Music Reviews

Album Review: Wyclef Jean – ‘Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant’

By Jeff Swindoll Feb 13, 2008, 16:27 GMT

Wyclef Jean is a former member of the hip hop trio the Fugees, but has been pursuing a solo career since ‘The Carnival’ in 1997.  Now a decade later he’s going back to those roots and making a follow up to that album subtitled ‘Memoirs of an Immigrant.’ 

He starts off with a short intro on how the world has changed in those ten years and not for the better.  He also asks some guests to appear with him, including Serj Tankian and Sizzla on “Riot,” Mary J. Bilge on “What about the Baby,” Norah Jones on “Any Other Day,” Paul Simon on “Fast Car,” Shakira on “King and Queen,” and Akon, Little Wayne, and Niia on “Sweetest Girl.” 

Jean provides a nice mix of reggae and rock and even this tone deaf critic mellowed out on the sounds.  My favorite tune might be the “Fast Car” with Paul Simon because it has that “Simon” sound and he and Jean sound great in this song.  A close second would be “King and Queen” and I liked the way that Shakira bursts into the song, great stuff.

I didn’t go to the first Carnival but this one has some great moments and well worth the ticket that you have to buy from the barker.