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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
"Taste the culture, know who you are," exhorts a voice in the opening seconds of The Carnival. While Fugees mastermind Wyclef sets a high goal for his first solo album, essentially a follow-up to the Brooklyn hip-hoppers' multiplatinum The Score, he never succumbs to feel-goodism or preachiness while traveling the songlines. Including everything from over-the-top operatic scatting to Bee Gees samples and Celia Cruz as part of its rhythm nation, The Carnival proves that, "Killing Me Softly" or no, the rapper/producer is far from losing his knack for mad fun and games. And, indeed, if you're not careful, you may end up learning something: witness the ballad "Gone Till November," a drug runner's unflinching lament. --Rickey Wright
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
For those of you who liked the Refugees first couple of albums, this album is great! Wyclef's songs are all great from beginning to the end, and the short interludes are funny. The first 21 songs (with the exception of track 13) are in english and it's sort of a hip-hop funky style of music in which his Refugee All Stars play. Tracks 13, 22-24 are in Haitian Creole which i thought to be really cool to listen to. Overall I think this album is a great buy and it of course includes his trademark songs of "We tryin' to stay Alive", "Guantanamera", and "Gone till November." (Sorry, you have to buy the CD single in order to get his different "rap" version). I don't recommend listening to just his popular songs which many people do because if you listen to some of his other songs, they're really great! Now all you have to do is buy it and let your ears do all the work!
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By A fan
Format:Audio CD
I am not a fan of rap or hip-hop music. I like a wide range of music--Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dave Matthews, Bob Marley, Coldplay, The Cure, The Who, Beastie Boys, Janis Joplin, etc.
Wyclef's updated version of "Stayin' Alive" was so catchy, so addictive, and so fresh that it made me want to buy the CD. I'm so glad I did.
Before buying this CD, I thought Wyclef Jean was a rap or hip artist. But in this CD, Wyclef Jean transcends musical categories. He fuses together reggae, Caribbean music, rap, hip-hop, and other genres. His music is funky, political, and soulful. The CD contains ballads, unique instrumental blends, raps, and dance-your-ass off tunes.
Although I don't speak Creole (Haitian Creole), his songs in Creole have beautiful melodies and vocal accompaniments.
The lyrics are brilliant. He sings about political strife in Haiti: famine, gunfire, revenge, and Haitians immigrating to the USA by sea in rafts. And some of his lyrics aren't profound, but funky and fun.
I bought this CD four or five years ago, and still love it. I pull it out every month or two. Each time I re-play the CD, it kicks ass as much as it did the first time I listened to it. The CD is an old friend. It's evolved. I've smoked [...] while listening to the CD, roadtripped to it, danced to it, worked out to it, and just simply listened to it alone or with friends while chilling out in the living room.
It is a great CD and Wyclef is a fabulous artist. Unlike a lot of other artists, he has something to say, and he sings it well.
Wyclef's updated version of "Stayin' Alive" was so catchy, so addictive, and so fresh that it made me want to buy the CD. I'm so glad I did.
Before buying this CD, I thought Wyclef Jean was a rap or hip artist. But in this CD, Wyclef Jean transcends musical categories. He fuses together reggae, Caribbean music, rap, hip-hop, and other genres. His music is funky, political, and soulful. The CD contains ballads, unique instrumental blends, raps, and dance-your-ass off tunes.
Although I don't speak Creole (Haitian Creole), his songs in Creole have beautiful melodies and vocal accompaniments.
The lyrics are brilliant. He sings about political strife in Haiti: famine, gunfire, revenge, and Haitians immigrating to the USA by sea in rafts. And some of his lyrics aren't profound, but funky and fun.
I bought this CD four or five years ago, and still love it. I pull it out every month or two. Each time I re-play the CD, it kicks ass as much as it did the first time I listened to it. The CD is an old friend. It's evolved. I've smoked [...] while listening to the CD, roadtripped to it, danced to it, worked out to it, and just simply listened to it alone or with friends while chilling out in the living room.
It is a great CD and Wyclef is a fabulous artist. Unlike a lot of other artists, he has something to say, and he sings it well.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Kevin Caslow
Format:Audio CD
This LP is seven years old ya'll. I still listen to it. It's one of those CD's that you just can't let dust collect on. Wyclef may not be the best lyricist, or even have the best flow, but it's the whole package he presents in this LP that brings it all together. The beats are tight, the guest appearances are tasteful, and hey even the jokes and skits are funny. Gone till November rightfully won awards. We tryin' to stay alive was fun as hell. But the other tracks on there are what makes the album worth buying. Don't sleep ya'll. Amazing.
Best tracks:
Gone till November, Tryin to stay alive, Guantanamera, and Year of the Dragon (Lauryn Hill is Viscous on that joint)
Enjoy
Best tracks:
Gone till November, Tryin to stay alive, Guantanamera, and Year of the Dragon (Lauryn Hill is Viscous on that joint)
Enjoy
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
OK!
I expected more from this album, but it is a very good album and I would suggest it to any of my friends.
Published 9 days ago by Ashley G. Patterson
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Classic Album, Near Perfect In Every Way
I first heard this album several years back, and it has stayed with me ever since. Wyclef first came to fame in the legendary hip hop group The Fugees (with Pras and Lauryn Hill),... Read more
Published on June 3, 2010 by Gary Anderson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fun album
I came across Wyclef Jean when I first heard Sweetest Girl. I read good reviews on this album and thought I'd give it a shot. Read more
Published on February 9, 2009 by rvikul
4.0 out of 5 stars
classic
i like this entire album too. this was a great debut for him as a solo artist. it's also fun to listen to with the skits.
Published on July 30, 2008 by gooney googoo
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic, Classic, Classic!!!
To many people, the Fugees were the quintessential rap trio comprised of Wyclef Jean, Lauryn Hill, and Pras. Read more
Published on January 10, 2007 by Girl626
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Album, Shows The Talent of Wyclef
I thought this was a good solo album from Wyclef that presents some good songs to listen to. Definately get "We Trying To Stay Alive. Read more
Published on July 6, 2006 by J. Emanuele
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wicked lots of fun
I borrowed this c.d. from a friend of mine, and have never given it back. This c.d. sat in my 6 disk player (in the car) for a year. Read more
Published on April 5, 2006 by GRACE
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very Eclectic Lp 2 Say da Least
I love The Fugees & Wyclef and admire them as artists man but this lp is the gap between "The Score" and all their solos and "The Carnival" sets the bar pretty high for most Fugee... Read more
Published on January 16, 2006 by TECHWON
4.0 out of 5 stars
nice piece of work
I was a fan of the fugees in about 1996 so when this album came out 1997 I remember all the promotion for it and wyclef promoting it all over the place. Read more
Published on December 28, 2005
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wow!!!
Solid five stars. There are so many solid songs on this album, it is just unbelievable.
Some background: I have cherished the Fugees' album The Score as one of the... Read more
Some background: I have cherished the Fugees' album The Score as one of the... Read more
Published on December 11, 2005 by Alberto Vargas
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