Presents the Carnival Featuring the Refugee Allstars

Presents the Carnival Featuring the Refugee Allstars

Category: (Music)

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200 used, starting at $0.01

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Editorial Reviews

Has one or two very light surface marks, but plays fine, sounds sublime. From a well cared for personal collection. Buy with confidence--see my feedback.

"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

Fun album

Reviewed by rvikul, 2009-02-10

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. This album is a satirical story of drugs, prostitution, Wyclef on trial and how gets acquitted in the end. It is overall a fun album to listen to from beginning to end. However, after a few listens you will probably skip the interludes.

In this review I will focus on the tracks I really liked.

Apocalypse and Guantanamera are classic Fugees style hip-hop tracks with a tiny hint of reggae.

Gone Till November is an amazing track that demonstrates Wyclef's versatility. It starts slowly with a beautiful guitar tune and picks up pace with drums setting the beat for the rest of the song. It then goes on to fuze Wyclef's brand of hip hop with violin by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

Sang Fezi is my other favorite track. Its sung in Haitian Creole and I dont understand much of the lyrics but its a very cool song nevertheless.

Overall a very good album.

classic

Reviewed by gooney googoo, 2008-07-30

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.

Classic, Classic, Classic!!!

Reviewed by Girl626, 2007-01-10

To many people, the Fugees were the quintessential rap trio comprised of Wyclef Jean, Lauryn Hill, and Pras. While the seperation of this supergroup revealed each member's exceptional artistry....who can forget the Miseducation of Lauren Hill....Wyclef out did himself on this album. As hip hop albums go, Carnival can be viewed as one of the Hip Hop Masterpieces of the decade!

Incidentally, I classify the "Miseducation..." as one of the R&B Mastepieces!

Good Album, Shows The Talent of Wyclef

Reviewed by J. Emanuele, 2006-07-06

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." It is a great song with a catchy beat from the original Staying Alive. Good Listen

Wicked lots of fun

Reviewed by GRACE, 2006-04-05

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. Not only are the songs so good that you have them stuck in your head all day but the court thing is funny too. I love how it almost takes you around the world in styles. Spanish, french, carribean. I don't know any other talented musician who can do that, except for Wyclef. This is another c.d. that you enjoy listing to the words as well as the great music. Wyclef is a very talented artist, and has the ability to make something beautiful and fun at the same time.