Customer Reviews

Ecleftic: Special Edition (Bonus CD)

5 star:		(67)
4 star:		(24)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Wyclef is back and better than ever! If you thought he expressed musical diversity on "The Carnival", he comes back to the roots this time out.

"Ecleftic" is exactly what it sounds like - Wyclef being eclectic. Songs to definitely peep:

Kenny Rogers/Pharoah Monch Dub Plate - Who else could pull off a jam with the great C&W Kenny Rogers and lyrically talented Pharoah Monch but Wyclef. The beat will have that noggin bobbin'.

911 - Soulful song w/the queen of hip hop Ms. Mary J. Blige. The hook will have you singing with'em. I would love to have heard Lauryn singing with him instead.

Pullin Me In, However You Want It, Where Fugees At? - With these tracks Clef takes it back to the streets to let the fans know about how his "12 disciples" sold him out, crucified him or just straight up used him and turned around to dis him(read: Lauryn Hill, Pras, Canibus). This is some old Battle rap format - definitely what's needed. How will they all respond, enquiring minds want to know.

Hollyhood to Hollywood - Clef addresses his those in the entertainment industry that claim street credibility yet display "hollywood" mentality. And how they get no respect in the 'hoods they claim. I like the hook, "Don't wear your colors here/that's cemetery gear...". When I heard this song I was like "IT'S ABOUT TIME!"

Don't sleep on the other tracks. He comes correct with Earth, Wind & Fire (Runaway), The Rock & Melky Sedeck (It Doesn't Matter) and other tracks.

Overall, this CD definitely has more street appeal than his solo debut. Where "The Carnival" had more melody, "Ecleftic" has harder beats. Think of this as "The Score - Part II" minus the Lauryn and Pras.

As Bob Marley once said, "Don't let'em fool ya, oh no...". Naysayers will sleep on this CD but I come to tell the truth - Wclef brings the "Earth, Wind and Fire" this time out (pun intended).

Enjoy!

In an age of tightly formatted radio and niche marketing, it is rare to find an artist who crosses all boundaries, and shatters all preconceptions and simply makes music. There's hardly a musical genre that doesn't get thrown into the mix, and there's hardly a song on this album that isn't bangin'. Wyclef is a product of hip-hop, and as such, this record an amazing statement about the power of the music and the culture and how far it was come. Kenny Rogers puttin' it down over a slightly rocked out reworking of the "Simon Says" beat? But it works. Amazingly enough, the best tracks on here are the ones that take the greatest chances, straying furthest away from traditional hip hop. "911" with Mary J. Blige is essentially a pop/rock ballad, that Clef sings like a Calypso folk song. To round out the mix, Mary throws down with a straight soul workout. Clef makes an incredible nod to 70s funk/soul on "Runaway" with Earth Wind and Fire adding just a little more authenticity (not to mention what still might be the tightest horn section in the buisiness). "Diallo" is equal parts blues, folk and calypso and showcases Clef's growth as a songwriter. There's even a remake of Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" which Wyclef manages to put his stamp on while maintaining the tone of the original. The cut that took me the longest to appreciate is "Perfect Gentleman". Classical stings backed by an eccelerated techno beat, and lyrics about a stripper? At first it's easy to write the song off as a musical joke of sorts, but after a few listens it starts to sink in. It is a real song, carefully constructed musically, and with lyrical heart. This album is a must for any true music fan.

