Wyclef Returns to Roots

In the 26-second introduction to his latest solo release, Carnival Volume II: Memoirs of An Immigrant, Wyclef Jean, wasting no time, says, "I'll tell ya since my last album Carnival I've gone to November and a lot of things changed, man, the whole world is in panic mode ..." A lot of things have changed for Wyclef in the past decade. Often plagued by his tendency to overachieve, Wyclef became tired of his new direction, which led to an inability to create a coherent masterpiece. Also, on the personal side, Wyclef took a sizable blow in 2001 with the death of his father, a key inspirational force. Even the decision to return to his Haitian roots with 2004's highly elementary Welcome to Haiti Creole 101 could not lift the Refugee All-Star and proved to be a costly departure from the hip-hop-blend master's true form. Convinced that he was inadequate as a solo artist, Wyclef finally returned to his refugee roots with the Fugees, which ended abruptly due to Lauren Hill's erratic, ego-driven behavior.

Inspiration finally came knocking in the form of Shakira's hips. Writing and producing Shakira's 2006 mega-hit "Hips Don't Lie" did as much for Wyclef in bringing back his sound-bending groove as it did for Shakira's wallet. What comes next is Carnival II.

An uncharacteristically gritty guitar riff jumpstarts the Carnival II dance romp and flows seamlessly into the rock-hop-reggae number "Riot," which features a diverse pair of guest vocalists with reggae sensation Sizzla holding down the Rasta flow, and System of a Down front man Serj Tankian providing his typical mystic rant. "Riot" quickly proves that Wyclef has once again tapped into the creative force that fueled his double platinum solo-effort Carnival.

"Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)" is the album's first single, featuring the able tandem of Akon and Lil Wayne. The gentle melodic flow of Akon's vocals along with Lil Wayne's natural staccato lends itself perfectly to both the radio and the DJ's booth. Wyclef humbly allows his friends to make their moves, taking only a single verse and patiently adding to the atmosphere with the occasional background-vocal swell that is a requirement in every effective Wyclef hook. Not that Wyclef needs the help, but the fact that Akon is still hot from his run with Snoop will prove to be a vital selling point for Carnival II.

As with the first two tracks, Wyclef relies heavily on the help of friends, with a different guest featured on every track but one. A duet with Mary J. Blige on "What About the Baby" proves to be a worthy sequel to their previous effort on Wyclef staple "911," which was nominated for a Grammy in 2001. Shakira repays the favor by providing the soaring hook on "King & Queen," but seems out of place within Wyclef's hipped out vocal flow. Also, Norah Jones brings her soothing grace on the soulful "Any Other Day," which sheds light on Wyclef's harder years and brings hope for the future.

A surprising, but warmly familiar, voice is featured on "Fast Car." Paul Simon's presence on this track even makes Serj Tankian's guest spot on "Riot" seem somewhat normal. To his credit, the aging songwriter, who at 66 is easily old enough to know what the "Sound of Silence" actually entails, clearly exerts his influence as "Fast Car" plays out like one of Simon and Garfunkel's spirited classics, with a welcomed touch of hip-hop.

With smooth edges, Carnival II is a welcomed return to form for Wyclef. His ability to seamlessly mash up multiple genres within a single track and spit it out as something highly listenable is his greatest skill. Ten years after the album that started it all, Carnival II is proof that Wyclef is finally ready to pay his respects to the original equation that made Carnival his defining work. B+