Concert Previews
Wyclef Jean Who's got the biggest Rolodex in pop music? Wyclef Jean seems determined to demonstrate that he does on Carnival, Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant, the Fugee's sequel to his 1997 solo debut, which features guest appearances by Mary J. Blige, S
Wyclef Jean
Who's got the biggest Rolodex in pop music? Wyclef Jean seems determined to demonstrate that he does on
Carnival, Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant
, the Fugee's sequel to his 1997 solo debut, which features guest appearances by Mary J. Blige, Shakira, Paul Simon, Norah Jones, Akon, Sizzla, Serj Tankian, T.I., Will.I.Am and Minister Louis Farrakhan, among many, many others. As you might expect,
Carnival
is a multi-genre melange that is ofttimes a bit of a mess. But thanks to the Haitian-born singer, rapper and showman's anything-goes attitude and surfeit of ideas, the album succeeds more as an issue-oriented global house party than you might expect.
- Dan Deluca
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Yes, Ladysmith Black Mambazo brought African authenticity to Paul Simon's
Graceland,
the 1986 "Album of the Year" Grammy-winner that also topped the Village Voice Pazz & Jop poll. And yes, those warm a cappella contributions from the South African isicathamiya vocal group both gave mainstream audiences unprecedented exposure to Mother Continent sounds, and presented same in a palatable pop context that irked some world-music hardliners. True, 2006 saw an LBM disc celebrating their 45th anniversary with guests Melissa Etheridge, Natalie Merchant and Sarah McLachlan. Later that year came collaborations with classical crossover smoothie Josh Groban. Ladysmith has even soundtracked a TV jingle hawking Life Savers candy. How much does all this take away from the uplifting rapture of the live Mambazo experience? Nothing, not even close, not by the gray hair on Nelson Mandela's venerable chin. Leader Joseph Shabalaba & Co. release the promising new collaboration-free album
Ilembe: Honoring Shaka Zulu
on Tuesday.
- David R. Stampone
Band of Horses
In a year without a new My Morning Jacket album, Band of Horses provided a good substitute in
Cease to Begin,
its '07 sophomore effort. Streamlined from a quartet to a trio and relocated from Seattle to Mount Pleasant, S.C., BOH still loves to slather reverb over steel guitars and vocals, both from the hirsute Ben Bridwell, and still has a penchant for metaphysical subjects: "Funeral" was the standout on the group's '06 debut; "Is There a Ghost" the chiming anthem this time. But Bridwell, whose high, thin voice recalls that of Doug Martsch of Built to Spill, also sings of more mundane topics, such as former NBA player Detlef Schrempf and misguided marriages. Joining BOH at the Filmore at the TLA on Tuesday will be Cass McCombs, whose forthcoming
Dropping the Writ
is similarly haunted and haunting.
- Steve Klinge