Wyclef Jean is a revolution in Hip Hop music. In 1997, The Carnival was enjoyed by critics and many music fans. Wyclef was able to satisfy fans of rap, hip hop, R&B, reggae, rock and more. He was successfully able to combine fantastic music with meaningful lyrics and satisfy everyone. Guess what folks? He's back. This is probably my most anticipated album all year. I picked it up the second the stores opened today and was 150% satisfied. I bought the CD at Best Buy and received a 3-song sampler along with Ecleftic. What a deal. Wyclef once again satisfies all genres of music. In the pop-covered It Doesn't Matter, 'Clef mixes hip hop and pop with WWF superstar, The Rock. If that's not your type of music, check out Perfect Gentleman. The club flavored song with an electronic symphony in the background makes a hit for any dancefloor anytime. If you like rock influenced rock, listen to Something About Mary or the Pink Floyd cover of Wish You Were Here. Diallo is quite possibly Wyclef's best song he's ever released. Dedicated to the race-related murder victim by New York Police Officers, it brings soul, heart and pain to Wyclef's voice. 911 with Mary J. Blige is also a treat on this disc. I really believe that Wyclef Jean is the king of Hip Hop, and with or without the Fugees, he will continue to shine. Guaranteed.

I'd hate to write a bad review for Clef, I have much respect for this man. I was disappointed with his latest effort. Maybe "The Carnival" made my expectations a little high. Wyclef's first solo ablum was an excellect & creative blend of hip-hop, r&b, & island; a great showcase of Clef's lyrical, as well as musical, talent. His latest is not as strong, though definitley not bad. I can't enjoy this CD like I enjoy "The Carnival"...It seems Clef is getting a little too pop-like lately. But don't get me wrong, this CD is still worth the buy if you like Wyclef. He is still working to move hip-hop, & music in general, forward out of the rut it has been in lately. A truly creative, talented, eclectic, intellegent artist worthy of your attention.
"Diallo" is one of my favorite tracks. Clef did an exceptional job on this one...touching lyrics that tell of the murder of a young man by the police. He goes back to his roots for this one.
"911", "Thug Angels", "Perfect Gentleman", & "Runaway" are other honorable mentions.
My advice is, if you enjoy hip-hop (real hip-hop), r&b, island, & even some pop influence, or if you love Clef, get this album.

why can't yall do it like this here? do you see what a little time and skill can do for a man? this here is a reveal-looshin! this a release of finominal pereportions a feast of music and a peace of mind this is songs in key life this is ecleftic . and to think i doubted him thankyou wyclef thankyou tell these emceestake a class and check this book out justin l@quane.

Haitian-born Wyclef Jean is one of the rare artists who appeals equally to the hip-hop nation's sometimes clashing factions -- East Coast vs. West Coast, North vs. South, jewel-encrusted "playas" vs. incense burning poets. Whether recording as one-third of the Grammy-winning Fugees or solo (1997's Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival), Jean has used his albums as a bully pulpit for his questioning, uplifting raps. But he never forgets that a message without a beat is often ignored. So when Jean rails against the glorification of gangsta life, on The Ecleftic's "Thug Angels," he sets his sermon to the jacked-up rhythms of hot Southern rap. His edgy, self-reflective soliloquy on "Pullin' Me In" pairs up with a rugged rhythm that's just right for blasting from a jeep. The album leaps gracefully from ska to rock to R&B to reggae and protest music (on "Diallo," a hushed elegy to the African immigrant gunned down by New York City police in 1999). Jean's delivery sounds uncomfortably similar to Bob Marley's, and he makes his points over and over again. But these are minor distractions from the intelligence that permeates this strong, complex collection.

I was really impressed with this album. Its like Wyclef Jean has a complete change through is CD. He changes his whole style through this CD. From the serious 911 to the hilarious Low Income. Wyclef really knows what he's doing here. The first song, Columbia Records, isn't really a song. Its about Wyclef's battle to put out a solo record. Where Fugees At? is an incredibly good song, with a nice background. I really liked the third song, it blended Kenny Rogers country background and the hip-hop of Pharoahe Monche. Thug Angels is another very good song with a crazy "interlude" in the middle. Wyclef's most popular song, It Doesn't Matter(it was popular because of guess who) isn't brilliant but it has a really good beat and it makes you want to dance. 911, another popular song, is good but Wyclef singing next to Mary J. Blige is not a very good comparison. Pullin Me In and Da Cypha, were really the only songs I didn't like. They sounded very repetitive. Runaway was great. With earth, wind, and fire providing the background and the wonderful voice of the Product G&B providing the vocals, this was a great song. LIsten to it all the way through, Wyclef has a neat guitar solo at the end. Here is where the CD changes to mostly jokes. Red Light DIstrict is a skit(guess what about). Perfect Gentlemen is about a girl who strips and I don't even know what Low Income is about. The rest of these songs are not jokes, but they were jumbled and it seemed like Wyclef ran out of things to say. Personally, I think that the CD should've ended after Low Income, but add Something About Mary. BUy this CD, its a good one.

