Here is my second album review: Wyclef Jean’s Carnival Vol. 2, Memoirs of an Immigrant. I listen to lots of music, but can easily say that this is by far the best album so far of 2008. While the first half of the album is stronger than the second, it nevertheless fails to disappoint on any level. After my first listen, its difficult to find a track that sticks out as being superior to the rest, but thats quite possible due to the whole album having such a cohesive feel. No track feels out of place. I was drawn to this album by the lead single, entitled Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill) the song features Akon, Lil’ Wayne, and a new singer named Niia. Not surprisingly Akon brings life to the track, but doesn’t cheapen it. Lil Wayne delivers a powerful verse and Wyclef brings it all together. Overall there is a broad range of slow to fast tempo songs that when played in succession seem to really work together. This for sure is not a timeless album and it will be interesting to see how far in the future I will be listening to tracks from it, but this in no way takes away from how good it is. However, this can be considered a classic for the Reggae/Dancehall/Hip-Hop crossover genre and Wyclef can be sure that his reputation as one of the best producers in the music business will remain intact.
I was completely blown away by the Sweetest Girl remix on the Deluxe iTunes version that placed the song over the beat of Wu Tang Clan’s C.R.E.A.M.
Must listen: Riot (feat. Serj Tankian and Sizzla), Sweetest Girl (feat. Akon, Lil Wayne, and Niia), Welcome to the East (feat. Sizzla), Slow Down (feat. T.I.), Fast Car (feat. Paul Simon), and Emmanuelle
