By contrast, Million Voices, an earnest song from the album's bonus CD, finds him plumbing new depths of lyrical infelicity, as he croons, ''They say, 'Many are called, few are chosen'/But I wish some wasn't chosen/For the blood spilling of Rwanda.''
Suffice it to say that rapping isn't his forte, either, though he makes a pretty good MC, in the pre-hip-hop sense. At the end of Welcome to the East, he makes an extraordinary announcement: ''On violin, we got the honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.'' It's the best and most memorable line on the album, not least because it happens to be true.
— Kelefa Sanneh
New York Times
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i really enjoy her music... that's nice of wyclef that he's paid a tribute to her