I mainly picked up Wyclef's new album because i loved the Fugees album. The only song i had ever heard off this record was "It doesnt matter" with the Rock. But after hearing the rest of the album... That song doesnt even compare to half the songs on the CD. Wyclef showed his diversity with different beats and different styles and it flat blew me away. I was reading the other reviews about "the ecleftic- 2 sides 2 a book" and everyone seemed to neglect the final track on the CD. It is a cover of Pink Floyd's "wish you were here" But it is not like any other remake. Puff Daddy should take notes on how Wyclef remade a song but didnt ruin the integrity and greatness of a true classic. This cover of Pink Floyd and the use of Earth, Wind, & Fire in "runaway" showed me that Wyclef truly has respect for the people that have come before him! Plus the great club style beat and catchy chorus in "Perfect Gentlemen" will be bouncin' in your head all week. And finally... i dont have much to say about the track "Something about Mary" except- Wyclef can play a guitar with the best of them. Yo go check out Wyclef's newest and best effort ever!

later- WALKER

Wyclef and the Refugee Camp hold a cross-genre fan base, being one of the influences of the hip hop world that can truly be said to have very high level of acceptance and support from non-hip-hop heads. Eleftic demonstraits why this is so beautifully. Wyclef comes with a strong album sporting an array of music that is as diverse as it is well crafted. Inspirations from classic rock, regae, soul, R&B, Dance and many other sources are noticable all over the album while successfully maintaing a very hip hop feel throughout the entire thing. This genre balancing act can be tricky but Wyclef does this wonderfully, and possibly even better than on his last solo album. The lyrics and rhymes range from not bad, to pretty good, and the singing is good as well. But the real star here is the music. The beats are diverse and enjoyable and will satisfy almost anyone. Songs like "wish you were here", "Run away", "911", "Doesnt matter", and "pulling me in" all sport styles that are different and have unique flavors to them and "Diallo Diallo" showcases wyclef's social conscious edge to his work.

All things considered some hip hop heads will argue that there isn't enough rap, or that it doesn't suit thier tastes. But Ecleftic can hold a rare title of being "hip hop for people who dont really like hip hop". And for me, and many other hip hop fans, elecftic will represent something different and a little innovative with great production work. Beats catchy enough to make you bob your head and enough soul to make you want to sing along, and plenty of culture - Wyclef proves once again on Ecleftic that hip hop is an artform that can be effectively used as glue to hold together many elements of several different musical genres at the same time, and bring it all together in a melody that's different pieces oddly compliment one another beautifully.

When i saw this cd in the record store i picked it up because i liked the duet with Mary J Blidge entitled "911", & when i listened to the cd i was amazed. Wyclef brings funk, soul, real positive Hip-Hop on this cd. He shines on tracks such as "Thug Angels", "911", Runaway", "Pullin Me In", "Perfect Gentlemen", "Something About Mary" & the list goes on. The key point of this album is that wyclef is real, & in hip-hop that is hard to define, he has unlimited styles & is a great lyricist. I have to admit i have never heard any hip-hop or r&b artist quite like wyclef, & he just surprises you more & more as he goes. This is by far one of the top 5 cd's of 2000, so dont front on it. Hes got something on this cd for everyone, so if youre a hip-hop fan then pick up this cd...